"There was a bit of a hallway cricket Test series going on" - Rachin Ravindra on New Zealand's activities during washed out Test against Afghanistan
New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra reflected on the team's endeavors while stuck at the hotel during the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida. No play was possible over the course of five days due to rain and poor drainage facilities at the venue, forcing the clash to be abandoned altogether.
With even the toss not being conducted, and the poor state of the outfield, the teams did not even report to the ground to assess conditions or go through their warm-ups. Ravindra revealed that the squad resorted to playing a Test series out in the hotel corridors to pass the time.
“It’s certainly disappointing whenever the rain falls, but as mates and teammates we always find ways to keep ourselves busy. There was a bit of a hallway cricket test series going on – me and the skipper versus Tommy Blundell and Dev Conway," Ravindra told the New Zealand Herald ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka.
“I think we came away victorious 6-1 in the series and each was five matches, so it did get quite competitive. We’re competitive people, we were going at each other a little too much, but it was nice to get the juices flowing," he added.
During the 2022 T20I series against India, the New Zealand players were seen playing 'football-volleyball' inside the arena when the series opener was abandoned due to rain in Wellington. Indian players like Sanju Samson and Yuzvendra Chahal also joined the action soon after.
"I’m just trying to pick their brains as much as I can" - Rachin Ravindra on having left-arm spinners like Santner, Patel and Herath in the camp
Rachin Ravindra recently earned his first national contract with New Zealand Cricket in July 2024, as he looks to cement his place as an all-format player. The Blackcaps are primed to play two Test series in the subcontinent, against Sri Lanka and India, in the coming months, and the all-rounder's spin bowling is bound to come into play.
Ravindra made his Test debut in India almost three years ago, and he has not featured in the subcontinent in red-ball cricket since then. New Zealand do have some credible spin bowling options in the setup, which includes veteran Ajaz Patel and all-rounder Mitchell Santner. They also have former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath serving as a consultant.
“We’ve got players who have had experience in these conditions and who are world-class players. Working with the spinners, being able to bowl in tandem with [Mitchell Santner] and [Ajaz Patel] and learn from Rangana - a guy who’s taken 400-odd test wickets - I’m just trying to pick their brains as much as I can," Ravindra said in the same conversation.
New Zealand's tour of Sri Lanka is set to begin from September 18 onwards in Galle.