Almanac Cricket: NZ v Aust – Second Test, Day 4: Aotearoa Dispatches

 

The grey skies rolled in and it was a wet start to what was set to be a the final day of this series. No wind and a consistent light rain meant a delay in the start so it was off to The Pegasus nearby Hagley for us. A couple of nervy beers and chirp from the Kiwis.

 

“You’ll be back here by two Aussies”

 

“I’m not sure if we can score the runs that quickly.”

 

Thankfully only a half hour or so was lost to the rain and we were underway. Well, most of us were after Head was out very cheaply leaving us now leaving five down and not even half way to the target.

 

One South Australia replaced another with Carey at the crease. His wickets in this series had all been very avoidable but he and the Bison mixed lucky shots to the boundaries over the slips with sublime shots that punished some wayward bowling. Luck was starting to turn for Marsh too when Ravindra dropped a sitter.

 

Another pivotal moment was when Carey overruled a caught behind off Henry as his unorthodox way of finding form continued leaving Australia 105 off from victory at lunch and both batters with 50s.

 

There was another largish crowd who were now regressing back to nervous murmurs and trips to the bar. A high school student in full blazer was seated in front of us. When we quizzed him he said he had told school he had a dental appointment. Not sure what his plan B would be if shown on the cameras.

 

The Bison and Carey continued to confidently inch Australia towards victory. Phillips was introduced replacing Kuggeleijn or as one kiwi described the latter “the Wagner you order from Wish.” Phillips kept the batters honest but they still pushed around and found precious runs.

 

The reintroduction of the debutant Sears swung the game again. On 80 Marsh was caught leg before with an umpire’s call on the review. The crowd came back to life and a sniff of a win was back in their nostrils. The very next ball Starc was caught easily at square leg and the young gun was on a hattrick. Our momentum had been but to a very big halt. I’d questioned to the others why Starc gets in ahead of Pat and that shot certainly didn’t answer that question.

 

Captain Pat was next to steady the ship. We needed leadership….we needed..EDGBASTON! Pat’s soft hands approach to the ‘hattruck’ ball almost saw him caught at second slip but he managed to sneak the shot through to the boundary. The Pig, normally the most vocal of the three of us was deathly silent, we all were. The pressure was intense. The kiwi crowd were clapping in every bowl, the more vocal part of the ground now not short of a quip.

 

Carey lived a semi charmed life almost being caught by Phillips as the fours weren’t flowing as much but we inched along. The air was tense in the returning sunshine. After drinks back to back boundaries from Carey on Phillips had us only 21 from victory. The Kiwis still believed, they were  not going to get this close to a win stains Australia and blow it again?

 

Henry replaced Phillips but Carey and Cummins now looked like they would guide us home with a flurry of boundaries. Some Kiwis started to pack up to leave. They had seen this film before. The school kid was gone. Off to get a teeth extracted for real rather than watch an ending where it felt it a tooth had been extracted.

 

Another four. Pat on strike. Carey on 98. Pat pushed the ball down to the boundary and got two in before the ball was returned to give us the win. Celebrations by us on the hill with the other Aussies. Kiwis we had swapped barbs with over the past two days offered congratulations.

 

We walked, no, danced over to where the presentations would be had. Carey a deserved man of the match. Henry and even more deserved player of the series. Some kiwi players came to the boundary. Shaking the hand of Kane Williams a true highlight. When I said to him I hope to see him in Perth again when it’s not an orange ball test in 42 degree heat his reply only could be ‘that was a f*ckin scorcher.’

 

We took in more of the ground while we could knowing this was the end. Our next cricketing adventure would be back to the WACA and Optus next summer with dreams of other grounds. More photos. More chats with locals. More grins like a Cheshire cat convention.

 

With a few celebratory drinks back at the Pegasus we talked with some kiwis who could not understand how they cannot beat us in tests. Mitchell coming out post game saying they are not a results driven team does not help. Ian Smith was right to criticise that attitude. They had us at times in both tests and let us off the hook

 

Southee seems done. The opening batters suspect and Williamson still not back to his brilliant best. Three test series must be a minimum against a great side. One of the great tragedies of this great kiwi side being covid interrupting their reign.

 

Not that we can talk with our batters. Smith is questionable at best getting out to old man shots. Ditto Marnus. India looms on the December horizon at home. Then again it is our first away series win since Pakistan and a tremendous test to win.

 

For myself and the others this will not be our last series in New Zealand. These grounds, conditions and atmosphere a reminder of the true essence of what makes it great. It’s not Modhi going around a cricket ground in a four wheel drive. Nor is it a crammed fixture and player auctions or overzealous security.

 

Forever grateful for these past couple of weeks in the land of the long white cloud.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More from Denis Gedling can be read Here.

 

 

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