New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson celebrates with teammates after their win on the sixth day of the World Test Championship final cricket match beating India. Photo / AP
New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson celebrates with teammates after their win on the sixth day of the World Test Championship final cricket match beating India. Photo / AP
Opinion
It's four days since we won the World Test Championship. In a world of light-speed news cycles, Thursday morning seems a long time ago. I want to scream YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES.
Not because I get paid by the word but because we yelled"yes" a lot when we won. Reliving moments keeps them alive. Happy memories can produce dopamine levels similar to the original experience.
To that end, I've brought together some touching words from several great New Zealanders. We've got ex-national coach Mike Hesson, 2015 World Cup hero Grant Elliott, our best cricket commentator, my Dad, and some rando from Matamata called Bex.
Last Thursday morning Jason Hoyte's award-winning call rang out across the nation.
"Shami again in to bowl to Taylor. He whips it off his pads, and it's four. After so much heartache, after so much pain, after so much suffering, the New Zealand cricketers are champions of the world. Yes, yes, yes, magnificent. World Champions - World F#$&ing Champions. What a fantastic performance from New Zealand. So many people doubted their ability and their pedigree, but they proved the critics wrong, and now they stand atop the mountain — champions of the world."
Beautiful words from an exceptional man. Interestingly Jason's Alternative Commentary Collective co-anchors were spraying Champagne in his face while ripping his clothes off as he delivered that. He was half nude and sticky but didn't miss a beat — what a pro.
Grant "The hairy Jav" Elliott expressed his feelings in an emotional phone call from his bed in MIQ. He was also half nude and sticky.
Your World Champions! Photo / Photosport
"There has been a lot of hurt around that 2019 World Cup final. Seven of these guys were there. They had that trophy taken from them. They could have dropped the lip. Instead they got to work and achieved something even bigger. We should never beat India in terms of population, but the performance and the heart of our team is truly inspiring and to win as comprehensively as that shows the class of this team. It's special; it didn't happen overnight; it's been a long process. There have been extreme lows. It's brilliant that it all came to fruition for such a truly great bunch of human beings."
Mike Hesson deserves a lot of credit for the turnaround in New Zealand cricket. He had this to say.
"Kane Williamson deserves a big long hug. He's brilliant, and he's led that team not just with his batting but with his captaincy and who he is as a person. It was a masterclass from a very good human. We are extremely lucky to have him in our team."
In the end, a historic victory for the people. The following text message was sent to the Matt and Jerry Breakfast show by a Bex from Matamata.
"I feel elated and also vindicated. The immense pride keeps leaking out of my eyes. There's relief and a sense that the world can now see what we have known about this team for some time. The heart, courage and high level of sportsmanship this team shows. It makes them the best in the world in my eyes. I love everything about this victory. Good things can happen to good people."
My Dad was at Eden Park as a little boy in 1955 when England skittled New Zealand for 26. It was our darkest day and is still the record test low. Yet, he remained a devoted cricket fan for 66 years. I asked him how it felt having been there from the lowest low to the highest high. His answer was so deep it brought tears to my eyes:
"Pretty bloody good, son," he whispered, "pretty bloody good."
Thursday morning, we became World Test Champions. Four days bathing in the reflected glory isn't enough - the match itself went for six. We owe it to ourselves and our team to start the week chuffed about the win. It was a victory delivered to New Zealand by a team who represent everything we aspire to be as a nation. Hardworking, honourable, friendly, talented people who know how to celebrate. Yes, yes yes yes, yes yes yes yes yes!
