Welcome to a new concept in midweek cricket blogging: it’s the Tuesday Chew Over (pronounced Chewsday in honour of Richie Benaud). It’s up there with the Monday Moan and Wednesday Wipe in the pantheon of obscurity and general irrelevance.
Lots has been happening in the cricket world this week, but unfortunately none of it has involved the England team, English players, or even England cricket boards. We’ve all been twiddling our thumbs waiting for the next disaster.
Therefore, in a desperate attempt to keep the blog looking up-to-date, we’ve been forced to look overseas for material.
The obvious place to start is Wellington, where New Zealand and India served up one of the most historic test matches of all time.
New Zealand were shot out for just 192 in their first innings, after which India made an imposing 438. The game looked up when the Kiwis slumped to 94-5 in their second dig; they still needed 154 to avoid a humiliating innings defeat.
But then a miracle happened.
Brendon McCullum and BJ Whatling added a staggering 352 for the seventh wicket. That’s three hundred and fifty two runs (we thought we’d spell it out like the Grandstand vidiprinter used to do for extraordinary football scores).
McCullum went on to make 302, which was the highest ever test score by a New Zealander, beating Martin Crowe’s famous 299. It was also the longest innings in the history of New Zealand first class cricket.
Even more staggering was the fact that McCullum’s strike rate was just fifty four, which is well below his normal scoring rate. Indeed, McCullum’s innings was incredibly disciplined for somebody who’s famous for hitting the ball out of the ground.
As a result, I never, ever, want to hear an England batsman excuse a soft dismissal with the words ‘well, that’s the way I play’ ever again. McCullum proved that even the most attacking players can curb their natural instincts when required. Got that Matt Prior?!
It was impossible not to feel incredibly happy for McCullum. He’s always struck me as an honest, hard-working and modest cricketer. He’s also a fine captain who showed Alastair Cook up numerous times last year.
Those lucky enough to attend yesterday’s Wellington test will never forget it. From what I saw on TV, the ground was nearly full (a rarity for midweek games in New Zealand) and the atmosphere was both electric and genuinely moving: thousands of city’s workers had taken the day off to witness the first test triple century by a Kiwi.
The pictures spoke for themselves. All I can add really is that I wish Brendon McCullum was English. We could do with a new keeper … and captain for that matter.
Perhaps the Kiwis would consider a straight swap? We’ll give them Craig Kieswetter in return. Sounds fair enough to me.
James Morgan
James, sorry but I’m gong to have agree with you for most of your article, in fact I’ll agree with you up to when Mr Angry hit his 300th run, from then on it was appalling cricket and for that I will disagree for the last part. For a test match to be considered “one of the greatest of all time”, has got to be something special from the 1st ball to the last. Sadly Brendan McCullum, the moment he hit his 300, fluffed his lines, again, and bottled it. Cast your mind back to the 1st test against the WI in Dunedin late last year, a win there for the taking but decided to draw the curtains on a win and play for a draw. He did it again, and gave a bit back to India. Would Michael Clarke do that – defo no, Cook – possibly, Smith – no, Dhoni even – no. What was McCullum thinking? My Kiwi friends are livid, another test match gone begging. NZ had enough runs after he got his brilliant 300, but batted on they did and the Indians breathed a sigh of relief because it meant they were safe.
Many might disagree with me because his actions guaranteed a NZ series win, fine for some, but he should of gone for the throat and given it a go and try and win the test match – I repeat, “win the test match”!
Get the Indians in there early and have a right go at them and see if the pressure of thinking maybe they might have a nibble at it cracks them. If it looks like they are going to get there, start bowling down the legside to a legside field and choke them.
Any Kiwi fans out there agree – a great test match was hosed down by negative thinking.
I agree that he should have declared much earlier. But with his side 1-0 up in the series, he probably didn’t want to risk pulling out earlier. Test series victories against top opposition don’t come around often for New Zealand. I’m sure it would have been different if NZ needed a win to square the series. If the Ashes were at risk, I’m sure even Michael Clarke would have played safe.
Perhaps I exaggerated about it being one of the greatest tests. I should have said one of the greatest turnarounds.