How Bracewell Doug the Black Caps out of a hole

 
David Lord Columnist

By , 13 Dec 2011 David Lord is a Roar Expert

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    How Bracewell Doug the Black Caps out of a hole + enlarge image

    New Zealand quick Doug Bracewell, right, celebrates after dismissing Australian tail-ender James Pattinson. AP Photo/Chris Crerar

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    In November 1985, supreme New Zealand paceman Richard Hadlee captured 5-65 and 6-90 to claim the man-of-the-match, and the man-of-the-series awards in the third Test against Australia at the WACA. The Blacks Caps won by six wickets to take the series 2-1.

    That was the last time the Kiwis won a Test on Australian soil.

    Until yesterday, when another Kiwi paceman Doug Bracewell took 3-20 and a career-best 6-40 to beat Australia by a nail-biting seven runs.

    While Hadlee was a seasoned international in 1985, playing his 60th of 81 Tests, Bracewell is still a rookie, after only three Tests.

    He sliced through the Australian middle and late batting order yesterday like a hot knife through butter.

    Australia was cruising at 2-159, chasing 241 for victory, when Bracewell struck with the soft dismissal of Ricky Ponting (16), and in the very next over sent skipper Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey packing off successive deliveries, both without scoring.

    Australia went into lunch at 5-173 with a lot of work to do, with unbeaten David Warner (95) the cornerstone in only his second Test.

    But Bracewell wasn’t to be denied, dismissing James Pattinson (4) and Mitchell Starc (0) in three deliveries. Australia had lost 7-40.

    Bracewell believed he’d wrapped up the Test with a successful leg before appeal against Nathan Lyon with Australia still 24 runs shy. But on referral, Lyon survived.

    Yet again Bracewell wasn’t to be denied, dismantling Lyon’s castle with Australia all out 233, with Warner unbeaten on 123, his first Test ton in a gutsy last-wicket stand of 34 with Lyon, falling just eight runs short of victory.

    Lyon was inconsolable; Bracewell ecstatic.

    Rookie pacemen Bracewell and Pattinson make intriguing comparisons:

    * Pattinson’s the “elder” statesman at 21 years and 223 days; Bracewell 21 and 75.

    * Bracewell’s the more “experienced” with three Tests, two ODIs, and two Twenty/20s; Pattinson two, two, and two.

    * Bracewell has the best figures in an innings with 6-40; Pattinson 5-27.

    * Bracewell the best match figures of 9-60; Pattinson 8-105.

    * Pattinson the best career average of 14.00, having taken 14-196 from two Tests; Bracewell’s 19.25 from 16 wickets, costing 308 from three Tests.

    * Pattinson was man-of-the-match in the first Test; Bracewell should have been man-of-the-match at Bellerive, but the award went to Warner in a losing side.

    * Bracewell has the larger family dynasty of Test caps, with father Brendon (6), and uncle John (41), with two more uncles, Mark and Douglas, first class cricketer; Pattinson’s older brother Darren played one Test for England against South Africa at Headingley in 2008.

    The family limk between Doug Bracewell and his uncle John is significant. John Bracewell played in the WACA Test 26 years ago, the last time New Zealand won on Australian soil.

    But in the comparison stakes, there’s hardly a struck match between James Pattinson and Doug Bracewell.

    Barring injuries, both are exciting to watch and will serve their respective countries with distinction for a long time.

    The Ashes journey begins

    The Australian cricket team have left Australia to begin their tour of England, with a mission to reclaim the Ashes.

    Australian captain Michael Clarke and his teammates were optimistic about their chances before jetting off.


    Click here to hear the thoughts of our Australian cricket team as they left for England.
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