Umpiring howlers
The numbers still make you wince every time New Zealand’s cricketers cross the Tasman for a test series.
Played 31, won three. Yes, just three, since they first met in a test on Australian soil in Melbourne on December 29, 1973. Two of those victories were within a month of each other in 1985, still their only series victory across the ditch.
Surely they must have gone close to others? Yes, they have. As many as five tests, in fact, where New Zealand could, or should, or would, have won but for a major umpiring controversy that went against them.
Had the decision review system been in place it would have fixed three of them; had the DRS been used properly another would have been righted.
We take a sometimes painful stroll down memory lane to five that got away for New Zealand, or were snatched away by an umpire’s arm that inexplicably failed to raise.
1980: Third test at Melbourne Cricket Ground, day two:
Lance Cairns v Jim Higgs (on 1), caught behind at 279-9
The villain: Robin Bailhache
The damage: Higgs and Doug Walters batted another 18.2 overs and added 42 more runs for the 10th wicket. Walters scored 30 of those, moving from 77 to 107 before he was bowled by Jeremy Coney. And Higgs, the No 11, batted 96 minutes in all for 6 not out.
Result: Draw (NZ ended 128-6 chasing
193 to win)
You wonder what kind of state captain Geoff Howarth was in when he returned to New Zealand at the end of the 1980-81 summer.
Just six weeks later, on the same ground, the underarm incident split two cricketing nations. For now, New Zealand’s first Boxing Day test at the MCG (at 2-0 down in the series) had a controversial entree which ended with Howarth remonstrating fiercely with the officials.
Cairns was just medium pace and, on a docile pitch, fired a pinpoint bouncer at Higgs’ helmet which he gloved to wicketkeeper Warren Lees. Instead of raising his finger, Bailhache stuck his arm out. ‘‘He’s called a no ball! Dear oh dear,’’ trilled Bill Lawry in the commentary box.
Former Australian captains Lawry and Ian Chappell were appalled at Bailhache ruling intimidatory bowling.
Lawry: ‘‘Well, well, well, I don’t know, he’s wearing a helmet, he’s a No 11 who’s added 18 runs in a last-wicket partnership and he’s called an unfair delivery. I don’t know whether Geoff Howarth has ever sworn but he’s entitled to swear now.’’
Chappell: ‘‘It’s making a bit of a mockery of it, Bill. A man of Lance Cairns’ pace should be entitled to do that . . . on this sort of wicket they can play with tennis balls or have ladies’ cricket . . . that’s taking it a bit too far.’’
(out of 10): 6.