Almanac Cricket – NZ v Aust, First Test: Aotearoa Dispatches

 

My friends and I always said if we’re playing at the Basin we’re going. A chance to see us play on one of the special grounds.

When this tour was announced the bluff was called and we booked. Joining us on this tour was myself my good friend Kieran, who is still mentally processing the Lions’ loss in the grand final, and Adam AKA ‘The Pig’ for being able to sniff out tickets, a good horse bet, or a good drinks package like a truffle pig.

The day before the test we bar-hopped around magnificent Wellington. For Pig and I, not our first journey to this amazing place. This morning we rose and dressed for battle. A big breakfast at Joe’s Garage, where there was a busy buzz of cricket fans as we soaked it in and also took advantage of football games at night in the UK being at a good time in NZ.

The walk to the Basin was glorious. A few little digs, an appreciation and respect of going to a great ground. A walk past Travis Head in the nets who gave us a little nod. Once inside the ground a bit of a walk around and taking on being there and wondering what was to come.

What we knew we needed was Australia to bowl, but the Kiwis won the toss and we batted. Another early win: the Kiwis – how unbelievably storied and enjoyable their anthem is. A work of art.

Uzi and Smith came out and all we wished for was just to hold. It was all so dicey. Smudge got some lucky shots. We got to lunch ok with inky Smith gone. The Kiwi couple next to us loved we had made to effort to come over for the Test. Those behind us wanted blood and preferred undiplomatic relations.

In the second session the Kiwis sorted their length. The Kiwis behind us called Marnus a “head case” for his batting so far up the wicket and soon he was gone. An awful run of form continued.

The sun darted in and out of the clouds with a southerly wind worth 10 Freo Doctors. Head came and went, and boy did we remind the South Australian sitting in front of us of that.

Marsh came out to join his fellow West Australian Cam Green. Once again Western Australia would have to deal Australia out of trouble. Mitch went on the attack and encouraged Green to go himself.

At tea we had recovered. Confidence abounded. Then it looked as though Mitch had smashed a ball but the sound of the willow deceived and he was caught. As the Kiwis rattled through their quicks we suddenly realised a score of 250 would be a bonus.

In the last session as the white bait soaked up the beer we inched along with many batters falling by the way. We kept plugging away and then realised why not go for it towards the end? With a new ball and nothing left to lose, Cam lashed out with two fours. Can he get a hundred? Will he be stuck?

Then in what we thought wasn’t the final over the engorged man-brute we call Cam lashed away and a cut ball for four confirmed his second century, and huge applause all around in the stands between Aussies and a few begrudging handshakes from Kiwis.

At stumps we made a run to the players area to clap him off and remind Cam about how once again WA had saved the day. On the walk after the game, everyone decided to try and make very strong points about how poorly we’d batted, but what can you say when only one team had batted?

A final first off visit the Welsh Design Bar saw us mixed in with the cricket crowd and other randoms. The three of us still with some Kiwis who offered us a seat, so we reviewed the day’s cricket and appreciated how great it was.

It wasn’t about who won the day, we all just appreciated how good a day it was at the cricket. Day two will see New Zealand batting, so let us see how we travel. I just can’t  wait to get back to that glorious ground.

 

You can read more from Dennis Gedling Here.

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