Hit For Six: Kiwi legends hail current crop as 'best ever' after WTC final success

Hit For Six returns after a huge week in cricket which saw New Zealand triumph over India in their World Test Championship Final in Southampton. England have also been in action against Sri Lanka and we have all bases covered.

Kiwis hailed by greats

New Zealand’s greats have been quick to hail their side following their World Test Championship final victory over India.

Skipper Kane Williamson (52*) and veteran Ross Taylor (47*) saw the Kiwis home as they completed a famous eight-wicket victory on the final day.

Following ODI World Cup heartbreak in 2019, the likeable side's success has been used as proof that nice guys do occasionally come first.

More than that, Kiwi legend Sir Richard Hadlee labelled them the best side in the country’s history.

“The whole team has shown a high degree of professionalism. Their skill sets have complimented each other to make them a complete playing unit," Hadlee said.

"The management and support staff have also played important roles in preparing players to perform at the highest level.

"Over the years NZC have built a significant depth of players, which makes us one of the most competitive teams in world cricket.

“It's fair to say that this current group of players is the best in our history."

And Brendon McCullum, who helped transform New Zealand from also-rans to one of the best sides in the world before retiring from the international game in 2016, was fulsome in his praise.

He said: "I'm not sure it's sunk in yet. Overnight the game was on a bit of a knife-edge. It almost had that feeling of the previous two World Cups — get close but we won't quite get across the line. 

“But for them to have been able to manufacture a result against the weather and a very formidable Indian side, to do it on the biggest stage is quite superb.

"I'm sure over the coming days, weeks and even years we'll look back at this moment and be so proud of what Kane's men have been able to achieve and the heights they've been able to scale. 

“For a country with pretty limited resources it is pretty amazing really and to do it against the powerhouse of world cricket on the biggest stage is something that makes it more satisfying."

Format needs changing — Kohli

Although the qualifying criteria for the WTC Final drew plenty of criticism, there is little doubting it brought the best two sides in the world together.

But India captain Virat Kohli was adamant that trophy must be decided via a three-game series, rather than a one-off match.

It was a comment made by coach Ravi Shastri before the game and Kohli reiterated that point following his side's defeat.

"I am not in absolute agreement of deciding the best Test side in the world over the course of one game," he said.

"If it is a Test series, it has to be a test of character over three Tests — which team has the ability to come back in the series, or totally blow away the other team. 

"It can't just be pressure applied over two days of good cricket and then you suddenly you are not a good Test side anymore. I don't believe in it.

"It has to be a hard grind and something that definitely needs to be worked around in the future. 

"At the end of three matches, where there's effort, there's ups and downs, there's situations changing during the course of the series.

"You need a chance to rectify the things you have done in the first game, and then really see who is the better side over the course of a three-match series or something — that will be a good measure of how things really are.

"So we are not too bothered by this result because we understand as a Test side what we have done over the last 3-4 years, not just over the last 18 months. This is not a measure of who we are as a team [with] the ability and the potential we have had for so many years now."

Livingstone takes his chance 

After annihilating Sri Lanka in the first T20I on Wednesday night, England were put under pressure in the second clash on Thursday.

Chasing just 103 to win on Duckworth-Lewis, Eoin Morgan’s side found themselves at 36-4 with the inexperienced — at least at international level — duo of Liam Livingstone and Sam Billings at the crease.

With rain in the air and on a difficult pitch, they put on 54 before Billings fell for 24 and Livingstone (29*) and Sam Curran (16*) saw them home.

For Livingstone, often devastating as an opening batsman in domestic cricket, it was a case of grabbing an opportunity to prove himself as a finisher at the top level with both hands.

With spots in England’s line-up for the T20 World Cup still available, Nasser Hussain was left impressed by the Cumbrian.

"Liam Livingstone doesn't strike me as someone who is under pressure," he told Sky Sports. 

"He seems to enjoy his cricket, he seems to have a swagger and a presence at the crease. Long may that continue.

"The partnership between Billings and Livingstone was excellent. Livingstone, I loved the little flick for six he played because it just showed his presence. 

He, in particular, played in a very cool, calm way and out of everyone in these two games, I would say Livingstone has pushed his case the best.

"England needed that partnership and it was an important partnership for those two.They may be vying for one spot, you don't know. Livingstone and Billings don't get much opportunity in T20.

"The only thing I'd say is, does Livingstone need to bat more in the middle order?

"He's going to go off and he's going to be batting at the top of the order [for Lancashire], does he need to bat in the middle? 

“Because if he comes in in a World Cup semi-final, it's going to be at six and he needs to have had lots of time and opportunities at that."