New Zealand underdogs primed to exploit conditions and bite India’s long tail

New Zealand’s cricketers have been underdogs from the moment Australia’s first looked down on them in the 19th century and sneezed, but seldom has any canine been so far under a top dog as New Zealand in their World Cup semi-final against India. India have it all: more money than all the other cricket boards put together, hundreds of millions of adult males to choose from, and cricket is the only sport in towns, cities, slums and fields. In this World Cup they topped the qualifying group and lost once. New Zealand have lost their last three games, and their assets add up to not a great deal more than Kane Williamson, good governance, and the few males who don’t play rugby. “India are a very successful side and very popular side with a large population and a lot of [television] cameras, which is great,” Williamson said deferentially on the eve. “They bring so much to the sport that we are fortunate to be a part of.” Next the steely bit. “But it is a cricket match. You do try and simplify things as best you can, as a team, and it does come back to the cricket that we… Read full this story

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