Photos from the Basin Reserve T20 double-header

Photos from the domestic T20 double-header at the Basin Reserve, with Wellington playing Central Districts in women's and men's T20 matches. Wellington Women (the Blaze) tied their low-scoring match, and Central Stags beat the Wellington Firebirds by six wickets.

 

The longer one plays cricket, the more there is to know about it

A Message From W. A. Hadlee

I am grateful to the Editor for an opportunity to express the gratitude of those seventeen New Zealanders lucky enough to tour Great Britain in 1949. To the administrators, players, cricket writers, and our many friends, both in Great Britain and in Germany, where B.A.O.R. were such grand hosts, we say "thank you" for the grand tour provided for us. 

We came to England very well aware of our limitations - and we have returned to our small Dominion still knowing that the longer one plays cricket, the more there is to know about it. For example, we learnt that it pays to have infinite respect for a piece of turf known by some as the wicket, but better named the pitch, whose moods can vary, like those of a spoiled child.

Even under apparently unchanging conditions, pitches throughout our tour underwent sudden changes, perhaps encouraging the spin bowler for half an hour, and then spurning his most strenuous efforts to turn the ball. We were of the opinion that although wickets occasionally broke up on the third day, they generally lost their "bite" and played more slowly as the match progressed. 

Much discussion takes place upon the relative merits of cricketers of this generation compared with some previous generation. One thing is certain - that in this generation Denis Compton and Len Hutton must be reckoned as great players by any standards. Those of us who had toured England in 1937 would, I think, agree that counties lack the all-rounders of the earlier period - and it is generally agreed that there is urgent need for fast bowlers. To bring on the latter, it is important that wickets should be made faster.

But there is nothing basically wrong with English cricket. As club cricketers, we did think we saw the need for two-day club matches played on a competitive basis, or the provision of some channel through which the Saturday afternoon player could appear in first-class matches. Perhaps a club conference side in the County Championship would be helpful. But these, no doubt, are matter which have been considered from time to time and are purely domestic problems.

As visitors, and guests, in our Motherland, we came to know that there is nothing amiss with this great Game which provided so much enjoyment for so many players and spectators alike. May it always be preserved as the traditional sport in Britain, for as such it will continue to strengthen the strong ties of fellowship within the Empire.

- Walter Hadlee, in Playfair Cricket Annual 1950, p.46.

Whack

Australian import Laura Harris, in her first T20 game for Wellington, turns the match with her 67 not out off 27 balls. Her 108-run partnership with fellow Australian import and Wellington debutant Charli Knott (51 off 24) was a T20 record for Wellington, which defeated Canterbury by a whopping 114 runs.

New Zealand cricket's middling summer

It's been a middling, mixed-up New Zealand cricket summer, characterised by a return to relatively moderate form since injury and then the Indian Premier League robbed the national team of captain Kane Williamson and star batsman Devon Conway. It's also been an unusual season, if only because the three forms of the game were clearly delineated - there were 10 T20Is in the Gulf and India, followed by six tests - two in India and four in New Zealand - and wrapped up with that now obscure, little-known format, the one-day international - three home matches against the plucky associate nation of the Netherlands.

Performance-wise, New Zealand standards slipped over the summer. In the Gulf T20s New Zealand performed reasonably well, beating India, Scotland, Namibia, Afghanistan, and England, and only losing to Pakistan and Australia. Then on to India, where the home team thrashed New Zealand 3-0, with none of the matches close. The two tests in India that followed were a mixed bag, with one hard-fought draw in Kanpur and a drubbing by 372 runs in Wankhede.

The mixed form continued back at home for the four tests against Bangladesh and South Africa, two each. At Mt Maunganui Bangladesh enjoyed its first test victory over New Zealand, before the home side took revenge inside three days in the second and final test in Christchurch. Then against South Africa it was the reverse - New Zealand snaffled the first by an innings and was thumped in the second. Both 'series' only go to show that two-match test series are ridiculous contests; both Bangladesh and South Africa should've had a third test decider.

After a rained-off solo T20 against the Netherlands, an IPL-depleted New Zealand enjoyed three ODIs against the same team, which proved entertaining and at times more closely-fought than the home side might have expected.

T20 Internationals (won 5, lost 5)

In the T20s Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell excelled in the batting, scoring at a strike-rate of over 130. Trent Boult and Tim Southee performed admirably as the spearhead of the strike bowlers, while Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner supported with spin, with Sodhi proving rather more expensive. 

Start date	Format	Vs	Location	Result
26 Oct 21	T20	Pakistan	Sharjah	Lost 5 wickets
31 Oct 21	T20	India	Dubai	Won 8 wickets
3 Nov 21	T20	Scotland	Dubai	Won 16 runs
5 Nov 21	T20	Namibia	Sharjah	Won 52 runs
7 Nov 21	T20	Afghanistan	Abu Dhabi	Won 8 wickets
10 Nov 21	T20	England	Abu Dhabi	Won 5 wickets
14 Nov 21	T20	Australia	Dubai	Lost 8 wickets
17 Nov 21	T20	India	Jaipur	Lost 5 wickets
19 Nov 21	T20	India	Ranchi	Lost 7 wickets
21 Nov 21	T20	India	Kolkata	Lost 73 runs

T20 batting:
Martin Guptill 360 runs at s/r 136 incl three 50s (hs 93)
Daryl Mitchell 244 runs at s/r 133 incl one 50 (hs 72*)
Kane Williamson 216 runs at s/r 116 incl one 50 (hs 85)
Glenn Phillips 139 runs at s/r 114 (hs 39*)
Devon Conway 129 runs at s/r 108 (hs 46)

T20 bowling:
Trent Boult 16 wickets at econ 6.83 (best 17/3)
Tim Southee 12 wickets at econ 6.61 (best 16/3)
Ish Sodhi 10 wickets at econ 7.93 (best 17/2)
Mitchell Santner 6 wickets at econ 6.70 (best 27/3)
Adam Milne 4 wickets at econ 8.22 (best 17/1)

Test matches (won 2, lost 3, drew 1)

Devon Conway and Tom Latham racked up plenty of runs for the test side, but no other batsmen made a significant impact. The highlight was undoubtedly Latham's 252 in the second test against Bangladesh in Christchurch. In the bowling department all five front-line bowlers contributed admirably, with the luckless Ajaz Patel being the record-maker with his ten-for at Wankhede, only to be dropped on return to New Zealand thanks to the selectors' allergy to including spinners in the test squad at home.

25 Nov 21	Test	India	Kanpur	Draw	Southee 144/8, Latham 95 & 52, Young 89
3 Dec 21	Test	India	Wankhede	Lost 372 runs	Patel 225/14 incl 119/10, Mitchell 60
1 Jan 22	Test	Bangladesh	Mt Maunganui	Lost 8 wickets	Conway 122, Nicholls 75, Young 52 & 69
9 Jan 22	Test	Bangladesh	Christchurch	Won inns & 117 runs	Latham 252, Conway 109, Blundell 57*, Boult 43/5 (1st inns)
17 Feb 22	Test	S.Africa	Christchurch	Won inns & 276 runs	Henry 23/7 (1st inns) & 58*, Nicholls 105, Blundell 96, Southee 35/5 (2nd inns)
25 Feb 22	Test	S.Africa	Christchurch	Lost 198 runs	De Grandhomme 120*, Mitchell 60, Conway 92

Test batting:
Tom Latham 446 runs at 44.6 incl one century & two 50s (hs 252)
Devon Conway 388 runs at 64.7 incl two centuries & one 50 (hs 122)
Will Young 301 runs at 30.1 incl four 50s (hs 89)
Henry Nicholls 280 runs at 28.0 incl one century & one 50 (hs 105)
Tom Blundell 237 runs at 26.3 incl two 50s (hs 96)

Test bowling:
Tim Southee 24 wickets at 27.8 incl two 5/wkts (best 35/5)
Kyle Jamieson 20 wickets at 29.2 (best 82/4)
Ajaz Patel 17 wickets at 22.1 (best 119/10)
Neil Wagner 15 wickets at 27.9 (best 102/4)
Matt Henry 14 wickets at 16.1 incl one 5/wkts (best 23/7)

One-day internationals (won 3)

Marked by the final three innings for New Zealand by the stalwart Ross Taylor, the three late-season ODIs against the Dutch allowed Will Young to rack up two centuries and Tom Latham to knock a powerful 140 not out. With the next ODI World Cup only 18 months away, New Zealand will need to start scheduling one-day fare if the team is to put up any successful effort in India.

29 Mar 22	ODI	Netherlands	Mt Maunganui	Won 7 wickets	Tickner 50/4, Young 103*, Nicholls 57
2 Apr 22	ODI	Netherlands	Hamilton	Won 118 runs	Latham 140*
4 Apr 22	ODI	Netherlands	Hamilton	Won 115 runs	Young 120, Guptill 106, Henry 36/4

ODI batting:
Will Young 224 runs at 112.0 (s/r 97) incl two centuries (hs 120)
Tom Latham 171 runs at 171.0 (s/r 113) incl one century (hs 140*)
Martin Guptill 114 runs at 38.0 (s/r 81) incl one century (hs 106)

ODI bowling:
Kyle Jamieson 6 wickets at 18.3 (econ 4.85)
Michael Bracewell 5 wickets at 19.2 (econ 5.05)
Matt Henry 5 wickets at 13.4 (econ 4.32)
Blair Tickner 5 wickets at 17.6 (econ 5.86)

Ross Taylor emerges to bat in his 100th test

Ross Taylor, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 22 February 2020

Neil Wagner

New Zealand bowler Neil Wagner takes a break to sign autographs for the kids on day 3 of the first test against the West Indies at the Basin Reserve, Wellington. Wagner was named man of the match for his match aggregate of 141-9.

Danny Morrison's potato-eyed joy

[T]he IPL TV commentary is, if not the worst TV commentary ever conceived by any industrialised society, then certainly up there, the worst yet. Danny Morrison in particular seems to be astonished by pretty much everything from dot balls to thrashed sixes. Listening to his T20 commentary is like listening to a child’s toy that has mysteriously come to life – a friendly rocking horse, a bouncy space hopper – and which just wants to share its potato-eyed joy in every single object that swims into its line of sight.

- Barney Ronay, 'The IPL is back: cue bedlam, squeals, thunder and pure cricketing energy', Guardian, 7 April 2017

2nd test v South Africa, day 3

Day 3 of the second test turned out to also be the last, as South Africa shot out New Zealand to take an eight wicket victory in double-quick time. Adding 10 runs to their overnight score, the tourists ended up with a first innings score of 359, a lead of 91 on New Zealand's score. Then New Zealand only managed to bat for 63.2 overs, accruing a mere 171, with only opener Jeet Raval impressing with 80 off 174 balls. A dismal seven New Zealand batsmen were dismissed for single digit scores, with James Neesham's dismissal particularly galling. Durban-born Keshav Maharaj achieved his best bowling figures by taking 40 for 6, and South Africa had little difficulty in knocking off a short chase to take the match with two days to spare. From a spectator's perspective the main feature of the day at the Basin was the bone-chilling southerly, which forced me out of the ground after two sessions to the much-needed refuge of a hot shower! 

Vance Stand view

Inspecting the wicket

Vernon Philander bowls

Jeet Raval's half-century

A pretty decent catch

Good boundary work by James Neesham to catch AB de Villiers in tonight's 3rd ODI versus South Africa at the Stadium in Wellington.

1st test v Bangladesh, day 3

On day 3 of the first test at the Basin Reserve Bangladesh continued its excellent batting effort for another hour, extending its overnight score of 542/7 to a declaration score of 595/8. Neil Wagner ended up with the least mangled bowling figures, with 44-8-151-4. Then it was New Zealand's turn at the crease, although Friday's perfect weather wasn't replicated - Wellington was clear but chilly for most of the day, with a high of around 18 degrees diminished by wind chill. All the batsmen got a start, with opener Tom Latham displaying the most stickability, batting for the remainder of the day to close undefeated on 119. Williamson (53), Taylor (40) and Raval (27) also helped the score along but failed to preserve their wickets in a lengthy chase. Bangladeshi test debutante Taskin Ahmed will be pleased with his first test wicket: that of the captain, Kane Williamson. At the close of play New Zealand were 292/3, still 303 runs behind Bangladesh, with Henry Nicholls on 35 batting with Latham. 

Latham ducks one

Waiting for Taskin's autograph

Latham's fifty

Taylor

Vance Stand

1st test v Australia, Day 2

Wellington turned on a brilliant day for test cricket yesterday, which was excellent for the many genial visitors from across the Tasman - including Allan Border, who I rubbed shoulders with in the Vance Stand - but perhaps not so brilliant for the New Zealand team, who had to slog through an entire day of perfect batting conditions, picking up only three wickets along the way. It must have been doubly galling to have had to watch Adam Voges' measured, careful ton, given he was spared on 7 in the last over of Day 1 by an incompetent no-ball call from umpire Richard Illingworth. Voges' innings ran on to an impressive 176 not out by the end of Day 2, almost eclipsing New Zealand's feeble first innings single-handed. Class act Usman Khawaja also dominated with a classy 140, the fourth test century he's scored in his last six innings. The only joy for New Zealand supporters was a brief fired-up over from Trent Boult with the new ball, which accounted for both Khawaja (caught LBW by a straightening delivery) and Mitchell Marsh (caught and bowled for a two-ball duck after being denied a wicket by DRS the ball before).

An unsuccessful Mark Craig appeal

Khawaja's ton

Inspecting the wicket block 

Dry summer on the bank

NZ players in IPL 2016

Brendon McCullum (Gujarat Lions*, $1.688m, 219 matches)

Corey Anderson (Mumbai Indians*, $1.012m, 67 matches)

Trent Boult (Sunrisers Hyderabad*, $856k, 51 matches)

Tim Southee (Mumbai Indians, $563k, 109 matches)

Adam Milne (Royal Challengers Bangalore*, $157k, 51 matches)

Kane Williamson (Sunrisers Hyderabad*, $134k, 85 matches)

Mitchell McClenaghan* (Mumbai Indians, $66k, 79 matches)

Colin Munro (Kolkata Knight Riders, $66k, 102 matches)

* = retained from 2015; cost is listed in NZD

Source: Cricinfo

1st ODI vs Pakistan, Basin Reserve

Yesterday ODI cricket returned to the Basin Reserve in Wellington for the first time in 11 years and for only the second time this century. Pakistan faced New Zealand with the advantage of putting New Zealand in to bat, and with the mercurial Brendon McCullum out to injury, Kane Williamson led the home team. A fine late order recovery from 99/6 led by new boy Henry Nicholls (82) and ably assisted by skilful batting from numbers eight through ten, Mitchell Santner (48), Matt Henry (48no) and Mitchell McClenaghan (31rh) saw New Zealand post 280/8. Mohammad Amir and Anwawr Ali both picked up three wickets, with the latter returning expensive figures of 9.5-0-66-3.

The New Zealand score never seemed sufficient with Pakistan cruising at 118/2, but paceman Trent Boult (9-1-40-4) and medium-pacer Grant Elliott (10-1-43-3) embarrassed the Pakistan middle order, with only Babar Azam (62) passing fifty. Pakistan were all out for 210 after 46 overs - a win to New Zealand by 70 runs. And a prime example why more one-dayers should be hosted at the Basin, which is a far more pleasant environment for a match than the impersonal and uncomfortable Stadium.