New Zealand's Mitchell aiming to continue World Cup form into Bangladesh Tests

New Zealand are expecting their experience at the ICC World Cup 2023 in India will help them adapt to the Bangladesh conditions ahead of their ICC World Test Championship campaignThe Kiwis were knocked out of the ICC World Cup 2023 after losing the semifinal clash against the hosts India by 70 runs After the World Cup loss they needed to quickly turn their focus to the longest format of the game as they will lock horns with Bangladesh in a twomatch series that starts in Sylhet on TuesdayThe series will be New Zealands first in the current World Test Championship cycle and key batter Daryl Mitchell is looking for a fast start to the competition as his side attempts to qualify for a second final following their success in the inaugural final in 2021Also ReadThis too shall passBut with the Kiwis set to play a total of 14 Tests during the current cycle Mitchell knows his side has plenty of work ahead before they think about a potential place in the World Test Championship final at Lords in the middle of 2025We obviously know it is the end goal Mitchell said Thats what every country taking part in the World Test Championship wants to do For us it is about making small goals Trying to tick off games as we go First we have to take on Bangladesh It is always a tough challenge in BangladeshAlso ReadMusheer Khan excited to represent India in U19 Asia CupConditions are foreign to us as Kiwis so it is about adapting as quickly as we can to these surfaces and getting stuck to win little moments It is what we are speaking about We are not looking too far ahead At the same time you want to be part of those big games Thats why you play Test cricketMitchells form with the bat was one of the main reasons behind New Zealands run to the knockout stage of the World Cup with the righthander contributing 552 runs and two centuries to finish as the fifthleading runscorer at the tournamentIt also helped Mitchell win a place in the official ICC Team of the Tournament an honour that the 32yearold said was a great recognition to be named among such a talented group of playersIt is cool to be recognised with a place in the World Cup team of the tournament It means you are contributing to the team and helping to win games Mitchell saidTheres not much time to reflect We are straight into Test cricket You want to stay present and be ready to go for the Test team But also a very special eight weeks in India Those memories will last a lifetimeAnd Mitchell believes the fact his side performed admirably on spinfriendly pitches at the World Cup will hold them in good stead when they are presented with conditions that are expected to be similar in BangladeshIt would have been a big change if we came from the green wickets of New Zealand straight to Bangladesh he said But for the majority of our group here they have been in the World Cup They have been practicing on slower and turning surfaces so that it helps us in this Test seriesA bit more patience is required going from white ball to Test cricket You can breathe and relax a little bit The surfaces are turning We will keep adapting We will see what we get on day oneIt is always special to play in that tournament World Cup in front of millions of people It is also about recognizing what an opportunity we have here at the start of the World Test Championship How much it means to wear that baggy with the silver fern onNew Zealand squad Tim Southee c Tom Blundell wk Devon Conway Kyle Jamieson Tom Latham Daryl Mitchell Henry Nicholls Ajaz Patel Glenn Phillips Rachin Ravindra Mitchell Santner Ish Sodhi Neil Wagner Kane Williamson Will YoungWith ANI Inputs