2007 Chappell Hadlee Game 3: New Zealand chase down 347 to cleansweep series
It's been a summer of cleansweeps. Australia won the Ashes 5-nil. England won the Tri-Series final 2-nil. And now New Zealand took the Chappell Hadlee Trophy 3-nil, chasing Australia's 346 with 3 balls and 1 wicket to spare.
Today's match had the dubious title of Clash of the Second Fiddles as both sides had rested key players. Australia got off to a solid start, thanks largely to the absence of Shane Bond. Watson opened with Hayden and scored a run-a-ball 68 which opens up a whole new can of worms. Are Gilchrist and Hayden our best opening pair? Gilly has had a poor run recently - at least when he can be bothered to even turn up. I know it might be blasphemy but perhaps Gilly should move down the order. He won't be there for the first half of the World Cup so if Hayden and Watson find good momentum, who knows?
The opening partnership was becalmed by a good spell from Patel - the frustrated Kiwi version of Stuart MacGill. After Watson and Hodge fell, Hayden kept plugging away, reaching his century and was immediately rewarded with a full toss fracturing his big toe. Adding insult to injury, the ground PA system played REM's 'Everybody Hurts' while he received medical attention. However, the injury actually worked out nicely for Australia. Watson came out as a runner and Hayden went the tonk, hitting a steady procession of sixes (a whopping 15 in total). He batted throughout the innings, reaching 181 not out which is the highest ever innings by an Australian.
Hayden had support from Hadden who contributed a useful 38 off 31 balls and will serve us well in the early World Cup matches before Gilchrist graces us with his presence. Australia reached 5 for 346 - usually an intimidating total although considering the 3 largest chases in ODI cricket all came against Australia in the last 14 months, was no guarantee of victory.
The one thing the depleted New Zealand bowling attack did right was concede few extras, allowing only 2 wides and a no-ball throughout the entire innings. Australia exceeded that in Bracken's first over and in a way was the difference between the sides. New Zealand set off at a cracking pace of 7 runs per over but Fleming fell in the 4th over (I enjoyed Rolling Stone's "You can't always get what you want" playing as Fleming left the ground). Three more wickets fell, including dangerman Taylor, leaving New Zealand seemingly dead and buried at 4 for 41.
However, the Black Caps have revealed a middle order with a lot of character. Fulton went after Mitchell Johnson who conceded 3 fours and a six in one over. The next over, he hit Watson for a four and six but then was caught by Hussey at short extra cover. Next McMillan went ballistic. He hit 100 off 67 balls, the fastest ever ODI century by a New Zealander. Two consecutive sixes took him from 88 to 100 - he was so in the zone, he didn't even realise he'd got a ton till McCullum mentioned it to him. "HOLY CRAP!" said the Cricinfo live commentary. My language was a little stronger.
After he fell, McCullum continued the attack right through to the last over where he needed 7 runs off 6 balls - with 9 wickets down. He hit a six off the first ball, a four of the third ball and a nation rejoiced. Not my nation, unfortunately - there is much gnashing of teeth and tearing of sackcloth on this side of the Tasman. So where do we go from here?
Firstly, we need a scapegoat. John Buchanan has been scapegoated too many times so it's time to move onto the next victim. Mike Hussey should never captain again! (nah, just kidding, we love you, Mr Cricket) Secondly, Australia seriously need to work out how to bowl one day cricket. I seriously hope Troy Cooley is going with the squad to the West Indies as we will need every bit of advice and fine tuning on the road that we can get. Thirdly, the players are saying they didn't want to play in the Chappell Hadlee Trophy. I think we should extend it - have one more match, give us one more crack at the Black Caps. This time they have to rest two additional players. Say Taylor and McMillan. In fact, throw in Stephen Fleming for good measure.
| Posted by JC on Tue 20 Feb |  14 comments |
My condolences to you and your nation. Not that my nation is directly affected, but cricket between other countries is more fun if you take sides... and sadly, in the rules of today's culture... we always favour the underdog. Maybe, if australia continues this form, we'll be rooting for Australia soon! :) Anyway, thanks for your post. Here's my brief few-liner, if you're interested. http://nayk.wordpress.com/2007/02/20/rolling-nz-gather-all-aus-nz-complete-the-aussie-whitewash/
Posted by NAyK on 2007-02-20 22:04:21
Posted by NAyK on 2007-02-20 22:04:21
I am getting really panicky now. Its not just the losing thats bothering me but the inability to close out games which we should have won easily. We did that in the tri-series final when McGrath dropped Bell. And now after they were 40 odd for 4, how they were allowed to win is staggering. They batted well allright but the bowling seriously sucks.
Posted by jethro on 2007-02-21 01:49:06
Posted by jethro on 2007-02-21 01:49:06
Shane Watson is too expensive and White and Hogg aren't good enough ODI bowlers. White's not even in the squad, I think? Dan Cullen didn't do much in County Cricket either. I wouldn't get to stressed. I am an England fan and am still amazed we beat you. I was in Sydney for the Ashes and caught Warne's breezy 71. It was a very humbling day. I'd rather go in with South Africa (chokers) and Sri Lanka (chuckers) as favourites. Come visit my blog www.barrysbeef.blogspot.com - i spout vitriol about cricket quite often. Cheers
Posted by Barry Beef on 2007-02-21 02:37:40
Posted by Barry Beef on 2007-02-21 02:37:40
AAHAHAHAHAHA
Posted by Jonny on 2007-02-21 05:44:26
Posted by Jonny on 2007-02-21 05:44:26
I wrote in last week after Australia had been beaten by England and put forward my opinions on how Australia are never going to win with Watson playing. HE IS HOPELESS. He cannot play to save himself. He has played the last 5 games, which have all resulted in losses. He is not an international cricketer. Full stop. Australia has now been involved in the 4 highest run chasers where they have not been able to defend mammoth totals all in the last 12 months and Watson has been involved in all 4 disasters. I beg the australian public to voice their collective opinions in an attempt to make the selectors come to their senses. Its not ok to just shrug off the past 5 losses and put them down to injuries and unavailability. These 5 games have given huge confidence to every other world cup nation, and has diminished whatever mental stranglehold the team had.Watson left Tasmania to play for Qld and tassie have immediately improved to be second on the Pura cup ladder. Too many coincidences for my liking. GET LOST SHANE WATSON
Posted by gazelle on 2007-02-21 10:24:36
Posted by gazelle on 2007-02-21 10:24:36
JC, how about making entire bowling attack the scapegoat?
And I agree, give them one more game let them have another go at the Kiwis, or vice versa.........Important lessons are learnt the hard way....
Posted by Kandarp on 2007-02-21 10:38:57
And I agree, give them one more game let them have another go at the Kiwis, or vice versa.........Important lessons are learnt the hard way....
Posted by Kandarp on 2007-02-21 10:38:57
Watson was clearly one of the better bowlers yesterday (which isn't saying much I know) but he also performed with the bat. That was one of the best opening stands we've seen for a while. Hogg has an awesome ODI bowling record. He is a class bowler and like Hodge, Jaques, Voges, Johnson, Clarke, Haddin, and Tait can hardly be blamed for not performing at the drop of a hat. If you treat players the way Cricket Australia has been treating them you get a bunch of talented cricketers floating around the fringes who begin to doubt themselves and with extensive experience carrying drinks for other players only fractionally better than them. Aren't there some foul double standards at play here? Can we seriously say that the same degree of leniency has been shown to Jaques, Hodge, and Hogg as has been shown to Lee, Hayden and Gilchrist in the last two years?
Posted by TA on 2007-02-21 11:47:21
Posted by TA on 2007-02-21 11:47:21
Posted by gazelle on 2007-02-21 10:24:36
What the hell are you talking about? Only Hussey and Bracken have been involved in all 4. If you're going to attack a player make sure you know what you're talking about.
Posted by cricket 06/07 on 2007-02-21 15:22:31
What the hell are you talking about? Only Hussey and Bracken have been involved in all 4. If you're going to attack a player make sure you know what you're talking about.
Posted by cricket 06/07 on 2007-02-21 15:22:31
With all the panic about Australia's current form slump and injury problems, it seems a pretty special achievement has been overlooked. Hayden now has the Highest Individual Score for Tests and ODI's. I think that's an incredible achievement especially as he was considered a test only batsman for so long.
Posted by P. Dorf on 2007-02-21 16:07:20
Posted by P. Dorf on 2007-02-21 16:07:20
And thats not to mention he scored half of that knock with a fractured toe.... a champion effort!
Posted by Timbo on 2007-02-21 18:48:07
Posted by Timbo on 2007-02-21 18:48:07
I think the fractured toe played a big part - it enabled him to have a runner (Ranatunga style), keeping him fresh to keep slogging those sixes. It was a great knock - wish I'd actually seen it (I chatted with another dad outside school today - he has foxtel and raved about Hayden's innings).
Posted by JC on 2007-02-21 19:13:57
Posted by JC on 2007-02-21 19:13:57
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