Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum heaped praise on the Kane Williamson-led side after they won the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India at The Ageas Bowl, Southampton in England on Wednesday (June 23).
McCullum, who was the captain when New Zealand suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the 2015 World Cup final, was elated by the way Williamson and his team outsmart the Indians in the WTC 2021 Final.
He said it was superb to see how New Zealand manufactured a victory against the poor weather in Southampton and a very formidable Indian cricket team to win the World Test Championship Mace.
According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, McCullum told SEN Radio: “I'm not sure it's sunk in yet. Overnight the game was on a bit of a knife-edge -- it almost had that feeling of the previous two World Cups, get close but we won't quite get across the line. But for them to have been able to manufacture a result against the weather and a very formidable Indian side, to do it on the biggest stage is quite superb.”
He added, “I'm sure over the coming days, weeks even years we'll look back at this moment and be so proud of what Kane's men have been able to achieve and the heights they've been able to scale. For a country with pretty limited resources it is pretty amazing really and to do it against the powerhouse of world cricket on the biggest stage is something that makes it more satisfying.”
Hailing Williamson’s captaincy the way he managed his bowlers in the WTC Final against Team India, the former skipper pointed out, “I thought the captaincy of Kane Williamson to throw the ball to Kyle Jamieson, against previous routines, at the start of the day's play was a bit of a masterstroke.”
McCullum further added, “His height and release point, they measure up so well against the Indian batters. He was able to get the openings and once that happened it really started to sense the belief among the group.
Those chases are horrible -- 140 seems like a mountain of runs, especially when you know what the carrot is at the end. Thought it was really fitting to see New Zealand's two greats, really, when you talk batting, to see them home.”
He concluded, “There was a bit of luck and good fortune along the way but in this game, you are entitled to a little bit if you keep banging the door down. You could see on the faces of Kane and Ross just how much it meant to them and how satisfying to finally be able to climb that ladder.”
(With ANI Inputs)
