As an athlete, being out on the field, track or court, walking off with your teammates with big smiles, a few high fives, handshakes (or elbow touches) and crowding around the trophy with champagne sprayed everywhere is what you dream of, and these images keep you going when times are tough or the odds aren’t in your favour.
You don’t imagine getting a text on your team's WhatsApp chat saying that due to COVID-19 the last two rounds of the Plunket Shield have been cancelled. The outcome of that is: WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!
A great text to receive, but a message received with mixed emotions amongst the group. One extreme of winning the Shield which every team works so hard for and is the most prestigious title to win in New Zealand Cricket. The other extreme of hearing our season is over, done, finished, not another ball for me to bowl, not another boundary for Devon Conway to hit. A hollow feeling, a feeling I imagine many other athetes are currently dealing with, along with their supporters.
Speaking of supporters, since my move to Wellington I’ve been fortunate enough to have great support from our members, the public and the past players. The one thing they have wanted and almost demanded is winning the Plunket Shield. It was 16 years ago, season 2003-04, when the Birds last won the competition (it was called the State Championship back then) so I could see why they were demanding of it.
In between those 16 seasons the Firebirds have won two One-Day titles and three T20 titles, but for any cricket tragic fan, the Plunket Shield is the Holy Grail. A competition that is broken into two parts before and after Christmas, months of planning by the coaching staff which can either be hero or zero within the first hour of the season.
There are so many highs and lows throughout a four-day competition. It’s about a team effort, a few players can’t carry you like they can do in a white ball competition. We portrayed that more than ever this season, 21 players used, only one bowler in the top 10 wicket-takers and only two batsmen in the top 10 run-scorers. Usual winners of the Plunket Shield would have a least three or four players on both lists. We have achieved that in my previous Wellington seasons and have still walked away with no Shield.
The high: (Apart from winning) Devon Conway’s 327 not out against Canterbury at the Basin, an unbelievable knock which broke record after record along the way.
The low: (Apart from COVID-19) losing to Canterbury in the return fixture, losing by an innings and plenty. They say in sport timing is everything. Losing this game, gave us the wakeup call, the kick up the backside, which was what we needed to re-focus, to win our next two games and win the Shield.
16 years is too long. In the last 14 months this team has won all three national competitions. They say winning is a habit, so long may this continue. But before pre-season starts where thousands of balls are bowled or hit indoors, weights are lifted and running is done, let’s enjoy the success by having a drink (at home).
Thanks again for the support, the abuse and the demands! Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another 16 years! The team will never forget the Dream11 Super Smash Double-header Grand Final with the Blaze. The number of spectators who turned up in far less than ideal conditions was incredible. On behalf of Cricket Wellington and the Firebirds, thanks again and we look forward to seeing you all next season at the Basin. Until then - Winter well, take care and most of all stay healthy.
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Hamish Bennett
Article added: Thursday 19 March 2020
