New Zealand can blame themselves, you know, for being underestimated.
They have always been like this.
George Parr's 1863/64 team toured Australia and New Zealand.
They played two matches in Dunedin, first against Otago, then against a combined team of Canterbury and Otago.
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They have always been like this.
George Parr's 1863/64 team toured Australia and New Zealand.
They played two matches in Dunedin, first against Otago, then against a combined team of Canterbury and Otago.
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This is how the Cricketers of Otago greeted them:
"As humble imitators at these distant antipodes of your famous deeds in England, we gladly hail the opportunity of witnessing the excellence to which your prowess has brought the manliest of English pastimes...
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"As humble imitators at these distant antipodes of your famous deeds in England, we gladly hail the opportunity of witnessing the excellence to which your prowess has brought the manliest of English pastimes...
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"To look for anything like success in the forthcoming struggle, when pitted against the Champions of the world, would be presumptuous on our part, but you will be glad to learn that no exertion has been wanting to select..."
"... the best twenty-two our province can boast of to take the field against you."
Fourteen seasons later, Lillywhite's team toured New Zealand.
New Zealand had not changed.
Here is Evening Post:
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Fourteen seasons later, Lillywhite's team toured New Zealand.
New Zealand had not changed.
Here is Evening Post:
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"The fact that a dozen of the most renowned English players of England's great national game find it worthwhile to travel all the way to New Zealand and play matches in half-a-dozen different parts of the colony...
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"... tends to direct hither the attention of many classes who would otherwise know nothing of New Zealand but its name."
New Zealand became a full member of the ICC in 1926.
They toured England in 1927 (there was no Test match).
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New Zealand became a full member of the ICC in 1926.
They toured England in 1927 (there was no Test match).
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Tom Lowry, captain of New Zealand, was interviewed on that 1927 tour.
He told the British media that his team members were "Britishers anxious to appear on the cricket map, and accordingly came Home not to beat the best sportsmen but to learn the rules as England taught them."
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He told the British media that his team members were "Britishers anxious to appear on the cricket map, and accordingly came Home not to beat the best sportsmen but to learn the rules as England taught them."
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Almost as if... they wanted to be underestimated.
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