The years 1985 and 1986 can be termed a golden era in New Zealand cricket history.
In roughly 18 months starting from February 1985 the Kiwis recorded a 2-0 home success against Pakistan, defeated Allan Border’s young Australians both home-and-away and then created history by winning 1-0 in England, their first-ever series success there. They did lose 2-0 in the Caribbean, but given the strength of the Windies cricket at the time, there was no disgrace in it.
Interestingly, this team included just two-star players – Sir Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe. Most of the others were players with average ability. But they raised the level of their game as the belief in their own ability grew alongside the growing success of the team. Many players were just semi-professionals in cricket and they were involved in other jobs as well.
As New Zealand is aiming to become the first official Test champions, I thought that this would be an ideal time to pay a tribute to some of these unsung heroes. I will start with the batters.
Jeremy Coney
Dunedin, February 14, 1985. The final day of the series started with history beckoning the home side. They started the day at 4-114 needing 278 for victory. But by mid-afternoon, all seemed lost for the home side, as their batters looked hapless against the pace of a young Wasim Akram. The scoreboard read 8 for 228 but actually, it was worse than that.
At one end, experienced Coney was batting beautifully, playing probably the innings of his life, but joining him was the number 11 Ewen Chatfield, a real rabbit with the bat. Lance Cairns had earlier retired with a head injury, and even if he would come out to bat, no one was expecting anything from him, certainly not against Akram.
The next 100 mins or so saw a fascinating battle between bat and ball, as Coney and Chatfield deified the young but talented Pak pace attack to take the Kiwis to a two-wicket win. Coney remained 111*, but quite remarkably he didn’t try to rotate the strike, he showed full faith in the batting ability of his Wellington teammate. This victory was an important turning point in Kiwi cricket history, and it was important for Coney as well.
This innings showed his graduation from a support player to a key performer. And after Geoff Howarth ended his international career later in the season, Coney appeared as the natural successor to him.
He led the Kiwis to success in three consecutive series. While his contribution in away success in Australia and England wasn’t great, he had a memorable time against Allan Border’s Australia at home in early 1986. With scores of 101*, 98 and 93 in the series, he ended up with an average of 146.00.
He was also a useful slow-medium bowler. His most memorable bowling effort came at Headingley in 1983 where he took 2-21 and 2-30. His dismissals of Allan Lamb and Ian Botham late on the third day helped greatly in NZ’s historic success.
Bruce Edgar and John Wright
The Gordon Greenidge-Desmond Haynes opening partnership is generally regarded as the best opening pair of the 1980s. In fact, they are one of the most successful opening pair in Test history. In comparison, the achievements of the Edgar-Wright opening pair of New Zealand is fairly modest, both in terms of statistics and in terms of entertainment value. Both were rather unspectacular left-handers. But, in their own way, they served Kiwi cricket with some distinction.
Edgar’s top score of 161 came against Aus at Christchurch in early 1982. The Kiwi seamers had restricted the opposition to only 210 on the opening day, but then the tourists hit back with two wickets late on the day. It was Edgar’s patient 161 on the next day that helped the Kiwis take a match-wining lead.
But, for most Aus TV viewers at the time, the most lasting memory of Edgar was his 102* for a losing cause at MCG on 1st Feb 1981 in the ‘underarm’ match. He watched the final ball drama from the non-striker’s end.
He was also a chartered accountant and left international cricket at the age of 30.
(Credit: Wolliwoo/CC BY-NC 2.0)
In 1977, John Wright got a contract from Derbyshire in county cricket following a successful trial period. His involvement in country cricket as a professional helped him enjoy a long career as a cricketer. He made his Test debut against England in early 1978, but successes were slow to come for him at the highest level. It took him three years to record his first Test hundred. But, he matured with time and ended his career with more than 5000 Test runs at a highly respectable average of 37.82. He hit 12 Test tons for the Kiwis.
His finest batting effort came against a hostile WI pace attack at Wellington in Feb. 1987. The Windies took a first-innings lead of 117, but then a gritty 138 from Wright saved the Test for the home side. For 465 minutes he frustrated Joel Garnar, Malcolm Marshall, Micheal Holding and Courtney Walsh, scoring runs at a Tavaresque strike rate of 29.67.
Wright captained New Zealand for 14 Tests finishing with an even (3-3) record.
John Fulton Reid
While he is not as famous his more illustrious namesake – no blood relations between the two – he enjoyed a highly successful Test career between 1979 and 1986. According to his teammate John Wright, he was “a quiet achiever”. Sadly, he only played 19 Tests for the Kiwis. He never considered cricket his main priority – he was involved with geography teaching in a high school.
His Test career may be short in numbers; but not in interesting facts. His Test average of 46.28 is highly impressive. Even more impressive is his 100/50 ratio of 6/8. In terms of innings, he was the fastest to 1000 Test runs among the Kiwis. But, there is an anomaly as well – his first-innings average is 68.41 and it’s only 12.09 in the second.
He played a big part in NZ’s 2-0 success over Pakistan in 1985 with 148 at Wellington was followed by 158* at Auckland. But, then in the Dunedin Test, he, like everyone else in the team, found the pace of Wasim Akram difficult to handle. Earlier in the season, he had shown excellent technique against Abdul Qadir and company during a difficult tour to the sub-continent.
At Gabba, in late 1985, the 284 run third stand between Reid and Crowe (Martin) consolidated the Kiwi supremacy after the brilliance of Sir Richard Hadlee with the ball. But, he struggled in his final series against the Aussies at home in early 1986. Interestingly, he faced his cousin Bruce during the series.
The good thing for New Zealand was that they soon found a suitable replacement for the number 3 slot in Andrew Jones.
Reid died of cancer on December 2020.
In Part 2, I will look at the bowlers plus a hugely popular wicketkeeper.
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
Sorry Bernie, but as one of those bleeding heart lefties you keep hearing about, I've been too busy being angry at the govt!!! :-) :-)
Azza
Guest
@Bernie North didn’t have to face Windies in their pomp, Akram etc, scored his on roads, Coney batting in 80s with toothpicks on dodgy seaming tracks in NZ also , winner Coney...
Ian
Roar Rookie
A very perceptive observation there Renato! I grew up in London and as a young lad spent far too many days at Lords watching Middlesex at Lords.It was incredibly frustrating getting to the ground,sorting myself out with my scorebook and pens at the ready only to hear that Middlesex had won the toss and will bat.Far too often that meant sitting there in a stupor as MB scored 60 off 75 overs.What really used to persist his teammates off was when he was finally out he'd tell the other batsman to get on with it and have a slog.His well documented falling out with Phil Edmonds started for that very reason. I agree with you about Warner.He reminds me too much of Matt Hayden in that regard.Hayden is generally disliked by just about everyone in cricket as a result of his attitudes and behaviour when he played the game.Sadly Warner has gone down that same road.
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
Yes Ian, we can disagree respectfully. I have a hunch that your distaste for Brearley the batsman, affects your assessment of MB, the captain. I could well be wrong. In my own case, I find it hard to give players the credit they deserve when their behaviour is disgusting. David Warner is a case in point.
Ian
Roar Rookie
Again,I respect your opinion but I just don't agree with it! You do argue your case well though.I'm not saying Brearley was a poor captain,he wasn't but he was imho an exceptionally fortunate one.Botham on the other hand was a very unlucky skipper.10 Tests against a rampant West Indies and 2 against a full strength Australia.I've always thought how he would have fared if his first 2 series were against India and NZ...both sides were weak in that era. This is the thing I like about the Roar.We can respectfully agree to disagree.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Geoff Marsh was dumped from the test side when he was vice captain in 1992 (which led to a ropeable Border) after doing the toughest job in cricket in one of the toughest eras for opening batsmen (with the high quality of pace bowlers around), for nearly a decade, because the selectors felt he wasn't scoring enough runs. He was a great team man, a great fielder, but despite the difficult job he had, his output just wasn't considered good enough by the selectors. He averaged less than Coney while doing a far more difficult job. Dean Jones was a similar story in the same year to Geoff Marsh. Dumped because it was felt he didn't do enough when the team needed him, especially against the West Indies (who were the upcoming opponent). The dumping of Marsh & Jones paved the way for Slater to come in and create a famous opening partnership with fellow Wagga Wagga native Mark Taylor. The next generation of talent now had their chance, with Mark & Steve Waugh cementing their places, and guys like Damien Martyn, Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden etc getting chances as well. I think you need to cop your medicine over Coney. He clearly was nothing special, like the aforementioned Geoff Marsh.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
FFS the issue is that coney was described as mediocre. That is the issue.
Micko
Roar Rookie
The point was Stackpole is respected, but clearly doesn't stand out. So why you're upset that Coney isn't held up as a standout, I'm not sure?
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
True But this fictitious example would still be unbelievable, would it not? Brearley's record shouldn't be wiped away because he had more than average luck.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Um, sorry to be a pedant Renato, but I'm sure they don't count sprint world records if the tailwind reaches a certain velocity. Otherwise good comment. :thumbup:
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
Hi Ian. Just to add some detail to the points you’ve raised. Brearley’s record in A v E is: 11-4 Winning almost 80 percent of decided matches. In 1977, nobody thought England were a 3-0 better team, nobody. The internal troubles you describe do not explain away 3-0 In 1978-9, England had no right to win the series 5-1 The same Aussie side drew 1-1 against Pakistan at full strength, with Imran, Majid, Safraz, Asif, the whole lot. Many of these Aussies would play in the full strength team a year later (Hughes, Hogg, Border, Dymock, Yallop and Higgs). In 1981, Brearley had no right to beat Australia 3-0 The Aussies were buoyant, England were in tatters and their key players were out of form. I shall never forget reading of Brearley’s captaincy genius in the Headingley match. As you may recall, Australia began needing 130 in the final innings. After a few overs, the wind had changed direction and Willis found that he was now bowling uphill (slightly) at into the wind. He asked to change ends and Brearley refused. Twenty minutes later, a furious Willis was given his wish. And the rest, as they say, is history. Could any other captain have psyched up his strike bowler in this fashion? I very much doubt it. Brearley was a genius at human psychology and cricketing tactics. Was it a coincidence that players would hit their peak form under his leadership (Boycott, Willis and Woolmer, 1977, Randall 78-79, Botham and Willis 1981)? Discounting Brearley’s unbelievable captaincy record because of SOME good fortune, is a bit like downplaying a 100 metre record of 8.5 seconds because the athlete had a 10 km per hour tailwind.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
That's a compliment Dexter ... I think? BTW where have you been, I have been thinking recently I haven't seen you around here for ages. Welcome back.
Paul
Roar Guru
All of these sorts of "lines in the sand", are obviously subjective opinions so clearly we'll all have a different take on what is an okay batting average, versus good, versus great. For what it's worth, in the era from the 1930's onwards, I believe a batsman with a Test average under 40 is mediocre/okay (under 35 is struggling). If they have an average of 40 or over they're good, 45 or more, they're great and over 50 is elite. Again, these are my measures which I acknowledge aren't perfect or exact, eg Adam Voges is hardly a great of the game, though his numbers on my tally would suggest otherwise. I also don't discount truly great innings batsmen, with mediocre averages have played. Peter Burge for example, played an innings of 181 that Richie Benaud described as one of the best he'd ever seen - but Burge only averaged a tick over 38 in Tests. I thought Dirk Whellam & Peter Toohey were special players when I was a younger fella, but again neither really got it right with the bat at Test level
Micko
Roar Rookie
Fair enough. I rate your boy Kane as great though. Kyle Jamieson is bloody smashing it too! :cricket:
Phantom
Roar Rookie
No one said coney was one of the greats.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Are you not the full quid.
Micko
Roar Rookie
But to be fair, I'm currently a big fan of your boy Captain Kane, who currently is #3 in my best world XI side. :thumbup:
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
Lord, your ability to understand a point and argue it is fairly mediocre. Sorry, but the facts are there. But do carry on. No harm done. Loving the Kiwis in the Test at the moment. Hope the weather clears tonight...
Micko
Roar Rookie
Well that's fair enough. It's well before my time, but I'm sure he wasn't considered one of the "greats" from that era. That was usually reserved for guys like Bob Simpson, Bill Lawry, Doug Walters & Greg Chappell.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
And Keith stackpole. So go figure calling him mediocre.