New Zealand cricket fans will be hurting after their team’s seven-wicket loss to Australia in the Cricket World Cup final last night. With hopes riding high for the Black Caps, the grinding defeat was hard to watch.
But even in the aftermath, the Black Caps – and in particular captain Brendon McCullum – showed class.
Brendon McCullum stands with his team after their Cricket World Cup final defeat. Photo: AFP
GIVING CREDIT TO AUSTRALIA
"It doesn't rankle me because I think, they were too good, and you've got to sometimes acknowledge when a team is better than what you were on the day," McCullum told Radio New Zealand.
"If we play them tomorrow who knows what the result may be, but on the day they stepped up and they delivered." It was a convincing win, he said.
"All credit to Australia for the way that they were able to deliver on the biggest stage, on the biggest occasion, and at the key moments.
ON THE AUSSIES’ SLEDGING
"It wasn't really discussed within the group. Send-offs are send-offs. It's not something we necessarily are concerned about.
"I think the focus should be on how well Australia played and how they deserve this victory, rather than any minor issues on the way through."
ON SUPPORT FROM HOME
On Stuff, cricket writer Jonathan Millmow describes McCullum talking at the post-match press conference:
"There is one other thing I did want to say. I looked in the changing room today and those guys have been on an incredible journey and we have loved every single minute of it. We've created memories and friendships which will last for the rest of our lives.
"We've had some support from our country which we never believed was possible and we are incredibly proud what we have been able to achieve. We ran second today so all credit to Australia but we walk away with our heads incredibly high.
"We had Martin Crowe and John Key, our prime minister, in the changing room just before and they are incredibly proud of what we have able to achieve as well and they are just a couple of guys that we have been able to share it with and we have shared this with the whole country. It would've been nice to have won it but we are proud of what we have been able to achieve."
AND FEW WORDS FROM THE AUSSIES
We should also give a nod to the Aussies, who dedicated their win to Phillip Hughes.
The Guardian reports: “Hughesy’s thought about and spoken about on a daily basis,” said Clarke, who wore a black armband with the initials PH on it. “Probably the last couple of months, for me personally, it’s probably been harder than when he passed away.”
“We are still thinking about him, we are still talking about him and we always will. We believe we played this World Cup with 16 players in our squad and that will continue for the rest of my career, that’s for sure.”
For more Cricket World Cup coverage, visit radionz.co.nz/news/sport.