This is an adaptation of the parable of Jesus found in Matthew 25:14-30
For it will be like the Black Caps captain Tim Southee going into a test match against England. He called together his team and entrusted to them his plan to beat Bazball. To Williamson he gave five talents, to Blundell two, to Nicholls one, to each according to his cricket ability. They then went and played England at the Basin Reserve,Wellington.
Williamson who had received the five talents of cricket ability went at once and traded with the English and he made five talents more. So also Blundell who had the two talents made two talents more. But Nicholls, who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his cricket ability.
Now after an sensational victory by one run, Southee came and talked with them at their post game debrief. And Williamson who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Southee, despite my poor showing in the first innings: I have made five more talents by smashing the hapless English with 132 runs; thus setting the foundation for winning despite having to follow on.’ Southee said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful Kane. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of becoming New Zealand’s highest test runs scorer.’
And Blundell who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Captain Southee, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more with 90 runs in the second innings and the winning catch of Jimmy Anderson .’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of being only the forth team to win after being asked to follow on.’
Then Nicholls who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Southee, I knew you to be a talented bowler, reaping on a green pitch and gathering wickets through a scrambled seam, so I was afraid, and I went and hid my talent in the ground. Here, you have it.’
But Southee answered him, ‘You lazy and and slothful middle order batsman! You knew that I wanted a counterattack against Stokes and his Bazball tactics, mixing defence with ruthless attack. Then you ought to have invested in a forward defence, and at my coming I should have been able to see that in action.
So I will take the talent from you and give it to Williamson who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and Kane will have an abundance of cricket talent. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Southee then cast Nicholls into the outer darkness of the Ford Trophy competition. In that place there is weeping, gnashing of teeth, and small crowds.
Result
England vs New Zealand, 2nd Test
ENG 435/8d & 256
NZ (f/o) 209 & 483
New Zealand won by 1 run
Click here to view more @espncricinfo :
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-new-zealand-2022-23-1322349/new-zealand-vs-england-2nd-test-1322356/live-cricket-score