The summer of 2018 and Ireland are in the final of the World Cup. In advance of the final game, they stride onto the field of play, beaming. During “Ireland’s Call” the anthem is belted out with gusto,  remarkably the atmosphere amongst the players seems calm despite the incredible stakes at play.

In the end the final didn't go their way but they came home as heroes having against all the odds picked up silver at the biggest tournament going.

Just in case you think I am going a bit scatty, this was not a cricket team but the Irish Women's Hockey side whose efforts that summer in 2018 remains one of the greatest performances in Irish sport.

Their coach Graham Shaw has insisted that the team enjoyed their experience of playing in the biggest tournament and to play without fear. That's easy to say but very difficult to pull off but under their captain Katie Mullan, the players bought into this and hey presto produced the performances of a lifetime. This in no way minimises the technical, physical nor mental work that went into their preparation. Having done the prep, they just had to go out and play. Just! With minds cleared of the stress of having to perform, that's just what they did.

Many coaches will claim that they want their teams to play with a smile on their face. You can see it on TV. The exponents of Bazball seem to stride around with maniacal grin attached to their mug but they have yet to convince me that Bazball is as much fun as they claim. Do they discuss amongst their group if responsibility to the team out ways adherence to the Bazball way of life?  For what it's worth I reckon Bazball will soon become one of those odd ideas we look at on Reeling in the Years. Quirky but puzzling. Unless the ICC make it mandatory, of course, which is not beyond the realm of possibility.

I thought of these matters recently while watching New Zealand lift the T20 World Cup in Dubai. It was a competition that I enjoyed watching. That might go against the grain to some, after all, the slow and seemingly dead wickets made scoring difficult. Add in that boundaries seemed a touch bigger meaning that sixes and fours were not as regular as seem to be the norm and indeed the expected norm in this form of cricket. Imagine, some advantage for the bowlers! Incredible. Cricket was always meant to be a contest between bat and ball, but bat is certainly the favourite child at the moment.

So it made for a different style of T20 game when defending a lowish total was possible and bowling skills took as high a priority as biffing the ball around the ground. And it always helps when the winners are not those expected to win.  Australia, quite rightly were red hot favourites but knock out sport leaves no place for a slightly off day especially in a tight semi final. That does not give credit to an outstanding chase by South Africa, admittedly in a very good game, while New Zealand earned their spot with a determined and disciplined performance over the West Indies.  With 15 needed off the final over Suzie Bates told her captain and longtime teammate Sophie Devine that she wanted to bowl. She accepted the responsibilty as a senior player and kept her cool to see her team into the final. As part of their coverage, Sky were replaying finals from previous T20 tournaments. I caught one, the inaugural 2009 version, in which England as the home side beat the New Zealanders at Lords.  Included in the losing side were the same Devine and Bates. They were instantly recognisable however the game has moved on a long way in the intervening period.

The self proclaimed grandmothers of the team, Devine, Bates and Tahuhu have been swept along by the enthusiasm of their side, most of whom are many years younger.  And such enthusiasm.

New Zealand were popular winners in the final despite coming into the competition on a bad run, but that must be taken into the context of a developing side playing against England in England and Australia in Australia, the top two in the ICC rankings.   It has to be acknowledged that the wickets suited their bowling attack with the slowies, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr and Eden Carson outstanding throughout.

Watching Fran Jonas felt like a throwback to my early playing days as she consistently flummoxed batters with late inswingers in the mode of Gerry Kirwan, it was a joy to see her tease batters before putting the nail in the coffin with her late inswing. Kerr was simply outstanding, with bat and ball and in the field.  How nice to see an orthodox bat manipulate the ball without having to resort to ugly slogs. The last of that three, Carson, took the onerous responsibility of bowling in the power play and game after game she delivered.

So while the Kiwis delivered outstanding cricket they did so in a manner that was a pleasure to watch.  In particular, Jonas, Carson and Plimmer played with a joy that is uplifting. Those coaches who tell their team to play with a smile on their face will have witnessed a team at the peak of their smiling game.  Enjoyment of their own personal game but also of their teammates contributions In the heat of the biggest battles. It is something that is easier said than done, when the pressure comes on but there was nothing forced about the smiles.  The Kiwis have a way about then, as a nation as much as a sports team. On commentary as the victory was assured, former player Katey Martin, commented that they had “done it their way, with humility”, that felt like an apt summary.

The other stars of the show were the New Zealand social media team.   Every team nowadays has an individual with a camera following their every footsteps. Some, it has to be said, are better than others. The Kiwis however are top of the pile. Always interesting, they manage to make you feel inside the camp, a camp that comes across as a very happy bunch. Social media of course can be manipulated but there is nothing forced about the sheer pleasure that is evident coupled with the surefooted words. Look out for the squad's rendition of a Maori Song ‘E te Iwi E’ as a tribute to their senior players and see for yourself the pride.  Professional sport is a tough gig but these players bring a wonderful attitude to their work. I fully expect one of them to look into a camera one of these days and tell us “you know we get paid to have this much fun?”

So the World Cup is done, the  WBBL is a matter of days away and with Orla Prendegast in the Adelaide Strikers squad, our house will be keeping a close eye on that competition.  England are in Pakistan and then off to New Zealand, the Big Bash will be on TV along with the women's Ashes so there is plenty of cricket to see on the box. That gets us up to the end of January. It might all be too much for me and I will return to my usual winter retreat of having Spurs disappoint me but maybe just maybe this will be our year….