Chappell/Hadlee Series Game One Review

The Kiwis made hard work of it but in the end they deservedly defeated Australia in the first match of the Chappell/Hadlee series in Perth tonight.

The fact the Black Caps made Australia’s bowlers look good shouldn’t be overlooked for it was poor umpiring, questionable tactics and nervous and pedestrian batting that caused the close finish and not Australian excellence with the ball.

Chasing 182 for victory New Zealand decided that caution was the best approach after danger man Brendan McCullum was wrongly adjudged leg before off a huge inside edge from the second delivery of the innings and considering that skipper Dan Vettori scored the winning run from the last ball, I guess you could say that they timed the chase to perfection thereafter.

The Australian ODI team has more problems than an impotent gigolo and there isn’t enough time in a day to chronicle them all. To summarise, the top order is increasingly irresponsible, the middle scratchy, the ‘keeper a fumbling fraud and the bowling attack lacks depth and variety.

For now I’d rather concentrate on the victors who despite several setbacks clawed their way to a rare victory over their ANZAC brothers and it may not be the last this series as Australia’s slump continues without sign of interruption.

I’ve followed Ross Taylor’s career closely since witnessing him smash Australia to all corners at Bellerive early in his international career and there were definite indications tonight that the Kiwi selector’s patience, belief and nurturing of the young Polynesian is paying a fine dividend. He has become a mature batsman of impetuous talent and one that they can rebuild their side around after the reckless administrative obstinance of recent years.

The Black Caps were in danger of losing the match when he came to the crease and his responsible knock was the primary reason they overhauled Australia’s pitiful total.

Another to impress in the field and with the bat was rookie international Neil Broom. His run out of Ponting was due to outstandingly balanced outfielding, a quick release and a long, flat accurate throw to McCullum which found the Australian captain surprised and scrambling a metre out of his ground. It was a vital dismissal immediately after Kyle Mills and Peter Fulton combined to remove openers Marsh and Warner and Australia never recovered.

Broom also looked the part with the bat, supporting Taylor and increasing the run-rate after the Kiwis slow start and his dismissal was rather unfortunate considering he was given out bowled when the ball never touched stump or bail.

Haddin, accidentally on purpose in my opinion, illegally removed the bail while catching a dart from Clarke and his appeal was as contemptuous as his obvious deceit.

Vettori, as expected, bowled superbly leaking only 22 from his allotted 10 overs while his leadership was faultless especially when he intrepidly navigated his team to victory in the last few overs while wickets nervously fell regularly at the other end.

Overall, the standard of the cricket played was as atrocious as any international I can remember but let us not take anything away from the gritty performance of the Black Caps. All that statement illustrates is just how far the once mighty Australian team has fallen.

Coincidently, the ICC board is in Perth on their quarterly junket and many of the luminaries must have been alarmed at the standard of umpiring on display. Incredulously, the officiating was worse than in Columbo yesterday where MS Dhoni selflessly walked to protest his disgust at the umpiring after a ball he tickled to Sangakarra was about to be adjudged a wide.

The sooner the television review system is in place the better for with incompetents like Steve Bucknor, Bruce Oxenford, Brian Jerling and Mangamuni Silva in charge controversy and derision will be more prominent than the contest between mind, willow and leather.