New Zealand and England are currently up against each other in the three-match Test series opener at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. However, the ongoing first Test saw a surprising incident that stunned the entire cricket world, leaving the stakeholders disappointed.
In a shocking incident, Hagley Oval was targeted by thieves overnight on Friday (November 29) after the end of Day 2 of the ongoing Test series opener between New Zealand and England. Several items, including two cameras belonging to UK broadcaster TalkSport, were stolen from a secured area at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
TalkSport Cameras among items stolen overnight at Hagley Oval
This theft has disrupted the broadcaster’s ability to provide visuals for Day 3 on its YouTube channels. The Venues Ōtautahi chief executive, Caroline Harvie-Teare, confirmed the security breach despite the 24/7 surveillance that was in place at the time at the venue.
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Harvie-Teare further said that comprehensive CCTV footage is being investigated by the police, and Venues Ōtautahi is actively inspecting the incident to determine what occurred. Harvie-Teare also said that the management has vowed to enhance security measures to ensure the safety of the teams, media, and facilities for the remainder of the match.
Caroline Harvie-Teare stated, “Some of the things we are aware of are some Venues Ōtautahi technology equipment, like laptops; we’ve had a TV taken from one of the corporate areas; we’ve had alcohol taken; we’ve had some food taken, and we are just working through that full list with police on that. It was all locked up, so obviously we are concerned about what’s happened; this is not something that has happened before—certainly not in my tenure.”
We take our hosting responsibilities very seriously: New Zealand Cricket
Meanwhile, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) expressed surprise and disappointment over the break-in and the theft of TalkSport’s cameras. The board acknowledged the disruption caused to the broadcaster, and they felt sorry for them but emphasized its commitment to supporting the affected team and ensuring they can access necessary equipment for the match.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) also confirmed that the necessary steps are being taken in collaboration with relevant authorities to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said in an official statement: “We take our hosting responsibilities very seriously and are sorry such a talented team of storytellers has been inconvenienced. We’ve reached out to express our disappointment over the theft and to offer them every assistance in accessing equipment in the interim.”
New Zealand vs England first Test action so far
Speaking about the first Test, England won the toss and opted to field first, and the Kiwis posted 348 runs on the board in their first innings, thanks to Kane Williamson (93) and Glenn Phillips (58*) stunning half-centuries in Christchurch. For England, Brydon Carse and Shoaib Bashir each scalped four wickets against the hosts.
Later, England posted a mammoth 499 runs on the board thanks to Harry Brook’s remarkable knock of 171 runs against England. Captain Ben Stokes (80) and Ollie Pope (77) each also contributed fifties to the total. For New Zealand, Matt Henry and Nathan Smith were standout bowlers with four-wicket and three-wicket hauls against England.
Well, the tourists are cruising towards a one-sided win in Christchurch, having already taken six New Zealand wickets for 153 runs in their second innings. Currently, the hosts have only a four-run lead at the stumps on Day 3 of the ongoing Christchurch Test against England.