Conway ready for final test of character

A fortnight after he stopped the cricket world in its tracks, Devon Conway says he’s finally completed the significant task of replying to the flood of well-wishers from around the globe.

Now, peering out his second floor window at the Hilton Ageas Bowl, overlooking the pitch for tonight’s World Test Championship final, he is plotting against India’s bowlers insisting this is just another game of cricket.

Conway and his Black Caps team-mates will play the biggest test match of their careers in the inaugural decider for test supremacy.

It doesn’t get much bigger than a debut against England at Lord’s, though, when the 29-year-old lefthander broke numerous records in his stunning knock of 200.

Expectation continues to soar for the South African, coming up four years since he and fiancee Kim started a new life in Wellington and he plundered runs for fun for the Firebirds. Not that fame and a growing reputation seems to overly trouble the gifted batsman with ice in his veins.

‘‘It feels the exact same: another game, another test match, another opportunity to wear the black cap. As opposed to ‘this is a final against India, this is what we’ve worked towards for a number of years to get to this position’,’’ Conway told Stuff from Southampton.

‘‘I felt the exact same way going into Lord’s ... wow, first game, what’s it going to be like, what’s

the standard of test cricket like ... ‘‘Obviously it will be different competition against India but everything is the same, it’s about getting into the fight, applying myself, backing my gameplan and trying to stick to it as much as possible.

‘‘The expectation, there is nothing major apart from ‘stay nice and present and don’t worry about the outcome’. Just be in the moment and try and control what you can, ball by ball. It’s about me trying to play it like another game of cricket, that’s been the key for me, and my success.’’

Conway’s parents, Denton and Sandy, watched every ball in a UKfriendly time zone at their home at Marloth Park, near Kruger National Park. The dream became real, less than a year since Conway qualified to represent his adopted country, in the bootprints of Neil Wagner.

‘‘I tried to phone my folks most nights during that first test match to catch up and share the experience of what it was like walking through Lord’s. Little memories of what I saw, pictures of the honours board, the ground, some of the portraits around the hallways. There was great support and they were super proud.’’

And there were the endless messages of support throughout the five days as New Zealand drew with England, then beat them at Edgbaston as Conway contributed another 80 in the first innings.

‘‘It was major. After the first day at Lord’s, as soon as I looked at my phone and saw the amount of messages I thought ‘I’m not going to attempt [to reply to] any of these throughout this test’. I didn’t really look at my phone and by the time the five days was up I had another look and realised how many there were.

‘‘I’d say I’m pretty much up to date catching up with everyone ... It was overwhelming, a number of texts from people in the UK, New Zealand, South Africa, pretty special.’’