Australia’s Test skipper Tim Paine may not be pleased with the current World Test Championship (WTC) format, but he believes one should not take anything away from the inaugural champions New Zealand.
The Kane Williamson-led Kiwi side defeated India by 8 wickets in Southampton to clinch the first-ever WTC title on Wednesday (June 23).
See Also: Special day in our cricket history, Sir Richard Hadlee on NZ becoming world Test champions
"You want to be playing in that Test - that's why I couldn't watch the first three or four nights of it because I was dirty that we weren't there. It's a showpiece event, it's a World Cup final. Can we make it better? Yes, we probably can but we shouldn't take anything away from New Zealand," Paine told Newstalk ZB, as reported by stuff.co.nz.
Before the WTC final, Paine had opined that India would win the marquee game "pretty comfortably" against New Zealand.
As it turned out, the Australian Test captain apologised to the Kiwi fans and highlighted how Williamson's side has developed over the last few years.
"We all get some wrong. I copped a bit from the Kiwi fans, so I thought I'd come on air and eat some humble pie. I thought the New Zealanders played outstandingly. It's always a pleasure to watch the way they go about it. For such a small nation - I'm from Tasmania which is obviously our smallest resource state and we punch above our weight - so I certainly respect what the Kiwis do on an international stage," said Paine.
"They've done well under Kane Williamson since they last played us... they've added big Kyle Jamieson, who on day five or six was outstanding, and a quality opening batter which is Devon Conway, so they're always improving and they always seem to find these good cricketers," he added.
The WTC 2021 final was severely affected by inclement weather and the BlackCaps won the title on reserve sixth day.
The Kiwi pacers demolished the Indian batting line-up on the backup day, bundling them out for a paltry 170 in the second innings.
Chasing 139 to win, New Zealand rode on skipper Kane Williamson’s 52 not out and Taylor’s unbeaten 47 to overhaul the target with 8 wickets in hand.
Lanky pacer Kyle Jamieson was adjudged Player-of-the-Match for his 7 wickets in the game, including a five-wicket haul in India’s first innings.
"They've added a big tall fast bowler who rarely misses his length, complemented by Trent Boult and Tim Southee. The height that he comes down from is clearly troubling batsmen around the world. Devon Conway has come into all formats of cricket for New Zealand and done really well. When you have a good start at the top of the order, then you've got Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, and Henry Nicholls -- they just keep coming, they're a good side and always have been," said Paine.
