The Biggest Moments in New Zealand Cricket
The 1981 underarm delivery at MCG stands as one of the biggest moments in New Zealand Cricket, albeit as one of the most divisive.
Brain McKechnie from New Zealand stood at long odds to hit the 6 runs his team needed off the last ball of that match in order to gain a tie in their One Day International in Melbourne, but Greg Chappel was taking no chances. The Australian skipper informed his brother, Trevor Chappel, that he was to bowl an underarm delivery: an action which Robert Muldoon, Prime Minister for New Zealand, has labelled the “most disgusting” occurrence in cricket history.
Chappel has since then apologised repeatedly, and has expressed his regret over the incident, but this moment will go down in history as possibly the most conflict-ridden in the cricketing history between New Zealand and Australia.
The Kiwis Take Their Revenge in 1982
The Eden Park crowd of 1982, standing at 43 000, remaining a record for any cricket match in New Zealand, turned up to hiss and heckle at the Australian team in their first appearance since the underarm fiasco of 1981. The hosts managed to get up by 46 runs in the game, despite public enemy number 1, Greg Chappel, managing a fighting century.
New Zealand Stuns the Australians in 1992
In 1992, once again at Eden Park, Australia was defending their champion status, and expected to easily vanquish their New Zealand co-hosts in the opening match for the tournament. Allan Border, however, came to regret his over-confidence and lack of preparation when his team was caught with their pants down after a Martin Crowe century and 3 wickets to Gavin Larsen allowed the Kiwi team to enjoy a win of 37 runs.
The New Zealand Record Run Chase of 2007
In 2007, the Black Caps managed to get home by just 1 wicket in a thrilling final over, chasing down a 346 target thanks to McCullum’s victorious 86 and a ton by Craig McMillian. Their winning this match gave them the Chappel-Hadlee trophy, and it was the 2nd time they had managed to chase more than 330 in as many contests.
The Eden Park Beamer by Brett Lee
John Bracewell, coach for the New Zealand team, was furious after a beam ball by Brett Lea struck his Black Caps batsman, Brendon McCullum. Although Lee apologised profusely, and was later cleared of any kind of wrongdoing, the coach felt that Lee should not have been allowed to stay in the game. He stated that it was not the 1st but the 4th time that Lee had beamed a Black Cap, and while Lee apologised each time, there seemed to be too many of these for it to be chance.
A Thriller in Eden Park, Auckland, 2015
In one of the finest 50-over matches in recent years, the New Zealand team managed to prevail by just 1 wicket when Kane Williamson sent Pat Cummings over the long-on boundary for 6. The 5 wickets from Trent Boult had skittled the Australians for a measly 151, and the New Zealand team look to be on track to a win. Brendon McCullum hit a 24-ball half-century, but an extraordinary 6-wicket haul from Mitchell Starc, 4 of which were bowled, almost allowed Australia to change their fate.