Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: How about that cricket, eh?

162 Responses

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  • Aidan, in reply to BenWilson,

    It may be somewhat traitorous of me to the region and my wife, but I'm going for India today.

    Isn't it cheating to start a day early? Shame on you India.

    Canberra, Australia • Since Feb 2007 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • James Dunne,

    I was basically chanting the first verse of Vitai Lampada through the last over.

    There's a breathless hush in the Close to-night --
    Ten to make and the match to win --
    A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
    An hour to play and the last man in.
    And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat,
    Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,
    But his Captain's hand on his shoulder smote --
    'Play up! play up! and play the game!'

    Wellington • Since Sep 2013 • 25 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    TBH I think D/L is a pretty fair system. There's always lots of might-have-been analysis, but it's also possible that SA might not have got to 360, and quite possible with the run rate NZ achieved that chasing 360 was doable too.

    I think the wet ground made the ball run a lot slower, which really cut into the boundaries that could have been scored. SA did not have this to contend with. On the flipside though, fielding on wet ground is not easy, so their strategy of containing the boundaries and focusing on the bowling accuracy was very canny. But it made taking wickets a lot harder. Steyn's injury was that much more likely in those conditions and I bet he was hurting a lot in that final over.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I got off the couch for the last over and watched it crouched down behind the coffee table. True story.

    I am not a regular coffee drinker, but for some unknown reason had made a strong plunger last night. You can only imagine what the last half hour did to my heart.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Dude. We support NZ, and anyone playing Australia.

    I'm married to an Ozzie. Usually, I support them against anyone else.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    This has been quite a different sort of tournament from a rugby world cup.

    The All Blacks go into world cups with the burden of the expectation of the nation they will be victorious, baring their being undone by unspeakable acts of perfidy by dark combinations or being guilty of a gross dereliction of duty.

    The Black Caps on the other hand are in a tournament where any one of four teams could win it and on their day any one of six or seven teams are capable of an upset. In a sense, this is much more like a soccer world cup where there are several genuine contenders and each step along the path is all the sweeter until the final sugar rush of the final.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov,

    Though subsequently revised, within an hour of match completion last night Grant Elliott's wikipedia page began:

    "Grant David Elliott (born 21 March 1979 in Johannesburg) is a New Zealand cricketer god."

    Technicalities.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Great that it was shown on Prime so accessible to a lot more people. Hopefully the final will be too.

    I am one of those who know about cricket through their kids playing. At primary school it was an inclusive sport through local clubs so all kids could play, girls and boys together, including those with disabilities. So long as you did your parental duty including occasional scoring - as I tried to do while standing on the side of cold windy parks around Wellington concentrating on whether it was a dot ball or a wide and hoping that I recorded it correctly. Some kind and dedicated parents coached and managed the teams.

    At secondary school it became a lot more serious and only the skilled were allowed to play - but those inclusive primary years were important.

    I like that there seems to be a real team culture under the current Black Cap leadership. And it is nice that real men can cry and comfort as the South Africans did last night.

    What was particularly pleasant was the lack of the PM using it as a personal photo op. I doubt we will be so lucky on Sunday, however.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Jimmy Southgate,

    One of the best things about the game was that it appeared to be conducted by two teams who have little time for this sort of attitude:

    "Sledging inevitable in Cup semi-final - Faulkner"
    http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/content/story/854317.html

    Two teams who fought as hard as i’ve ever seen on a cricket pitch to win; and where either team could have won, and deserved to win.

    I just wish we could play them again in the final.

    Wellingtown • Since Nov 2006 • 103 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    The final is live on Prime. I'm letting you all know because Prime's PR department seems to consist of a tweet. I had no idea the semi-final was on live, then found it by chance. It was presumably a late decision but hello Prime, a trailer or two would have helped?

    But never mind. It was entertainment-slash-torture of the highest quality. Dull final please, I'm getting old.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Great that it was shown on Prime so accessible to a lot more people. Hopefully the final will be too.

    It is indeed, which is fantastic.

    I’m married to an Ozzie. Usually, I support them against anyone else.

    My dad was Australian. Half my family is Australian. I understand your situation is completely different.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    A gorgeous piece of writing by Andrew Fernando of Cricinfo about being at Eden park yesterday.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Emma Hart,

    I understand your situation is completely different.

    Barely comparable! :-)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell, in reply to Tristan,

    I loved the fact that there were two 36 year olds at the crease in that final over. Those two cheeky byes too, eh?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH, in reply to Jimmy Southgate,

    One of the best things about the game was that it appeared to be conducted by two teams who have little time for this sort of attitude:

    “Sledging inevitable in Cup semi-final – Faulkner”
    http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/content/story/854317.html

    See also I'll sledge India if David Warner won't, says Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson.

    The Australian team really do strike me as a bunch of arseholes, and that's why I'll be supporting India.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    See also I’ll sledge India if David Warner won’t, says Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson.

    Yeah, I don't see sledging as 'part of the game' or necessary. It makes something pleasant into something quite unpleasant. I know of a few sports where that kind of behaviour would see you heavily penalised.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I’ve seen Vettori up close, and he’s a tall, athletic man. His bowling action is, of course, graceful and balanced. But he bats and runs like a goony bird. It’s brilliant.

    And his fielding is superb, that one handed catch at the Basin on Saturday against Windies an absolute blinder. And more than worth his weight as a lower order test batsman, what 5 centuries? Never minding his agricultural approach at times!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell, in reply to George Darroch,

    The sledging was particularly unpleasant for Chris Cairns following his sister's tragic death in the Rolleston train crash. Can't remember who the ejit Oz fielder was who made the obnoxious 'choo-choo' sounds when Cairns stood up to face the bowler... actually I can't recall Cairns' reaction at the time now but I can only imagine.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Sue,

    How about Chris Gayle (arguably one of the best batsmen his generation) shaking
    Guptil's hand & welcoming him to the 200 club while his team was loosing the Wellington quarter final.

    These are the moments fans love about cricket, and often the players we remember most. As my Dad would say 'Gentlemen Cricketers'.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Russell may liken Vettori's batting and running to a goony bird, but Martin Guptill reminded me of a sparrow during his stellar batting effort in Wellington. It's like the way sparrows - when pecking at crumbs - constantly glance all around and then shake and fluff up their feathers. Totally alert and prepared and aware of all their surroundings and potential threats.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Savidge,

    Probably no one was happier than Ross Taylor at the result I reckon. His fuck-up with Guptill and his lame dismissal could easily have been the difference.

    My Mrs called him some very, very bad names...

    Somewhere near Wellington… • Since Nov 2006 • 324 posts Report Reply

  • sandra,

    I was half-pie watching the last couple of hours, believing that if I gave it my full attention I'd jinx it. But then at 6 runs and 2 balls I reckoned I'd jinxed it anyway!

    I wasn't filled with confidence when Vettori walked out and said so. My husband, said, no, he's good ... and so it proved.

    We've just got back from a quick trip to Dubai. The Bangladeshi cab drivers probably knew more about the NZ team than me, and they all love McCullum. The Pakistani gateman at the hotel shook my husband's hand on our last morning there (we'd overheard him and his African colleague talking about cricket) and said the best possible result would be Pakistan beating NZ in the final. Much laughter.

    It was neat to have these friendly conversations - and cricket was the key! Who would have thought.

    tauranga • Since Dec 2011 • 72 posts Report Reply

  • Sue, in reply to Michael Savidge,

    has taylor made it through a cup match without being involved in a runout?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Chamberlain, in reply to Mike O'Connell,

    Urban legend, never happened. See Stephen Fleming's autobiography.

    London • Since Aug 2007 • 33 posts Report Reply

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