New Zealand: Last News

Jonny Bairstow has enjoyed a magnificent summer so far, striking four brilliant Test match hundreds for England in stunning wins over New Zealand and India.

It is not quite an international retirement, more like a conscious uncoupling. Trent Boult’s decision to relinquish his New Zealand central contract to create more time to play in Twenty20 leagues is another indication of how rapidly cricket’s landscape is changing.

New Zealand icon Ross Taylor, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, released his autobiography on Thursday. In the book, titled "Black & White", Taylor opened up about instances of racism that he faced through his playing career. He spoke about how it would crop up in dressing room banter and in comments from some staff members and officials. He noted that he knew the comments didn't come from a "racist perspective", but rather due to "insensitivity" and lack of empathy.

Trent Boult's decision to pull out of a national contract with New Zealand Cricket to spend more time with family has intensified the debate on players preferring to play franchise cricket over international cricket. Iconic Australian pacer Jason Gillespie, however, backed Boult's decision, however, while also saying that the "cricketing landscape" has been changing. "Whether we like/agree or not, the cricketing landscape has been changing for a while now," Gillespie tweeted in response to the news on Boult being released from his contract.

The West Indies' season of white ball woes continued on Wednesday when New Zealand completed a 13-run win in the first T20 International of a three-match series at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

West Indies' season of white ball woe continued on Wednesday when New Zealand completed a 13-run win in the first T20 International of a three-match series at Sabina Park in Jamaica. Fresh from a successful European sojourn, the Black Caps posted a formidable 185 for five batting first in a rain-interrupted innings before their premier bowlers combined to limit the Caribbean side to 172 for seven in reply.

Ross Taylor has revealed he was offended by race-based remarks from team-mates and staff in New Zealand dressing rooms during his career and said the country's cricket board could do more to bring Polynesian talent into the sport. Taylor, who has Samoan heritage on his mother's side, described in his book "Ross Taylor Black and White" how he and other team mates endured insensitive "banter" from white players. "In many ways, dressing room banter is the barometer," wrote Taylor, who played his last international match in April. "A team mate used to tell me, 'You're half a good guy, Ross, but which half is good? You don’t know what I’m referring to.' "I was pretty sure I did. Other players also had to put up with comments that dwelt on their ethnicity. In all probability, a Pakeha (white New Zealander) listening to those sorts of comments would think, 'Oh, that’s okay, it’s just a bit of banter'. "But he’s hearing it as white person, and it’s not directed at people like him. So, there’s no pushback; no one corrects them."

Ever-since Hardik Pandya's stint as a captain in the Ireland series and also in the fifth and final T20I against West Indies brought victory to Team India, fans and experts from all over the world have been suggesting that the all-rounder should be considered as a full-time skipper. And now former New Zealand Scott Styris did not shy away from sharing views regarding the star all-rounder and said that he won't be surprised if Hardik gets the command of the Indian T20 side.