Sheffield Cricket Lovers' Society Year Book 2026

ALI SAAD decided to shun the expensive travel agent packages and put together his own cricket tour to New Zealand. Here he talks about the adventure and assesses the value and success of his research. The season ends in late September and the cricket lover is left wondering how they are going to fill in their time until the following April. I admit I am no different and I yearned to be in the sun, once again, watching the great game we all love. One night in October 2023, whilst at work trawling the internet, I noted that the fixtures for England’s tour of New Zealand had been finalised. So, for the next 3 or so hours, I took the plunge and looked at accommodation and flights. By the end of my shift I had managed to book a six week adventure to New Zealand. It had been a very quiet night workwise and, being prepared to put time and effort in, saved me a fair bit of cash when looking at ‘alternative accommodation’. As I was going there prior to Christmas I knew that it would seem surreal to see festive decorations when the temperatures were in the 30s, but so what? A new experience and all that.. The plan was to spend the first ten days sightseeing and looking up old friends before the Test matches started. And, this being my third trip in the past few years, I was becoming a bit of an old hand and before Iong I would be using the Maori greeting term, ‘Kia Ora’. Hopefully often, and with the sun on my back. The flight, from Manchester in mid November, to New Zealand via Frankfurt and Singapore, took a total of 26 hours and arrived in Auckland... in a torrential downpour! After getting over jet lag and exploring Auckland, I flew on to Tauranga and stopped in Mount Maunganui, a Test venue but there was no match scheduled there this time. But it is a fantastic resort by the sea, with lovely sandy beaches, coffee shops, bars and restaurants. What more could you want? Unfortunately, the friends I had arranged to meet could not come to see me after all so I spent time doing quite a bit of walking and sightseeing. That was no bad thing as the Mount is definitely one to tick off the bucket list if you visit the North Island. I flew to Christchurch the day before the 1st Test, so at last cricket was on the menu. 1st Test: Christchurch A brisk 15 minute walk from my digs took me through Hagley Park to the ground, arriving about 90 minutes before the start. It was just as well as there were the usual formidable queues waiting as it was a first day sellout. Even at 10am it was already very warm and that first day was one of the hottest I’ve ever endured at a cricket match. One of the things you will find at Kiwi cricket grounds is the lack of seating and you find yourself sitting on grassy banks. A picnic chair is definitely an asset because sitting on your backside for several hours is very uncomfortable. At all grounds free sun cream is offered, and always take a hat. I failed to heed my own advice, forgot and suffered the consequences! England won the toss and fielded with Jacob Bethell making his debut. Conway went in the second over before a fine partnership between Williamson and Latham took them to 130, and England chipped away as New Zealand posted 348. They started badly with Crawley out to Henry - a statistic to be repeated over the series - and Root falling to the debutant, Smith. But enter Harry Brook who hit a superb 171, flaying the opposition and being particularly severe on Smith and O’Rourke, heaving them for mighty sixes. And, being dropped five times did not help the Kiwi cause!. Brook was ably supported by Pope and Stokes, half centuries apiece, and the tail wagged, taking the total to 499 and a healthy lead. In their second dig ,New Zealand had a poor start, both openers out cheaply and only runs from Williamson and Mitchell gave the score a little respect. Carse bowled fiery spells and took six wickets, leaving England needing only 104 for victory. Despite Crawley again falling to Henry the target was achieved in just 12 overs, by the comfortable margin of eight wickets. At the end of the proceedings the ground was littered with picnic chairs, left by England supporters obviously not wanting to take them with them. Not wanting to overlook such an opportunity I was able to take one with me for the next match! 35