New Zealand, Afghanistan coaches express disappointment over abandoned Test
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead and Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott expressed their disappointment after the one-off Test match in Greater Noida The match was abandoned without a single ball being bowled, marking only the eighth instance in cricket history and the first ever in India. Both coaches described the situation as "frustrating" and "disappointing" during a press conference after the cancelation. Here's more.
Stead laments missed preparation opportunity for WTC
Stead expressed his frustration, stating that the match was supposed to be New Zealand's first Test against Afghanistan. He emphasized the significance of this game as preparation for their upcoming ICC World Test Championship matches against Sri Lanka and India. "The most disappointing part for us is that we've lost that ability to be match-hardened and match-ready when we go into our Test match next week," said Stead in the presser.
Trott emphasizes player safety amid disappointment
Trott, while sharing the disappointment, emphasized on player safety. He stated that despite a strong desire to play cricket, the safety of players must be taken into account. "There's obviously a huge desire to play cricket but the safety of the players - because New Zealand have got huge tours coming up - unfortunately, you've got to take that into account," Trott said.
Unexpected weather conditions led to match abandonment
The match was called off due to unexpected weather conditions, which Trott largely blamed for the unfortunate outcome at the venue. He stated "I think it's a case of time of the year. To try and play a Test match this time of year is always tricky." Trott additionally added, "The facilities... obviously disappointed that we haven't been able to play and the amount of water that's come down is unprecedented for this time of year."
Stead confident about New Zealand's adaptability in Asia
Despite the setback, Stead remains confident about New Zealand's ability to adapt to Asian conditions. Five of New Zealand's remaining eight Test matches in this cycle will take place in Asia. Their last three matches will be held at home versus England. "The World Test Championship is alive and well, and we're currently in third place, and we want to make the finals again," he said.
NZ VS AFG head-to-head record across formats
Both the nations have never played a single Test match. However, the Balck Caps lead Afghanistan 3-0 in terms of head-to-head in ODIs, winning all three matches since 2015. NZ's largest win in ODIs against AFG came in 2023. NZ won by 149 runs. In T20Is, both teams have locked horns twice, with both of them winning one match each since 2021.
