We’ve got Test
FROM BOONIE FACING THE FIRST BALL AND PUNTER’S DOUBLE TON, TO BEING THRASHED BY SOUTH AFRICA, ADAM SMITH TAKES A LOOK AT MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN TEST CRICKET IN TASMANIA
TASMANIA’S five-year wait for Test cricket will end later this year when Australia hosts Afghanistan in the first fiveday encounter between the two nations.
It will be the 14th Test in Hobart, with the hosts boasting a strong record of nine wins, two draws and two losses at Blundstone Arena.
The Test match also raises the prospect of wicketkeeper Tim Paine having the honour of captaining his country in his home town.
Here are some of the memorable moments from past matches.
V SRI LANKA 1989-90
The first Test in Tasmania began on December 16 when an Allan Border-led outfit took on Sri Lanka. Hometown hero David Boon faced the historic first ball, while also registering the first run and topscoring with 41 in the first innings.
The Australians took control in the second innings through centuries to Mark Taylor, Dean Jones and Steve
Waugh, setting up an eventual 173-run win.
V NEW ZEALAND 1993-94
Four years after the first ever Test, Australia returned to Hobart to host trans-Tasman rival New Zealand. It was a batting feast as Australia piled on 6-544 declared in the first innings with Michael Slater, Mark Waugh and crowd favourite David Boon all chalking up centuries. The country’s tweakers, Tim May (5-65 and 2-45) and Shane Warne (3-36 and 6-31), then took over, sharing 16 wickets between them to spin the hosts to an innings and 222run victory.
V PAKISTAN 1995-96
Australian openers Mark Taylor and Michael Slater broke open a tight contest after the side held a 67-run first-innings lead. The two openers combined for a 120run first wicket stand, with Taylor (123) going on to score his second century in Hobart. In the absence of Shane
Warne, Glenn McGrath stepped up to the plate, taking 5-61 to help secure a 155-run win.
V NEW ZEALAND 1997-98
Australia’s winning streak in Tasmania ended at the hands of the Kiwis, who held on for a draw in a thrilling finish. In a rain-affected match in which just 15 overs were bowled on day one, the contest appeared headed for a stalemate when New Zealand had only faced 45 overs in its first innings by stumps on day three. But by the final day Australia had set the visitors a target of 288 from 61 overs, and was on track for victory when it reduced NZ to 9-222. However, tailenders Simon Doull and Shayne O’Connor survived the final 38 minutes to deny Shane Warne (5-88).
V PAKISTAN 1999-00
Few will forget the day Adam Gilchrist arrived on the Test scene. In just his second Test after replacing Ian Healy, Gilchrist walked to the wicket
late on day four to join Justin Langer with the hosts in trouble at 5-126 chasing 369. Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis had the ball swinging and Saqlain Mushtaq was bamboozling Australia with his doosra. Remarkably, Gilchrist (149 not out) and Langer (127) combined for a 238-run partnership to push the side to a then-world record fourth innings run chase. It also set in motion Australia reeling off 16 straight Test victories.
V NEW ZEALAND 2001-02
Another match affected by rain, with just 229.2 overs managed. But on day one — the only complete day — Australia piled on 6-411 from 90 overs. Ricky Ponting recovered from a pair in his previous Hobart Test to crack an unbeaten 157, with Justin Langer (123), Matthew Hayden (91) and even Shane Warne (70) also cashing in. The Kiwis finished their first innings 7-243, which came across the final three days.
V WEST INDIES 2005-06
Having been forced to bide his time to make his Test debut, Michael Hussey wasted little time in confirming his ability at the highest level. In just his second Test the elegant left hander smacked 137, combining with Matthew Hayden (110) in a 231-run opening stand after the visitors had been skittled for 149. It set the tone for the country’s nine-wicket win.
V SRI LANKA 2007-08
Another seemingly comfortable victory for Australia (96 runs) but it was
arguably the efforts of Kumar Sangakkara which stole the headlines. First innings centuries from Phil Jacques and Michael Hussey powered the home side to 5-542 declared, and by the time Sri Lanka started its second innings it was chasing 507. At 8-290 the match was gone — or so it seemed — before Sangakkara compiled a brilliant 192 thanks to some resistance from Lasith Malinga (42 not out). The visitors were even daring to dream of the most miraculous of wins until Sangakkara was
controversially
given out caught when the ball appeared to miss the edge of his bat and strike his shoulder.
V PAKISTAN 2009-10
Test skipper Ricky Ponting had been struggling with the bat as he descended on his home ground in January of 2010, before receiving a massive dose of luck. Early on day one, Ponting top-edged a pull shot, which ballooned to Mohammed Aamir at fine leg, only for the Pakistan quick to spill the simplest of chances. The Tasmanian, who was yet to get off the mark, went on to bludgeon the first Test double century at Blundstone Arena, cracking 25 boundaries in his 209.
V NEW ZEALAND 2011-12
A nine-match unbeaten streak in Hobart came to an end on a seam-friendly pitch which was dubbed the “incredible hulk” by media. In a low-scoring affair Australia was set 240 in the final innings, a target which despite the difficult batting conditions
seemed within reach while David Warner (123 not out) was at the crease. In the end Warner ran out of partners, Australia fell seven runs short with Doug Bracewell’s 6-40 enough to see the Kiwis become the first visiting side to conquer Hobart.
V SRI LANKA 2012-13
Normal order was restored the following summer with Australia beating Sri Lanka by 137 runs. Michael Hussey peeled off an unbeaten 115, Tasmanian Matthew Wade chimed in with 68 not out and Ed Cowan, playing for the Tigers at the time, added 56 in the second innings. Wicketkeeper Wade was also involved in the unusual scenario of bowling an over on the final day — handing the gloves to Phillip Hughes — as Australia searched for a breakthrough against the defiant visitors.
V WEST INDIES 2015-16
A history-making Test where a slew of records fell as Australia registered a
thumping innings and 212-run win. Adam Voges (269 not out) and Shaun Marsh (182) combined for a 449-run partnership, the highest fourth-wicket stand in Test history, the highest for any wicket in Australia and the highest against the West Indies. Only five other partnerships in the history of the game yielded more runs.
V SOUTH AFRICA 2016-17
The last Test in Tasmania was forgettable for the home country, with Australia’s batsmen skittled for a paltry 85 on the opening morning. It eventually finished in an innings and 80-run defeat, a result which ended the international careers of Adam Voges and Peter Nevill. Callum Ferguson and Joe Mennie, who both debuted, never played another Test.
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