New Zealand Team To Carry WTC Mace For A Week-Long Nationwide Tour To Celebrate With Fans
Published - 07 Jul 2021, 02:14 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:49 AM
The euphoria amongst the newly-crowned world Test champions, New Zealand, and their fans continues as now the board has decided that the side will take a winning trophy, the mace, to a nationwide tour which will last for a week.
New Zealand, who finished second on the WTC table, defeated table-toppers India in the WTC final last month in Southampton by 8 wickets in the final hour of the sixth day, the Reserve Day, of the game. This is New Zealand’s first ICC trophy since winning the Knockout Cup in 2000.
The tour will kick off in Whangarei on July 26 and will end in Invercargill (Stadium Southland) on August 1, with Auckland (Eden Park), Tauranga (Hamilton), New Plymouth/Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin (Forsyth Barr Stadium) being the other stoppages on the trip.
Unfortunately for the fans, skipper Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson, the Player of the Match in the WTC final, opener Devon Conway and all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme will not be part of this tour as they are all currently in England playing county cricket and preparing for the Hundred.
The rest of the players and the support staff will likely be part of the tour after spending time with their families following MIQ (Managed Isolation Quarantine) in Auckland.
“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,” NZC chief executive David White said in a statement.“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.”
It’s a great way to give back to the fans that’ve supported us: Tim Southee
“I guess 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. 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 those smaller towns… 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,” Southee said.
