New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Wednesday (July 7) announced a week-long ICC World Test Championship mace tour across the country starting 26 July, to celebrate the victory with the countrymen and thank the fans for their constant support over the years.
The NZC planned the WTC trophy tour so that New Zealanders have an opportunity to be photographed with the ICC Test Championship mace and collect autographs and a team poster.
The ICC World Test Championship winners will carry their mace on a week-long tour starting from Whangarei on July 26, visiting Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill throughout the week.
NZC CEO David White stated: “It's quickly become apparent that Kiwis want an opportunity to be part of, and to share in this historic achievement. We've been inundated with requests to do something so that New Zealanders can join in with the team and share the moment.”
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He added, “At first, we thought the time-out in managed isolation and the length of time since the win would dampen enthusiasm for a public celebration, but we have been persuaded to think again. This is just as much a chance for our BLACKCAPS to say thank you to New Zealanders as anything else, and for NZC to express its gratitude to the country for creating an environment in which this was even possible.”
The nationwide tour will involve selected New Zealand players and support staff, assembling at each of the cities on the route, starting with a small group including Tim Southee at his home town Whangarei.
Southee said, “It's a great way to give back to the fans that've supported us - not only the last couple of years through the Test Championship but for a long time.”
He signed off by saying, “For some of these smaller places that don't get a lot of international cricket or see a lot of cricketers, it's a great chance to go back to that smaller town... I know growing up in a small town, anytime there's something special like that, it's always a great occasion. Hopefully, we can give back and hopefully give kids a bit of future hope of future cricketers.”
Noteworthy, Will Sommerville, Jeet Raval, and Todd Astle – who all were involved in the WTC campaign, though they were not part of the WTC 2021 Final – will also be part of the mace tour and will receive their winner's medals retrospectively.
(With PTI Inputs)
