Posted November 11

A spectacular weekend of Cricket MaX to launch the representative season, a big season indeed. India coming for a test series soon, after the Pakistan A team joins our three Shell Conference teams in a November series of four-day matches. Just before the weekend there was another great MaX day at Cornwall Park where the Bank of New Zealand hosted their customers in their now traditional day.

Some former stars made a reappearance: Bruce Edgar looking very trim and Sir Richard Hadlee leading his team through against Bruce in the final. He does a very professional job both on and off the field, an admirable ambassador for the Bank and providing fun for the participants with his unfaltering good cheer. It was a pity he drifted from his usual objective column in a Sunday paper when he said the Conference players should not have played MaX. It was ideal preparation for most, playing at last on grass this season.

The Hagley Park pitch proved a little slow, not surprising after all the recent rain. The real winner was the portable pitch at Jade Stadium where Craig McMillan enjoyed a feast. Fast and true, it was the ideal answer to the problem of sharing ground with rugby.

The Christchurch MaX extravaganza provided much excitement. Among the highlights were a staggering innings by McMillan who set a new fastest 50 record in 12 balls and went on to 88 from 28, Tim Boyer who almost emulated him with 81 from 32 and the two cunning old Chris characters: Harris and Pringle. They both produced hat tricks in their outstanding bowling feats, deceiving with clever changes of pace and with great control.

Canterbury and the State Auckland Aces proved the best organised teams although the Wellington State Insurance Firebirds were also a force. It was the usual professional presentation on Sky TV with the commentators providing clipped and expert comment. There was good balance with the music backing and relief at the relatively few ads between overs, unlike the interminable interruptions each over on state television.

The absence of ad breaks allows the commentators to develop themes and adds much interest to the whole event. One tidbit was the revelation that Aussie Graeme Hughes had once taken ten wickets for no runs, presumably as a schoolboy. It was claimed as an all-time record but I have news for Hughes.

At Wellington's Rongotai College in 1944 a lad named Brian Mattingley was introduced to the school assembly by headmaster Martyn Renner as having taken ten wickets for no runs in three overs in a school match, including two separate hat-tricks. He bowled medium pace for an intermediate schoolboy, obviously very straight. All the victims were bowled! The statisticians may check the records by verifying with my cousin the school archivist Paddianne Neely. I was amongst the agog at the school assembly.

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