Barmy Army member Simon Finch on the embankment during day one of the first test match between New Zealand and England at Bay Oval in Tauranga. Photo / Photosport
Barmy Army member Simon Finch on the embankment during day one of the first test match between New Zealand and England at Bay Oval in Tauranga. Photo / Photosport
The test between Black Caps and England at Bay Oval has delivered not only the welcome return of cricket for Kiwi fans, but a “buoyant” atmosphere for Tauranga accommodation and hospitality operators after a summer of “setbacks”.
A jubilant crowd — including a Londoner who spend more than four days travelling to Tauranga — gathered under sunny Bay of Plenty skies for the 2pm start of the day-night pink ball test on Thursday, the first of a two-test series between the teams.
Black Caps skipper Tim Southee won the toss and bowled first with New Zealand initially blown away by the bat as Ben Duckett hammered England’s fastest test half-century. Then, after the tourists kept swinging and allowed the bowlers to hit back, the hosts were undone by a bold declaration and a tricky spell under lights.
England fans and spectators watch the cricket at Bay Oval. Photo / Photosport
New Zealand were 37/3 at stumps still 288 runs behind England.
The teams wore black armbands to honour the New Zealand victims of the cyclone, which has killed at least five people and injured or displaced thousands more as it cut a path of destruction across the North Island, devastating Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne, Coromandel Peninsula and Muriwai especially.
The crowd and teams also observed a moment’s silence before the start of play.
The event is the Black Caps’ first home action in 11 weeks, and first home test in almost a year.
The Black Caps experienced some issues gathering their squad in the days before Thursday’s test, with some players unable to assemble on Sunday, but both teams were able to train uninterrupted in a covered outdoor facility bordering Bay Oval.
Barmy Army member Simon Finch on the embankment during day one of the first test match between New Zealand and England at Bay Oval in Tauranga. Photo / Photosport
On the Oval embankment, trumpet-blowing Barmy Army member Simon Finch told the Bay of Plenty Times it took him more than four days to get to Tauranga, including three domestic flights today alone.
The Londoner left England on Tuesday bound for Auckland, but the flight could not land and was diverted to Melbourne.
The next flight was diverted to Queenstown on Wednesday, then today he hopped a connection flight to Christchurch, then Wellington, finally arriving at Tauranga Airport at 11.45am.
He said the epic journey was worth it.
“I’m loving it and I wouldn’t have missed the test series.
“Especially watching England win,” he said, confidently.
“I love cricket but test matches are my ultimate. It’s the ultimate sport in terms of the skill, in terms of endurance, and also it’s very much a test of the mind, particularly for batsmen.”
He estimated as many as 3000 members of the Barmy Army - including those who travelled from the United Kingdom and some already in New Zealand - could attend the test series. He said a large number of them were at Bay Oval.
Black Caps fans Brenton Higgins from Hamilton and Andy Mackay from Christchurch. Photo / Sandra Conchie
Avid Black caps fans Brenton Higgins, from Hamilton, and Andy Mackay, from Christchurch, said they would not have missed the test series.
“We follow the boys everywhere, including attending the 2019 World Cup in England at Lord’s,” Mackay said.
Youngster Alex Gates’ was treated to a day at the cricket as his birthday present. Alex turns 4 on Saturday and his dad, English-born Chris Gates from Te Puna, said Alex was a Black Caps supporter.
Alex said he loved watching cricket, especially when Tauranga’s own, Kane Williamson, was batting.
Chris Gates with his son Alex, 3, who is Black Caps supporter. Photo / Sandra Conchie
Hospitality NZ accommodation sector Bay of Plenty chairman and Tauranga’s 850 Cameron Motel owner Tony Bullot said motel owners in Tauranga were doing very well, and most were close to 100 per cent occupancy for the entire week.
Lots of English guests were staying in Tauranga for the test.
“It’s great news after all the bad weather we’ve had. Unfortunately, some of our English visitors are struggling to get access to their luggage because of the baggage issues at Auckland Airport,” he said.
Some of the corporate guests having a bite to eat and drink before the match starts. Photo / Sandra Conchie
Hospitality NZ regional manager Melissa Renwick said she had “very positive” feedback about the impact of the test from a number of operators in central Tauranga.
“There is definitely an increase of the number of guests in venues and on the streets over the past 24 hours. The atmosphere is buoyant and it’s wonderful to see lots of happy people in and around Tauranga central.
“A very welcome sight after the many setbacks this summer.”
Bay Oval general manager Kelvin Jones said the pitch and whole venue was looking “perfect” thanks to all the hard work by the ground’s staff.
“It’s going to great match, a great week of fantastic cricket and we expect a great crowd and excitement is building already,” he said.
Earlier this week he said the ground had “dodged a bullet”.
“We have been extremely fortunate given all the bad weather and the devastation other regions have experienced, to have had no damage to the oval. In fact, I would say we have dodged a bullet. The oval is looking the best it’s ever been.
The two teams last met at Bay Oval in 2019 with the Black Caps winning by an innings and 65 runs.
A little bit has changed to this Black Caps side since their last home test against South Africa almost a year ago. They’ve gone almost a year without a win, their last victory coming in the first test against the Proteas last February.
Blair Tickner made his debut for the Black Caps in the day/night test against England at Bay Oval. Photo / Photosport
Since then they lost three tests to England and drew twice in Pakistan.
Tim Southee is captain for his first official home series - making the big calls in the field and when to declare.
Tauranga’s Trent Boult is no longer considered for test selection after declining a centralised contract with New Zealand Cricket while Kyle Jamieson is also out for the series after suffering a stress fracture in his back, which derails his comeback from a back injury.
Matt Henry will miss the first test as he awaits the birth of his child.
England have a lot of firepower and it stands with two old hands, right hands to be specific.
Some of the crowd grabbing the best advantage spot to watch the match. Photo / Sandra Conchie
Stuart Broad and James Anderson first played in the same test together 15 years ago against the Black Caps at the Basin Reserve, between them taking 10 wickets as England went on to win by 126 runs (one of Broad’s victims being one B B McCullum).
Between them, they combine for 1241 test wickets as Anderson (675) edges closer to Shane Warne’s 708 as second on the all-time list.
Something to note. Anderson has dismissed Tauranga’s Kane Williamson seven times in tests, four of those caught behind.
The second test begins at New Zealand’s premier oval, the Basin Reserve, on February 24.
