A great occasion to celebrate, a great game of cricket, and obviously a great career which we'll celebrate." A scrappy performance, which is close to his heart, because he's a scrappy player. He's a special member, a leader in our group, and really epitomises our team. I don't know if he's retiring anymore, actually. Ross is very experienced and very calm in those sort of situations, it was nice to be in partnership with Ross and be there at the end. It was a very sporting surface, and having only four days' cricket, there was always a chande of a result. We saw a lot of heart from the lower order who came in and tried to inch us into some sort of lead. Amazing attack, they don't give you much to hit. It's not always easy in a final, a one-off Test match, we respect that, and throughout all six days, it ebbed and flowed, no one really got the upper hand, and it came to the last day which was great for the fans.
We saw a lot of heart and commitment to our style of cricket in this game, we know how strong this Indian side is, in all conditions. We know we don't always have the stars, we rely on other bits and pieces to stay in the game and be competitive.
We've had 22 players over the last two years, and they've all played their part and the support staff and the guys who played this match, it's a special achievement to be savoured. I've been part of for a short while, it's a very special feeling, the first time in our history we've come away with a world title. It was great, the heart our team showed to get across the line, great Test match. I'd like to thank Virat and the Indian team, they're an incredible team, we know how much of a challenge it would be. Kane Williamson: "Very special feeling, a couple of close ones, nice to get one under the belt. So from myself, Shashank, Chandan and Alan, and everyone else on the ESPNcricinfo team, it's the warmest of goodbyes. It's been a pleasure bringing it to you - all of it, even the rain breaks. Now it's time to celebrate - not just for New Zealand but for everyone who loves this sport, this brilliant 144-year-old sport, the greatest sport in the world.
#WORLD CRICKET CHAMPIONSHIP 2 MOBILE GAME MATCH SERIES#
Let's hope this first cycle gives way to a better, more equitable distribution of Test cricket around the teams that play it, and at the very least for New Zealand - they're world champions, after all - to get longer series much more often than they currently do.Īll that's for the future. Ravi Shastri said before this match that this, the World Test Championship, is now the "big daddy" of ICC titles, and what a feeling it must be for New Zealand to get their hands on it before anyone else. Two superb teams who both played terrific cricket, but New Zealand were definitely the better team on this occasion, with more fast-bowling depth, the greater ability to swing the Dukes ball, and a more robust lower order. A pitch that gave us a result even though two entire days were washed out, and excellent foresight - we must now acknowledge - from the ICC, to have this sixth day in reserve. The one time you might have wished for a bit of bad light. 7.15pm The New Zealand players get their hands on the mace, finally, and fireworks light up a still bright evening sky in Southampton.