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After the last week’s events I’m not really sure how to approach this article. It’s hard to be happy about a performance when the last week has been so dark for anyone involved in cricket.
I’m only involved as a spectator, but it hit me hard. However, I’m going to try and break down what has been one of New Zealand’s best ever all-round performances in a Test.
It started out as expected after Pakistan won the toss. They went on to score 281 runs for the loss of three wickets before stumps on the opening day. Overnight the whole match took an unexpected and emotional turn.
The news reached the UAE that sadly Phil Hughes had passed away. The decision was made to have a rest day so the players could come to grips with what had happened. Day 2 was to be played the following day.
Suddenly all pressure was taken off this Test. They didn’t care about the result. Their minds were elsewhere, with their Australian brothers and they looked as though they were just going through the motions on autopilot. Seven wickets fell while Pakistan scored 70 runs on Day 2 and not one of them was celebrated by the New Zealand team. Their first innings score crumbled to 351, as Mark Craig notched up 7-94. His best ever numbers with the ball.
Out came the New Zealand openers and Tom Latham was sent to the dressing room for a shower shortly after the New Zealand batsmen brought up their team 50. This was the last wicket to fall on Day 2.
What followed was New Zealand’s best innings with the bat. McCullum scored the fastest Test century in New Zealand history and the fourth fastest Test double century in the history of the game.
Neither of these milestones was met with any sign of happiness from the captain and the latter milestone was reached with a 6, reminiscent of how his former NSW opening partner achieved his first ever Test century.
Moments later McCullum was walking back to the dressing room, bowled for 202 – Phil Hughes’ best total in a List A game.
The scoring didn’t stop here, Williamson was eight runs off bringing up the second double century of the day and the four other half centurions of the innings (Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson, Mark Craig and Tim Southee) added a collective 215 to the total and ensured the record for the most Test 6s was overtaken – the final tally was 22.
New Zealand were all out for 690 – their highest Test innings of all time, passing the 680 they scored against India earlier in the year.
Milestones were reached continuously on day 3 and 4 but there was still no smile on the faces of the Kiwis.
Out they came to bowl again and Boult was the first to snare a wicket. When he gets one in the morning session, more often than not there are others that follow. Pakistan went to lunch at 30/3, all three wickets to Boult. The afternoon sessions went the way of the three spinners with Mark Craig getting three more to bring up his first ever 10-wicket match, Sodhi adding two to top off a successful tour and Vettori getting one in what will probably be his last ever Test for New Zealand.
New Zealand had won an away Test against Pakistan, which after the first Test seemed an impossibility. Nobody out there cared about the result and New Zealand played with freedom. Taylor said after the game “It just goes to show when you take the pressure away a bit, you just bat like you did when you were a little kid, you play your natural game”.
New Zealand certainly has the natural talent in their squad; they have struggled in the past to believe it.
The New Zealand Test team, after this performance, definitely has the recent success to be taken seriously in the longest form. Since the unsuccessful January 2013 tour of South Africa they have lost one Test series and that was the away series against England before their Ashes triumph.
In the last two years they have beaten the West Indies at home and away, beaten India in New Zealand and drawn to both Bangladesh and Pakistan in Asia where they are traditionally weak.
A quick list of achievements in this Test
• Brendon McCullum – Only Kiwi to make 4 x 200s. Fastest Test century by a NZer. Only Non – Australian to hit 3 x 200s in a calendar year (Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Don Bradman are his company here). He’s given himself a real shot at 1000 runs in a calendar year; he needs 31 in the Boxing Day Test to achieve this.
• Mark Craig – 7/91, his best ever innings. First ever 10 wicket match. Established himself as a legitimate all-rounder by averaging 42 with the bat after 10 innings.
• Kane Williamson – eighth Test century.
• Ross Taylor – second Kiwi to bring up 100 Test catches
• Daniel Vettori – Most Tests by a NZer (112)
• NZ Record second wicket partnership of 297. Highest Test total of 690. Most ever half centuries in an innings for a New Zealand team (6). Most 6s in a Test innings (22).
All of these achievements and many more have taken a back seat due to the tragic event across the ditch. In time, people will recognise the all-round performance as a huge milestone in New Zealand cricket.
For now though, vale Phillip Hughes.
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