England and New Zealand will lock horns on a cricket field for the first time in the upcoming T20I series since the iconic World Cup final in July. The final of the mega event had lived up to the expectation before England pipped New Zealand to the elusive trophy thanks to an ICC rule. Both the teams finished on the same score after playing their 50 overs.
The succeeding super over also failed to find a clear winner. England were then declared winners for scoring more number of boundaries. New Zealand will have a chance to avenge the loss when they take on the 50-over World Champions in their own backyard. However, New Zealand’s veteran batsman Ross Taylor has insisted that the Black Caps aren’t concentrating on revenge.
“It is what it is,” Ross Taylor said of the World Cup.
“It was a great campaign, [but] obviously it’s totally a different series.
“[It is] a five-match series, the first time [for] a T20 international here at Hagley Park, just a big summer ahead, [we’re looking forward to it],” he added.
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The star batsman further said that he and his teammates aren’t holding on to any lingering grief or ill-feeling after the World Cup. He made it clear that New Zealand are only looking forward to the job at hand with the focus on next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
“Everyone’s moved on. It was a very emotional couple of hours afterwards. [But] a lot of the guys who are in this side weren’t even in that team,” he added.
New Zealand, meanwhile, will be without their regular skipper Kane Williamson for the series. A hip injury has forced Williamson to spend time on the sidelines. In his absence, Tim Southee will lead the side. The first match of the five-match series will take place on Friday in Christchurch.