Bishop ChrisCHRIS BISHOP (National): Thank you Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of the New Zealand National Party to support the motion moved by the Deputy Prime Minister. This morning's victory over India in the World Test Championship final at South Hampton should be recorded as one of our greatest ever sporting victories. It has not always been easy to be a New Zealand cricket fan. It took 26 years for New Zealand to record its first ever test win in 1956 against the West Indies. We didn't win our first series until 1969. Australia didn't play us till 1945 and then we had to wait 28 years before they deigned to play us again. Eight years ago we were dismissed for 45 in South Africa but we have always played with courage.In 1953 New Zealand toured South Africa and the Tangiwai rail disaster occurred in the middle of the second test. Bob Blair's fiancée was one of the 151 victims. The pitch was lively. Bert Sutcliffe and Lawrie Miller were hit by bounces and were forced to retire hurt. The great John Reid was hit five times and had to leave the field. Nobody expected Bob Blair to come out to bat but Sutcliffe returned to the crease with bandages all over his head and together with the devastated Bob Blair put on a performance Brendon McCullum would be proud of smashing sixes all over Ellis Park. As the Deputy Prime Minister has noted we saw another example of that last night—not quite so damaged perhaps as Bob Blair psychologically or Bert Sutcliffe physically but from BJ Watling and he's also referred to Neil Wagner's efforts late last year.This Black Caps team plays with a quiet pride and a fierce determination. They are conscious of our history. They are driven to be better by what came before and to leave the glorious game of cricket better than they found it. We don't have the resources of Australia or England or India. We don't have the wealth from television rights and the high salaries that brings. We're a quietly determined country of 5 million where our cricket pitches double as rugby fields and occasionally as rock concert venues. But today New Zealand stands on top of the world world test champions. To Kane Williamson and the team and the support staff: we are so proud of you. We are proud of what you have achieved winning series after series at home. We are proud of how you never give up.All looked lost late last year against Pakistan but you kept plugging away and then Mitchell Santner took that last glorious caught and bowled in the dusk. Most importantly we are proud of the way you play the game. After Grant Elliott smashed that six to win the semi-final in the Cricket World Cup in 2015 the first thing he did was go and hug a devastated Dale Steyn. And Kane Williamson I note last night went straight over to Virat Kohli after the winning runs were scored this morning.There's one person who I think this morning's victory would mean more to than anyone else and that's Martin Crowe who died just over five years ago. Before Kane and Luteru Ross Poutoa Lote Taylor came along he was our greatest batsman. At a time of adversity for New Zealand cricket he was a brilliant and innovative captain. He stood tall and led from the front. The way he played the game in the 1980s and 1990s is the way this Black Caps team plays the game. He was Ross Taylor's cricket and batting mentor. So how appropriate that it was Ross Taylor last night who hit the winning runs with that trademark leg-side flick and crowned New Zealand world test champions—well done.