. It feels like part of his cricketing personality. A bit of this, a bit of that, all of which adds up to a clear-eyed vision greater than the whole – a series-defining 13 for 157 greater than the whole as it turns out. Rather like New Zealand sport in fact, the small country with the big ambition, and one still rubbing its eyes after an eye-poppingly bonkers week of sporting success.
Firstly, that weekend, kicked off by Team New Zealand’s Taihoro, which regained the America’s Cup off the waters of Barcelona, sending Ben Ainslie back to the drawing board. Then the first Test win in India, guided by Rachin Ravindra; followed by the Silver Ferns snatching netball’s Constellation Cup from Australia’s Diamonds; the Paddle Ferns winning the Women’s Canoe Polo World Cup against Italy; and finally Sophie Devine’s New Zealand defeating South Africa in the T20 World Cup final in Dubai.
That same weekend, Auckland FC, New Zealand’s first football team to play in the Australian premier league, won their first match, beating Brisbane Roar 2-0 in front of a capacity crowd at Mount Smart, while Auckland-born Chris Wood continued to slot in the goals for Nottingham Forest.
Seismic events that tickled the government press release machine into action: “I think Kiwi sports fans can be forgiven if they’re caught yawning at work today,” beamed sports minister Chris Bishop, “after so much sporting excitement packed into one weekend!”
But Santner’s left-arm magic would, arguably, top the lot. The following Friday, a man who had never before taken a first-class five-fer had bowled New Zealand to victory in the second Test and with it secured his country’s first ever series win in India – having previously drawn a blank in 12 attempts over 62 years. It was India’s first series defeat at home since losing …
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