And don’t worry, this post is not because they beat Pakistan. Pakistan beats Pakistan.
They don’t require other teams to beat them, they just know how to do it. It clicks with them, because that’s what they are. When they win, you see Afrdi’s shampoo sponsors happy, Younis makes jokes that make you laugh, and the world is good.
Now New Zealand on the other hand know exactly what to say.
Sample Southee recently:
“Pakistan have proved they’re a great Twenty20 outfit – they’re the world champions – and they’ve got the wood over us in the last few outings.”
Now I’m no Southee fan, I think he’s a New Zealand Broad but that’s me but I love how he’s completely removed all the attention from New Zealand and thrown it on Pakistan.
Sure Pakistan wins, no big deal, they’re meant to. They lose, hell New Zealand were the odds on favourites to lose miserably.
And this is what the Kiwis do so well, they just know what to say and when to say.
Something the South Africans and the English could learn to do so. You hear Swann making ridiculous statements all the time, Mickey Arthur is on another planet altogether where he gives advice to every team except his.
Australia really have toned down the talking now. They appreciate others now, what a dampener.
If there was an award for smooth talkers in cricket, I would give it to the Kiwis, from Fleming to Vettori and nearly every other Kiwi cricketer.
Kiss My Cricket 
6 comments
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November 12, 2009 at 1:23 am
Blog Bludger
You might have hit on something there. I wonder how our cricketers would cope in the political arena. Perhaps this is something their agents should be suggesting to them after retirement if they don’t get a coaching or television presenting job that’s to their liking. They could go into parliament. There’s some good bank to be made there.
If world cricket was a beauty pageant, our players would be Miss Congeniality hands down.
I suppose the Spirit Of Cricket award we won during the Champions Trophy is a good substitute.
November 12, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Kit Kat
Haha Bludger, I like the Miss Congeniality comparison.
How are the politics in NZ? Are they as vile and twisted as it is around the world? I’m sure politics is like that everywhere.
The Spirit of Cricket just clicks nicely with NZ.
November 13, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Blog Bludger
Nah, not vile and twisted. They’re not really bred with the kind of intellect to embody those qualities. Not that I’m complaining, it’s easier to see through their self serving schemes. I mean, one of the biggest scandals of the previous decade was a minister who was spending public money on expensive boxer shorts. Not really up there with the machinations of US and UK politicians.
November 12, 2009 at 6:16 am
Purna
New Zealand is like Switzerland. Nobody can dislike them. I do like the line about Pakistan beating themselves. It’s as if it physically hurts them when they win.
November 12, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Kit Kat
What happens in Pakistan deserves a soap-opera, prime time.
Apparently Butt claims Younis might still be captain. We have a right down merry-go-round going on here.
November 13, 2009 at 5:52 am
Purna
They should make this a weekly event. Younis quits on Monday, Butt begs him to come back on Tuesday and Wednesday, Younis reconsiders on Thursday and then comes back on Friday. Then they party the weekend away.