Out In The Middle With Scott

What a week for NZ cricket!

Well, what can I say?

It has been one hell of a week for New Zealand cricket, and, for many of us, it seems Christmas has come early.

The BLACKCAPS have beaten Australia on Australian soil for the first time in 26 years and it’s been 18 years since the last New Zealand test victory over the Aussies. It was a truly massive effort from the boys.

There has been a lot of talk about the BLACKCAPS facing Australia at the “right time” but every team goes through phases.

The Australian team of six or seven years ago had some of the greatest cricket players the world has seen. That’s not the case now, but Australia still has some very good players in their own right, which we saw when they recently beat South Africa.

But for our guys, who are still very young and growing as players, to beat Australia over there, it’s a massive effort and I’m very proud of how they bounced back after the beating they took in Brisbane in the first test.

It’s also great to see the some of the Yahoo! NZ Northern Knights players coming up through the BLACKCAPS ranks.

We had six players in Australia on this trip. Three of them played, so despite the fact we miss the boys when they are on international duty, is it great for their and our confidence.

The Knights are set to head into the HRV Cup with all those guys coming back (apart from Dan Vettori who is unfortunately injured) and it would be fantastic if they brought some of that winning confidence back into our changing room for what I’m sure will be a good campaign.

I myself am raring to go.

After retiring from international cricket and spending the English summer playing T20 cricket with Essex I’m looking forward to getting the bat back in my hand during the New Zealand domestic season.

I haven’t played much cricket recently until I played for the Knights in our Ford Trophy match against the Stags last weekend, but it’s been a good break.

We’ve had a bit of a bad run in the Ford Trophy, but although we have been missing a lot of key players, it is giving a lot of the young players a good run.

Our next game, against the Wellington Firebirds this Wednesday, could see a few guys making their debuts.

And personally I think this is a great strategy from the Knights selectors. They are continually developing and making sure the next wave of Northern Knights and ultimately Black Caps players are ready to go when the more experienced players are not around.
 
But we should have most of our players back when we take on the Canterbury Wizards in the HRV Cup on December 18, so fingers crossed we lead into Christmas with two wins!

I myself am really looking forward to the summer for the Knights and what I’m sure will be a great campaign.

Cheers, Scotty