Bracewell digs Australia's grave
By A.C. De Silva
FLASHBACK: New Zealand reached its summit in April 1986 and
Australian cricket fell off in quite extraordinary way in the third and
final Test in that series for Trans-Tasmania Trophy.
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John Bracewell – the top bowler in the Test at Auckland with
4 for 74 in the first innings and majestic figures of 6 for
32 in the second innings as New Zealand out Australia for
314 in the first innings and dismissed the Aussies for 103
in the second innings with a ‘take’ of 6 for 32. |
Geoff Marsh – Made the top score of 118 in the match, yet
had to be on the losing side. The opening bat of Australia.
Marsh, however he failed to score in the second innings.
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Wayne Phillips – One drop batsman in Aussie team scored 62
in Australia’s first innings total of 314.
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It was a big come down for the Australians who did everything
correctly for the first three days and then suddenly the Aussies fell
off and were defeated by eight wickets as New Zealand won a home series
against its fore from the other side of the Tasman.
Just three months earlier, New Zealand completed its first series win
in Australia. New Zealand has never been so buoyant and optimistic. And
on the other side, Australian cricket, were never so deflated and
pessimistic.
The man who made victory possible for the Kiwis was Bracewell playing
in his 17th Test for the Kiwis and only his third in New Zealand, had a
haul of 10 wickets - 4 for 74 in the first innings and 6 for 32 in the
second innings, which gave the off-spinner those glittering figures.
Aussies lose 18 wkts for 225 runs
The game at the midway stage on the first day Australia was 192 for 2
wickets and it looked like good going for the Aussies when Border
decided to bat on an evenly grassed pitch. Yet, it was not to be and
Australia lost 18 wickets for 225, its last eight second innings wickets
for 71 on that eventful fourth day.
Indeed Australia's second innings total of 103 was their lowest score
in Tests with New Zealand since 1945-46, 59 fewer than the total
mustered by Ian Chappell's team in Sydney 1973-74. While batting was
always difficult on the pitch which deteriorated steadily from from
midway through the second day, it was never so bat as the Australians
made it look.
Defiant wicket
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John Wright – the opening batsman of New Zealand made two half-centuries
and helped in a great way for New Zealand to win the Test
against Australia by eight wickets. He toured Sri Lanka with
D.H. Robins team in 1977. He has played 28 Tests.
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The wicket certainly had bounce - some balls skidded while others
jumped and turned. But the Aussies had been confronted with similarly
awkward and challenging situations in Melbourne and Sydney in recent
years. While they lost their last six wickets for 36, Australia finished
with a seemingly adequate total of 314 due to the skills of Geoff March
- the West Australian who made 118 - his first Test century.
There was also Wayne Phillips who made 62. Australia's pair of Marsh
and Phillips added 167 runs for the second wicket. Then Greg Ritchie
made 56 and Australia made 314 in the first innings.
For the New Zealanders Richard Hadlee had 3 for 60 and Bracewell 4
for 74 in 43.3 overs.
Came the Kiwis turn to bat and Jeremy Coney (93) came to their aid
when New Zealand lost three wickets at one score. A good opening stand
by John Wright (56) and B. Edgar (24) who put on 73 runs for the first
wicket gave the opening for a big score, but the Kiwis lost three
wickets at 73 and they had to back-peddle and their scoreboard trickled
to 105 for 5 wickets. However, the Kiwis somewhat recovered to make 258
all out.
In the lower half J.V. Coney (93) and Richard Hadlee (33) pulled the
side through for their first innings total of 258.
So, the Aussies had a first innings lead of 56 runs on the first
innings.
Greg Matthews (4 for 61) was the main wicket-taker for the
Australians, while McDermott (2 for 47) and Ray Bright (2 for 60)
somewhat did their part well.
Aussies poor record
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Jeremy Coney who made 93 in the New Zealand’s first innings
score of 258 turns one down on on-side.
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Ken Rutherford – Though he failed to score in the first
innings, he was there in the 2nd innings and made 50 not out
when the Kiwis achieved victory in second innings when they
made 160 for 2 wickets. |
Australia, after these matches against the New Zealand, lost 12 of
the 25 Tests and five of six series since it last tasted success -
against Pakistan in Australia in 1983-84 when Greg Chappell, Dennis
Lillee and Rodney Marsh bade farewell to the game they's served with
distinction.
Indeed Australia has a poor record in overseas Test matches since
January 1st 1977. In that period it has won only six of the 49 Tests,
losing 23 and drawing 20. Australian captain Allan Border was speechless
at the end of the match. In many ways, this was the worst of all the
defeats since he took over at the helm in Adelaide in December 1984. All
the Australians were shaking their heads in disbelief when Martin Crowe
of New Zealand scored the winning runs and can to embrace plucky young
Ken Rutherford who had batted for 15 minutes away from five hours on the
extremely difficult pitch, for a priceless 50 not out.
Came innings number 2 and the Australians were given the shock
treatment as it to say and their second innings wickets tumbled and they
were shot out for 103 runs, with only opener David Boon making 58.
It was Bracewell once again who did the damage to the Australians and
he ended up with 6 for 32 in the second innings to have a eye-catching
match figures of 10 for 106 which ultimately paved the way for a Kiwi
win by 8 wickets. New Zealand made 160 for 2 wickets in the second
innings with J.G. Wright (59) and K.R. Rutherford (50 not out) pushing
the Kiwis through to victory.
SCOREBOARD
AUSTRALIA – 1ST INNINGS
D.C. Boon c Coney b Hadlee 16
G. Marsh c Coney b Hadlee 118
W.B. Phillips c Smith b Bracewell 62
A.R. Border c Smith b Chatfield 17
T. Zhoerer c Coney b Robertson 09
G. Ritchie c Smith b Chatfield 56
G.R.J. Mathews b Bracewell 05
S. Waugh c Reid b Bracewell 01
R.J. Bright c Smill b Hadlee 05
C.J. McDermott lbw b Bracewell 09
B. Reid not out 00
Extras (b 2, lb 11, nb 3) 16
Total 314
Fall of Wickets: 1-25, 2-192, 3-225, 4-225, 5-278
6-293, 7-294, 8-301, 9-309
Bowling (New Zealand): R.J. Hadlee 31-12-60-3
G. Robertson 24-6-91-1
E.J. Chatfield 29-10-54-2
M.D. Crowe 3-2-4-0
J.G. Bracewell 43.3-19-74-4
J.V. Coney 5-0-18-0
NEW ZEALAND – 1ST INNINGS
J.G. Wright c Zoherer b McDermott 56
B.A. Edgar lbw b Matthews 24
K.A. Rutherford b Mathews 00
M.D. Crowe lbw b Mathews 00
J.F. Reid c Phillips b Bright 16
J.V. Coney c Border b McDermott 93
R.J. Hadlee b Reid 33
I.D.S. Smith b Waugh 03
J.G. Bracewell c Boon b Bright 04
G. Robertson St. Zoherer b Matthews 12
E.J. Chatfield not out 01
Extras (b 7, lb 8, nb 1) 16
Total 258
Fall of Wickets: 1-73, 2-73, 3-73, 4-103, 5-107, 6-170
7-184, 8-203, 9-250
Bowling (Australia) C.J. McDermott 17-2-47-2
B. Reid 19-2-63-1
G.R.J. Mattherws 34-16-61-4
R.J. Bright 22-4-60-2
S. Waugh 5-1-12-1
AUSTRALIA – 2ND INNINGS
D.C. Boon not out 58
G. Marsh lbw b Hadlee 00
W.B. Phillips c Brace well b Chat field 15
A.R. Border b Bracewell 06
T. Zoherer lbw b Chatfield 01
G. Ritchie lbw b Chatfield 01
G.R.J. Matthews b Bracewell 04
S. Waugh b Bracewell 00
R.J. Bright b Bracewell 06
B. Reid c Hadlee b Bracewell 08
Extras (lb 4) 04
Total 103
Fall of Wickets: 1-0, 2-28, 3-35, 4-59, 5-62, 6-62
7-71, 8-71, 9-71
Bowling (New Zealand): R.J. Hadlee 20-6-48-1
E.J. Chatfield 18-9-19-3
J.G. Bracewell 22-8-32-6
NEW ZEALAND – 2ND INNINGS
J.G. Wright c Boon b Matthews 59
B.A. Edgar b Reid 01
K.R. Rutherford not out 50
M.Crowe not out 23
Extras (nb 5, lb 4, b 18) 27
Total (for 2 wkts) 160
Fall of Wickets: 1-6, 2-106.
Bowling (Australia) C.J. McDermott 14-3-29-0
B. Reid 12.4-2-30-1
G.R.J. Matthews 31-1-8-46-1
R.J. Bright 22-11-29-0
S. Wough 4-1-4-0 |
