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Previous Stories Why Cricketers Are More Sporting Than Golfers A cracking tournament in Dhaka New Zealand cricket is on track Taranaki Ignore the Distractions An Extraordinary Sporting Family Another New Cricketing Experience Dave Eats His Crow - A First Time For Everything Black Caps Are Not Strictly For The Birds Not Beefing, Just Disappointed There Are None So Blind That Will Not See A Matter of A Satisfactory Start Horse Laughs and Crocodile Tears A Slow Over Rate Means A Slow Team
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Now how about New Zealand? I have been quietly confident about this side as they built up to the event but even I have been surprised with the thoroughly professional way in which they have overcome their opponents to date. It was impressive to see Geoff Allott make the early breakthrough and then come back to clean out the tail, all with penetrative fast medium bowling where he was able to bring the ball back as well as seam it away. The usual economical backing of Gavin Larsen plus supportive performances from the others meant that the Kiwis had the modest target of 214. This still looked light years away when Horne and Astle went early and then Fleming and McMillan were found out by tight and probing Australian bowling. There was still some Canterbury lamb left in Cairns who produced one of his more perceptive innings, choosing cannily between the defensive prod and the mighty straight drive. How those bowlers must shake in their boots when he decides on the latter course! He simply sends them into the river and you wonder whether Tiger Woods can drive that far. It was almost bathos when he pulled out a sand wedge and was caught at extra cover with 17 to go. He was there because of Roger Twose, the yeoman from Warwickshire whom English folk are now proud to call their own. Roger has played many valuable innings for his adopted country but none like this. He was assertive from the start, verbally as well as with his bat, and the Aussies copped an earful from both departments. It was interesting that the crowd, a good-humoured lot on a warm day, were more obviously Kiwis than Aussies. Thus Warne, who is controversial anyway, was singled out for much abuse even though it was hardly deserved. The attitude was summed up by the lady who wore a T-shirt emblazoned "I support New Zealand and any other team that thrashes the Australians". The hard facts were that New Zealand, superbly athletic in the field, bowled straighter and with more purpose than the Aussies. Then when it came to making the runs they found two stalwarts who simply applied themselves and played their strokes whenever they deemed it suitable. Now this surprised the Aussies who expect the opposition, even Kiwis, to be subservient from the start. They use the word and the gesture freely and it is all designed to convey that they only have to turn up to win. Somehow this attitude conveys itself to the audience who then side with the others. Australia is now in the same predicament as India, having to keep on winning. They have to play Pakistan, Bangladesh and the West Indies and they certainly must win at least two of these. On the other hand New Zealand, with two wins and the best run rate average, must beat only Scotland to qualify and by their current form they will do more than that. At this World Cup I keep running into old foes like Warwick Roger, the acerbic journo who started Metro, and John Steer, who promised to keep me informed of the progress of the Fingletoads across America on their way here. He lost my card but he has no further excuse and for my part I’m glad they beat the USA in Southern California, even though Roger Carroll had to make five stumpings to win it. The batsmen must have been desperate to reach the bar! The other great reunion was with Jack D’arcy who toured England in 1958 and then went into retreat with computers. He has done very nicely and has lost none of his old ability to sink a pint. A red-letter day, this one over Australia, and I am thrilled to share it with so many old cricketing cronies. Send Dave your thoughts on our chances in the World Cup. | ||||||
