Cricket

New Zealand's Test match against Afghanistan was canceled due to persistent rain and outfield issues, leaving the team disappointed and without any match practice before their upcoming series against Sri Lanka and India. Head coach Gary Stead expressed frustration over the missed opportunity to acclimatize to subcontinent conditions.The one-off Test was not part of the World Test Championship, but Stead emphasized its importance to the team. "Test cricket is very, very dear to the team's hearts," he said. "Every Test you get to play in is a big one."Despite the cancellation, Stead praised Afghanistan's recent achievements in white-ball cricket, including their victory over New Zealand in the 2024 T20 World Cup group stage. He welcomed the prospect of playing more Tests against Afghanistan in the future."Afghanistan have knocked just about every top team in the world over now," Stead said. "They're certainly a force and becoming more and more of a force in world cricket."New Zealand's remaining eight Tests in the World Test Championship cycle will be played in Asia, and Stead is confident in the team's ability to adapt to the conditions. "We've been there once in the past, and we are desperate to get there again," he said of the World Test Championship final."The conditions that we face in Galle will be, I'm sure, different to Bangalore, Pune, and Mumbai when we come back here again," Stead added. "So it's still about adapting to the different surfaces."

New Zealand's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean has sparked questions about the team's future direction. The Black Caps, who have consistently reached the semi-finals in recent editions, were eliminated after unexpected losses to Afghanistan and the West Indies.Coach Gary Stead acknowledged the need for reflection and potential changes to the squad. Veteran seamer Trent Boult has already announced his retirement from T20 internationals, and further adjustments may be necessary to revitalize the team's performance.Stead's contract extends until the end of the current World Test Championship cycle in 2025, but he may consider relinquishing his responsibilities in the white-ball formats. New Zealand has enjoyed success under Stead and captain Kane Williamson, winning the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021 and reaching the T20 World Cup final in 2021.However, a long-sought-after white-ball trophy continues to elude the Black Caps, leading to questions about the leadership's ability to secure one. Williamson, who recently relinquished the Test captaincy, may decide to step down from white-ball leadership or drop a format to extend his playing career.The team's older players, including Southee and Boult, may opt for a reduced workload or pursue franchise cricket. New Zealand faces the challenge of reconstructing a competitive T20 squad for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in Sri Lanka and India.

West Indies captain Rovman Powell believes his team has an advantage over an "undercooked" New Zealand side in their upcoming World Cup Group C clash. Both teams have faced disrupted preparations due to heavy rain and poor practice facilities at the Brian Lara Stadium.New Zealand's afternoon training session was cut short due to slippery practice strips, while West Indies' floodlit session was canceled altogether. The rainy season in Trinidad has brought adverse weather alerts, with thunderstorms likely.Powell sees this as an opportunity for West Indies to exploit New Zealand's lack of preparation. "If there's a good time to play New Zealand, I think it's now," he said. "They're a little bit undercooked. The pressure is really on them."New Zealand coach Gary Stead acknowledged the challenges his team has faced. "The practice wickets got wet out in the middle," he said. "The balls were going through the top of the surface, so we had a good fielding training instead."New Zealand's batters have struggled to face fast bowling in the nets due to the limited preparation. Stead expects a low-scoring game on Wednesday, unlike England's 267-run total at the same venue in December.Powell also hinted at a low-scoring match, citing the impact of rain on wicket preparation. "With the rain around, that can play a part in the scores," he said.New Zealand is expected to make changes to their lineup, with Ish Sodhi and James Neesham potential inclusions. Stead emphasized the importance of matching up well against West Indies' weaknesses.Despite their poor start, New Zealand needs to win their remaining three matches to qualify for the Super 8s. "We know what's in front of us: we have to win three games and win them well," Stead said. "We know things are stacked against us at the moment, but that's the challenge."

New Zealand's T20 World Cup campaign is set to begin with a challenging start, facing Afghanistan and West Indies in their first two matches. Despite a late start and jetlag, head coach Gary Stead remains optimistic about their chances.The squad has had limited training sessions due to rain and the absence of warm-up matches. However, Stead believes the time leading up to their first game will be sufficient for preparation and gathering intel from other matches.Stead emphasized the importance of adaptability in the squad, given the potential for different conditions and the challenges of DLS in shortened games. He also highlighted the need to monitor the weather, as rain could impact qualification.Finn Allen has recovered from a back injury and is training fully, giving New Zealand a clean bill of health. Stead will be closely observing the Afghanistan-Uganda match to assess the dew factor, which could affect the ball's movement.New Zealand's squad includes players who have demonstrated adaptability in the past, and Stead is confident in their ability to adjust to different roles and situations. He anticipates a difference in playing conditions between daytime and evening matches, with a higher dew factor expected in the evenings.Despite the challenges, Stead remains hopeful that New Zealand's late start will provide them with enough time to prepare and gain an advantage from observing other teams' performances.