The New Zealand press reacted with dismay after its cricket team were beaten 0-3 in the three-match one-day international series against Bangladesh that concluded on Sunday at Fatullah.
The hosts trounced the Kiwis in the ODIs, overcoming the visitors in all three games to record another series sweep after their memorable 4-0 win in Dhaka three years ago.
Following the 43-run and 40-run victories in the first two one-dayers, Bangladesh also got the better of New Zealand by four wickets in the third and final game to register another unprecedented series sweep.
The New Zealand team bore the brunt of the press on Monday, a day after the cricket team capitulated to its seventh consecutive defeat in limited-over internationals against Bangladesh.
The Southland Times mentioned in its match report that ‘the broom came out of the cupboard again this morning’ referring to the two series sweeps in 2010 and 2013.
The Southland-based newspaper went on to say that New Zealand’s ground fielding and bowling were ‘second-rate’ and that ‘they could have no complaints about the outcome of the third ODI or that of the series as a whole’.
The Otago Daily Times was scathing in its criticism branding New Zealand’s ground fielding as ‘sub-standard’ and blaming all the bowlers for ‘struggling to even get a consistency to their work’.
Biggest-selling daily The New Zealand Herald refused to use the absence of different players to injuries as an excuse, going on to point out that even Bangladesh were missing key players, notably all-rounder Sakib al Hasan and opener Tamim Iqbal in the final ODI.
‘The Black Caps were missing captain Brendon McCullum and one of their top batsmen in Kane Williamson overnight.
‘Consider Bangladesh’s best player, world No 1 all-rounder Sakib al Hasan missed the series with dengue fever, and their dashing opener Tamim Iqbal sat out the final game.
‘This wasn’t even Bangladesh’s best XI. Grim times indeed for New Zealand.’
The New Zealand Herald also stated that the series result will take some forgetting when it said, ‘you’re as good as your last effort so the problem is, this won’t be forgotten’ while The Press ran the headline ‘Sorry Black Caps lose again’.
Former New Zealand opener Mark Richardson wrote in his column for The New Zealand Herald that it was a time for reflection for the cricketers.
‘I am not being disrespectful to Bangladesh here or even the Black Caps because Bangladesh are a reasonable team now and not an easybeat – but a whitewash in the ODIs is not acceptable and approaches hang-your-head-in-shame time.’
The Kiwis will conclude their Bangladesh tour with a one-off Twenty20 international on Wednesday and will immediately leave for Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI series and two T20s.
-With New Age input
