They were in transition then and are seemingly in the same state of limbo 22 months on. And yet an unchanged XI from the first Test that contains seven survivors from that Neil Wagner-inspired epic is not wistfully romanticising about the possibility of history repeating itself. Parity in the series will have to be earned.
“It hasn’t been mentioned at all,” Latham said. “We know it’s a completely different team, a completely different bowling attack to that was used here, a different make-up to the batting.”
Clarity has been the key between Tests. Players were informed more than 24 hours before Thursday’s start that they would get the chance to go again, a chance at redemption to square the series. Blundell included, who will be playing at his home ground where he averages 55.16 in six Tests.
“He’s always known that he’s been playing,” Latham said on whether the player himself had doubts about making the cut this week. “We fully back Tom in terms of his ability to score runs and do a good job behind the stumps. We know what a quality player he is.”
New Zealand’s training session on Wednesday and Thursday featured catching sessions, which is nothing at all out of the norm but certainly drew more eyeballs after their botched fielding effort at Hagley Oval. Eight catches were dropped in England’s first innings, the most egregious being the first of five lives for Harry Brook on 18 before he went on to 171.
“We did a bit of catching yesterday and today, just like we usually do. We haven’t necessarily put an extra focus on it. We always put the work in behind the scenes, regardless of whether things have gone our way or not.”
Latham is guarded at the best of times, but there is a broader sense that New Zealand are keen to adopt a more ruthless approach. Not necessarily towards the opposition, but to themselves. The romanticism of Wellington 2023 counts for little. Nor does the first Test of this series.
“Last week was last week,” Latham said. “We’ve got another opportunity this week. We try and stay as level as we can. We’ve been in this situation before when things haven’t necessarily gone the way that we’ve wanted in the first game.”
