New Zealand played host to Australia in the long-awaited Chappell-Hadlee opener, with the two teams having not met since December.
Eden Park was treated to a thrilling encounter, a game that will be talked about for years to come. This is after the match seemed to be headed towards a one-sided affair in the early stages of Australia’s innings.
Australia, in keeping with national tradition, seemingly took the mickey out of their trans-Tasman rivals in the lead up, with captain Steve Smith missing through ‘injury’ and vice-captain David Warner also absent because he couldn’t really be bothered.
As if to hammer the point home, Matthew Wade was appointed as stand-in skipper before he too was ultimately withdrawn prior to the coin toss. Aaron Finch, deemed not good enough to face Pakistan only weeks ago (and seemingly without much chance of returning to the national side), was recalled as captain. He at least won the toss.
Such was Australia’s respect for the prestige of the Chappell-Hadlee trophy, the men in canary yellow Australian gold were joined by debutant Sam Heazlett, with the selectors deciding to take the work-experience kid on tour.
Heazlett, having not played a List A game for his state, was called up in what could be described as a ‘Hail Mary’ selection. Shaun Marsh was also present, providing fodder to armchair observers to malign a tried and tested scapegoat should things go wrong.
Marcus Stoinis was the undeniable star of the show, however, taking 3-49 from his ten overs, before amassing an incredible 146 off 117 balls in a match-winning innings.
What was most important about Stoinis’ swashbuckling display is that it detracted from the end result of the game. As with the North Korean Olympic Basketball team, the fact that Josh Hazlewood’s Allan Donald-esque brain fade at the non-striker’s end ultimately cost Australia victory has seemingly been overlooked in the media wash-up. No Chinese-style internet censorship needed.
Fox Sports Australia, in their patented style, have published every article they could muster about Stoinis on the hour, every hour since his commanding performance. Next up is an interview with his former third-grade sweetheart on how he gets his hair to look so shiny and smooth. Jarryd Hayne, Aaron Mooy and the Australian NBA contingent have had to take backseat for now.
Whether the team selected and overall performance of the side was borne out of complacency, apathy or one big joke, the last thing Australians want to do is lose to New Zealand – we do enough of that in the rugby.
When displaying overconfidence and lack of regard for any opposition, it becomes incredibly embarrassing if things do not work out to plan. At 6-67, chasing 287 for victory, Kiwi expats were licking their lips at the prospect of some water-cooler banter in offices and workplaces around the nation.
Despite their victory, albeit in a tightly contested match in the equally tight confines of Eden Park, the smugness of the New Zealand cricket fans has been as easily dismissed as the Australian top-order, with the simple retort of “Yeah, but what about Stoinis? What a knock!”. And for this, cricket fans across the country should be extremely grateful.
The selectors too should also be counting their lucky stars. With Stoinis effectively papering over the significant cracks still evident in their side, nothing less than kissing the feet of the second-gamer should suffice. Few have been as lucky following defeat as Trevor Hohns and co.
With Wade also possibly returning to assume his captaincy responsibilities in the next game, Stoinis gives him an opportunity to bat Glenn Maxwell lower in the order, which will no doubt bring Wade great joy.
The game, thankfully, will always be referred to as the one in which Stoinis demolished the Kiwis on their home soil. It will be subject to many YouTube compilations, top ten lists written by lazy journalists or bloggers (such as the author), cricket trivia questions presented by Channel Nine and pub anecdotes between mates when arguing over something trivial with beers in hand.
In ten years, who will still be talking about the result?
Marcus Stoinis, take a bow.
Republican
Guest
Yes Jacko, I did so does a NZ presence in our domestic leagues really benefit Australian sport? How is 40% and growing of Nz'ers in our domestic elite RL comp healthy for the code here? I suggest it is a hard sell furphy that we are dependant on any NZ dynamic to our sporting culture. We are a nation of approx 26 mill, so NZ's impact on our sporting culture is grossly overstated and purely related to a television market, the exception being Union and now sadly League is looking more and more dependant on NZ as well when i suggest it does not have to be. Yes there is certainly a criteria of 'commercial' viability' but is sport the benefactor? Is there a trickle down effect on our GR's and how is a NZ presence in our domestic leagues benefiting the national cause? I really don't see that it is, in fact I argue that this relationship with NZ is more detrimental to our domestic sporting culture which is being evidenced in League. Why do you think NZ refuse to entertain any notion of including Australia in their NPC, suffice to say they covet their status in that code above any potential commercial boon and more power to them for that. I only hope Cricket Australia stick to their guns by not giving in to NZ's push to be integrated into our domestic Cricket culture. So, philosophically I would argue that our commercial focus in this nation is counter productive and only assists NZ's national cause. It is moot as to whether the multinational criteria of 'growth' that sport seems so dependant on today, is at all about nurturing or fostering any code here in Oz, on the contrary, it appears to be more a self perpetuating souless culture of fiscal empire building, that disenfranchises sporting communities and compromises the very virtue sport once espoused i.e. loyalty and tribalism.
Ants32
Roar Rookie
Nope, but I'm sure Warney's got a plug for Advanced Hair, yeah, yeah, for you. :D
Jamie Elkins
Roar Rookie
Apologies Q-dawg.
qwetzen
Guest
Hint: If you're going to fail to address the point, get your correspondents' name badly wrong *and* resort to stereotyping then it's probably better if you don't respond at all.
Jacko
Guest
You just answered your own question. COMMERCIAL. Aus dont want NZ in their domestic comps to help NZ they want them in their comps to help the sport here in Aus. Look at league, 40% of NRL players are not elligable to represent Aus, 32% are NZers but where would the NRL be without their participation? Still a 10 team sydney comp? A-League/ Commercial, Basketball/ commercial (altho Aus and NZ compete for the same spots internationally in basketball so that should change) So thats 3 NZ based teams in domestic comps in Aus which seems to belittle your point a bit. If you want to check on Which country has helped which in sport then a little research would make your statement less accurate than you may think
Jamie Elkins
Roar Rookie
Love this thread. Interesting read
Jamie Elkins
Roar Rookie
Queenslander are we, Quetzen?
qwetzen
Guest
Indeedy. But the integrity of the selection process is being bashed here and in this case it's ridiculous criticism. Heazlett has played, and done very well, in Aust A odis against quality opposition. To declare that these games carry less weight than the Merc Cup is just more nonsense from the Oz media.
Republican
Guest
......this is also detrimental to our status and pedigree in my opinion. I know that RL is suffering at the GR because many of the domestic clubs recruit NZers both from here and across the ditch in preference to our own. Those same Nz'ers will almost unconditionally, choose NZ in respect of international duties, over Australia. I know there are a raft of issues that are leading to a decline in RL grassroots in the Sydney region anyway but this is one that has been articulated to me by some who live in Sydney and have supported the code for many years. So, in a nutshell this is not direct or intended support of NZ's sporting status however it is indirectly assisting them across many codes. NZ should be encouraged to look at the viability of establishing their own domestic comps as they do in Union, at the elite tier in codes i.e. Basketball, Soccer and League in my opinion.
Dave from Mt Druitt
Guest
In many instances it is not a case of supporting them by including a team in our domestic competition. Currently our domestic clubs actively pursue and recruit New Zealand players to fill their squads in a number of team sports - a prime example being the NRL.
Pete Siney
Guest
I'm not too sure what requires editing???
Pete Siney
Guest
Great article Jamie. Keep it coming. Also enjoyed and agreed with all comments from Republican.
Republican
Guest
......our swimming pedigree is also on a rapid decline.
Republican
Guest
......oh and now we can add Cricket while NZ continue to jockey for inclusion in our Big Bash as they have for years tried to join our once esteemed 'Sheffield Shield'......
Republican
Guest
........while NZs population is around 5 mill yet they are now competitive and possibly superior in sports other than Union & Netball which was always thus. These include - Rugby League, Soccer, Hockey, Basketball, Cycling, Rowing, Sailing, Surf life Saving, Athletics, Triathlon and probably more. I again pose the question as to why we continue to support them when their is clearly NO benefit to us aside from commercial?
Republican
Guest
Elite sporting orgs are now beholden to the multi national networks commoditisation of it and as such, any virtue sport espoused has been compromised to this end.
Dave from Mt Druitt
Guest
We seem to fail to acknowledge that New Zealand is our biggest rival in a number of sports on the international stage. They are one of the few countries other than Australia that compete at a number of sports at an international level including Rugby League, Netball, Hockey to name a few. The rest of the other sports swimming aside we remain amongst the also rans i.e. we rise at times on occasions but will never be the best. Considering that there are only 8 teams that play competitive cricket at a truly international level then we should treat them all with the level of respect especially when a series loss could mean so much to our "world ranking".
Jamie Elkins
Roar Rookie
Fair comment, however money talks in respect to scheduling. I can see it getting worse before it gets better.
Jamie Elkins
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately for Sam (and selectors), he didnt make the runs as Warner did. All would have been forgiven otherwise.
Adrian
Guest
In 10 years what will we say? Probably along the lines of: "Remember when Cricket Australia were making their scheduling so poor that they *had* to rest major players and as a result they lost to New Zealand, and this was in spite of Marcus Stoinis having one of *the* very best ODI matches of all time? Let that be a lesson to you about scheduling things properly".