Feeling nostalgic this morning. Exactly 50 years ago today I was an excited Year 8 taking a sneaky Friday off school and heading to Lancaster Park for what ended up being NZ's first test win over Australia. Such great memories - Richard Hadlee off the long run with the skipping start bowling Ian Chappell and Doug Walters. The big left-armer Richard Collinge, of the loping long 45 degree angle run-up, diving back to his right to catch and bowl Ian Redpath. And later in the match, Glenn Turner's two centuries, a young Jeremy Coney sticking with him to steady the final run chase. And keeper Ken Wadsworth, long fair hair under his black cap, flamboyantly cover driving the winning boundary off Greg Chappell. (Little did we know that very sadly he would be dead from cancer in just over two years). The unusual noise of the crowd in those more conservative times. I could go on. Let's hope the gods of sentimentality inspire the Black Caps today.
It could be worse; there’s a wee way to go before we hit the lowest ebb ALA the NZ Cricket team of 1995/96 era. (Pre Black Caps branding). That was the nadir.
Feeling nostalgic this morning. Exactly 50 years ago today I was an excited Year 8 taking a sneaky Friday off school and heading to Lancaster Park for what ended up being NZ's first test win over Australia. Such great memories - Richard Hadlee off the long run with the skipping start bowling Ian Chappell and Doug Walters. The big left-armer Richard Collinge, of the loping long 45 degree angle run-up, diving back to his right to catch and bowl Ian Redpath. And later in the match, Glenn Turner's two centuries, a young Jeremy Coney sticking with him to steady the final run chase. And keeper Ken Wadsworth, long fair hair under his black cap, flamboyantly cover driving the winning boundary off Greg Chappell. (Little did we know that very sadly he would be dead from cancer in just over two years). The unusual noise of the crowd in those more conservative times. I could go on. Let's hope the gods of sentimentality inspire the Black Caps today.
It could be worse; there’s a wee way to go before we hit the lowest ebb ALA the NZ Cricket team of 1995/96 era. (Pre Black Caps branding). That was the nadir.