„It takes a bit more patience to go from white ball to Test cricket,” Mitchell said. „You can take a breather and relax. The surfaces are changing. We’ll continue to adapt. We’ll see what we get on day one.
„Playing that match in front of millions of people is always special. It’s recognition of what we have here at the start of the World Test Championship. How much it means to wear that baggie with the silver fern. .”
He also said that New Zealand is focusing on short-term goals without thinking about the ultimate goal of reaching the WTC finals.
„We clearly know that’s the ultimate goal,” Mitchell said. „That’s what every country in the World Test Championship wants to do. For us it’s about making small targets. Trying to sweep games as we go. First, we have to face Bangladesh. It’s always a tough challenge. In Bangladesh.
„The conditions are foreign to us Kiwis, so it’s about adapting as quickly as we can on these surfaces and getting caught up in winning the little moments. That’s what we’re talking about. We’re not looking too far ahead. At the same time, you want to be part of those big games. That’s why you play Test cricket.”
„Now you can see the reverse sweep coming in a lot more. It makes life difficult for the bowlers. But that’s the way guys want to play. They have to adapt to whatever surface they think is the best way to score. .”
Ronchi said the ODI World Cup in India on slower pitches had prepared them for the Test series on a similar track in Bangladesh. „It would have been a big change if we had come straight from the green wickets of New Zealand to Bangladesh,” he said. „But the majority of our team here, they have been in the World Cup. They practice on slow and turning surfaces and that helps us in this Test series.”
As for Mitchell, he has put the World Cup behind him, although he has enjoyed his presence in the ICC’s team of the tournament. „It’s nice to be recognized [a place in the World Cup team of the tournament]. It means you contribute to the team and help win games,” Mitchell said. „There’s not a lot of time to think. We jump right into Test cricket. You must be present and ready to go to the test team. But a very special eight weeks in India. Those memories will last a lifetime.”