There have been Australian cricket supporters in Christchurch this past week and not, word has it, to escape the sense of crisis that has engulfed their team back home. Apparently they were so taken by their experience during the 2-0 series win for their side in March, a return visit was swiftly booked.
Who could blame them? As the red weed of franchise T20 continues its spread and a slightly dystopian landscape forms, this first Test between New Zealand and England has offered a decent counterpoint (even if there have, admittedly, been some depressingly small Test crowds in South Africa and Antigua).
