Despite last week’s Indian debawcle (note Tony Greig-style pronunciation to commemorate his Bogong-like arrival for the summer), every pundit and his canine thinks Australia will thrash a New Zealand team missing Jacob Oram and the Bond brothers, Shane and James.
However, long-suffering Black Caps fans can take a quantum of solace from the following list of the Top 5 Kiwi Cricket Moments:
1. First Test v. Australia, Brisbane, 1985-86 (c)
The Gabba Test has more or less been a gimme for Australia since the Windies lost their mojo, but it was different in the Greg Ritchie-intensive days of the ’80s. In this famous fixture, Richard Hadlee put on one of the great seam bowling displays of all time. He claimed 9-52 on the first day (walking trivia question Vaughan Brown got the other one, Roar columnist Geoff Lawson), plus 6-71 in the second innings. In between, John Reid and Martin Crowe peeled off tons (Hadlee made 54) and Australia was pumped for 7-551 to lose by an innings and 41 runs. NZ won the third Test in Perth as well, for a famous series victory.
2. Third Test v. Australia, Melbourne, 1987-88
NZ held the Trans-Tasman Trophy on the strength of their performance in 1985-86 and only needed to level this 3-match series to retain it. This looked likely as Australia stumbled to 9-227 in pursuit of 247 on the final day, and certain as the ball smashed into Craig McDermott’s pad plumb in front of the stumps. However, these were the days before neutral umpires, and the Aussie official duly found some doubt to give the benefit of. Mike Whitney famously survived the final over from Hadlee (and 18 balls in total) and NZ had to be content with a moral victory. This was also the Test Greg Dyer falsely claimed a legside ‘catch’ off my namesake, a mistake which insulted Andrew Joneses all over the world and implicitly ended his career.
3. World Series Cup Third Final v. Australia, Melbourne, 1980-81
Not just any moral victory, this one, but the greatest moral victory in cricket history. Australia cruised to 4-235 (a big score in a one-dayer in those days) with skipper Greg Chappell contributing a characteristically elegant 90. His batting was forgotten four hours later though, when he instructed brother Trevor to go three-pin bowling off the last ball of the final over to prevent the Kiwis from hitting an improbable tying six. Bruce Edgar stood helpless on 102* at the non-striker’s end while former All Black five-eighth Brian McKechnie (then clad in All Brown) threw his bat away in disgust.
4. First Test v. England, Christchurch, 2001-02
Another loss, but the only thing anyone besides Graham Thorpe remembers is Nathan Astle’s magnificent 222 off 168 balls. He brought up his double ton off just 153 balls, a staggering 59 balls quicker than Adam Gilchrist’s earlier record. His second 100 came in just 39 deliveries, the fourth 50 in a staggering 17 balls, including 6 sixes and 2 fours (and not counting the two actual balls that were lost on grandstand roofs). A truly titanic display of hitting.
5. First Test v. West Indies, Dunedin, 1979-80
Probably New Zealand’s finest hour. Again, Hadlee was the star, taking 11-102 against a batting line-up featuring Greenidge, Haynes, Kallicharan, Lloyd and Lawrence Rowe, and getting a fifty to cement a first-innings lead. Chasing 104 in the fourth innings, NZ got them 9 down, with Lance Cairns, Gary Troup and well-known bunny Stephen Boock getting them home. The Kiwis drew the second and third Tests against a bowling line-up of Roberts, Holding, Garner and Croft to take the series 1-0, the last time the mighty Windies would lose a series until 1995.
Good luck in Brisbane lads. It would be nice to see a decent game of cricket!
Darryl
Guest
The top five or just the five?
Marty
Guest
Who cares
Andrew Jones
Guest
Pleased to say that my favourite cricket writer, S Rajesh, has just chimed in on this topic (well, Kiwi cricket, if not great moments): see http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/380792.html
Jerry
Guest
It was said of Coney's bowling that if he didn't like the look of a delivery he could run after it and grab if before it got to the batsman. Harris bowling style wasn't really like Coney's though (other than in velocity). Harris was more like a much slower version of Lance Cairns - both employed a very odd action, bowling off the wrong foot which enabled them to produce a lot of swing. Harris managed to get a one day hatrick with 3 consecutive deathly slow in-swinging yorkers.
Andrew Jones
Guest
Great contributions all - keep them coming. OJ loved your Top 8 - I remember the Kiwis' innovation in the 1992 World Cup (Greatbatch slogging, Patel opening the bowling) and their great batting last year (the 347 chase was superb - I think McMillan got the runs? Same match Hayden got 180 I think, the last 80 on one leg), but hadn't heard the Bert Sutcliffe/Bob Blair story. Is that possibly why so many NZ have been called Blair?? Blair Young, Blair Pocock etc. Probably I should have included some more modern moments but like many it's the Beige Brigade I most fondly remember! Chris Harris' dibbly-dobblies were straight from the Jeremy Coney playbook. However I think Coney's middle name began with V, and therefore was not Zinzan. Harris has the edge there. cheers AJ
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Mate we could have a field day remember no-names from the past. It's always been that way.
James Mortimer
Guest
I think the 1992 opening World Cup game defeat of Australia goes down as if my memory serves me correctly not only did New Zealand beat the Aussies but also went on to qualify for the finals as the top ranked team. But in their last game they suffered their only round robin lost to Pakistan, and then met them again in the first match of the finals and lost. Also the classic 1985 where Paddles V Australia was a joy to behold. Big big call, but I think Hadlee by himself made New Zealand at least 30% more competitive. Who are all these no names in the kiwi side now - what about the days of Chris Cairns, Martin Crowe, Chris Harris or even the handy Dipak Patel (now he was a fine spinner). At least they still have two class players in Vettori and Mccullum.
Christchurch
Guest
Talk of neutral umpires is interesting. In the Windies series (79/80) one of the Windies fast bowlers deliberately ran into the umpire. Must have been highly pissed off, we understood as the umpire was Fred Goodall our crazy dipsomaniac geography teacher!
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I got a million of 'em, most involving Chris Harris or Garvin Larsen. Hobart, 1990 World Series Cup. With one over remaining, Australia need two runs to win. Chris Pringle bowls a maiden over to Australian tail-ender Bruce Reid, who runs himself out on the final ball. Eden Park, 1992 World Cup. Martin Crowe scores one of his melodramatic centuries (with runner), as NZ win the opening game of the Cup. Heartbreak at the same ground a few weeks later. OJ sheds tears. Hamilton, 1993. Jeff Wilson scores the winning boundary, pumps his fist, runs off the park, ditches cricket for rugby, beat s the Aussies at that too. 2002, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. New Zealand defeat Australia three times in the same summer, knocking them out of the VB series. Melbourne, 2004. This was special. Inaugural match in the Chappell-Hadlee series. New Zealand, chasing 247 to win, look well out of it at the 40 over mark. McCullum and Marshall start running between wickets like you've never seen before, turning singles into twos, twos into threes. Ian Smith starts jock riding NZ cricket and Lawry gets right under his skin. Bill says we're close enough if we're good enough, McCullum plays some crazy, inventive shots that only our batsmen can make because we don't have proper technique. Christchurch, 2005. Chappell-Hadlee dead rubber. New Zealand chase down 332 to win. McCullum's the man again, smacking a 50 off 25 balls. Nobody cares that we lost the series 2-1. 2007, Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton. Fleming's triumph. A clean sweep of the Aussies to lift the Chappell-Hadlee trophy. New Zealand chase 337 to win it all and 347 for a laugh. Aussies go on to win the World Cup. Nobody cares. Seriously though, Bert Sutcliffe's 80 not out against South Africa in Johannesburg on Boxing Day 1953 is the greatest moment in New Zealand cricket history. From wikipedia: "New Zealand's batsmen were destroyed by South African fast bowler Neil Adcock on a green wicket. Sutcliffe was hit in the head by Adcock (as were a number of his team mates) and left the field to receive hospital treatment. He unexpectedly returned to the crease, deathly pale, his head swathed in bandages. He took to the bowling, smashing a number of sixes, until the ninth wicket fell. The New Zealand fast bowler Bob Blair was understood to be back at the team hotel distraught as his fiancee had been killed in the Tangiwai disaster two days earlier. Sutcliffe started to walk off only to see Blair walk out into the bright sunshine. Despite the presence of 23,000 fans, silence enveloped the ground. The two Kiwis walked back to the wicket arm-in-arm, stunning the South African crowd in one of the most emotional moments ever seen in test cricket history. 33 runs were added in 10 minutes before Blair was out. New Zealand lost the test match by a considerable margin. Notwithstanding this, the noted new Zealand cricket writer Dick Brittenden said 'it was a great and glorious victory, a story every New Zealand boy should learn at his mother's knee.'"
Westy
Guest
I am repeating what Brian Waddell ? the NZ commentator said...he will never forgive the underarm bowling incident ( and nor should he) and Daryl Harper not out decision of Langer first ball by Lance Cairns in Australia (which test?)....O'Keefe said he was plumb went on to big score and Whitney"s not out plumb lbw that robbed NZers of victory( again which test) I always admire the Black hats . Very small player base very family orientated...but they throw up some competitive dogged sides.....Howarth epitomised this attitude..........and Hadlee ah what a cricketer with not only ball but bat......I love the way nearly everyone can bowl.....Howarth said there are not enough topline bowlers to go around so everyone is expected to be a useful bowler. Looked quite like that today.
Jerry
Guest
"A super kiwi batting line up with Wright, Edgar, J.Reid, M.Crowe, Rutherford and J.Coney" One of these things is not like the others, one of these things does not belong....
Andrew Jones
Guest
Nice ones Sledgeross and Michael C. I hadn't realised the Kiwis defended the Trophy at home in '86, nor beaten the the Poms. It's fair to say '86 was a banner year! Incidentally, a Kiwi who bowls very useful medium pace joined my cricket club this year. Naturally I call him 'Chatfield'. cheers AJ
sledgeross
Guest
Danger, I apologise. I should have said AUSSIE batting ;)
Michael C
Guest
AUg 1986, Nottingham, 2nd test NZ def Eng by 8 wkts, THe oval and Lords tests are drawn (weather) - - Kiwis win in England 1-0. Eng 256, Kiwis 413, Eng 230 and Kiwis storm home 2-77. Hadlee takes 10-140 for match J.Bracewell scores 110
Michael C
Guest
3rd TEst - Eden Park, March 1986 series 0-0 after 2 test, Aust 314 batting first, Kiwis rolled for 258 conceding 56 on first innings, then Boonie carries his bat,.........for 58*...........out of 103........ J.Bracewell 6-32 and the 'demon' Ewen Chatfield 3-19!!! And the kiwis chase down 2-160 with Kenny Rutherford exorcising a few personal demons finishing 50*. Kiwis win series 1-0 This series was remembered for J.Coney hitting 90+ in each of the 3 tests, but only cracking the ton once. A super kiwi batting line up with Wright, Edgar, J.Reid, M.Crowe, Rutherford and J.Coney followed by Hadlee, I.Smith+ and J.Bracewell. Not bad, not bad at all, and a 1-0 home series win.
sledgeross
Guest
Danger, I just hope the Kiwi batting is better than your punctuation champ!
Hoy
Guest
Sorry, that was the only 1 I didn't read in my eagerness to put down my personal joke.
danger
Guest
yeep were realy a bunch of walkovers 3-23 so far -aussie you thought the nightmare was over -once again cocky as all f$%$# i hope we smash you -channel nine once again not live you are the worst thing that has ever happenend to sport -you aussies may think kiwis are backward well we watch all our games live -how you like those apples
Andrew Jones
Guest
At 3-23 Gabba '08 is also looming as a candidate! AJ
sledgeross
Guest
My kiwi mates always like to to mention the day All Black Jeff Wilson went ballistic in a one dayer as well!