Memories: how a rivalry was born across the ditch
The trans-Tasman rivalry between Australia Australia and New Zealand will reach perhaps its greatest climax in Melbourne on Sunday, but it is a rivalry that has stemmed from a number of incredible ODI matches.
From the most controversial of beginnings in 1981 right the way through to the current World Cup, these close neighbours have been almost impossible to split in the coloured clothing.
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With all roads leading to the MCG and all eyes on these two teams, take a trip down memory lane to relive the contests that created a legendary rivalry and have us all salivating at what may be to come on Sunday.
The most famous ball of all – Melbourne, 1981
It was the moment that spawned a rivalry, enraged a nation and forced cricket’s rules to be changed – the underarm ball lives on in infamy to this day.
New Zealand needed six to tie the match from the final ball at the MCG, and had Brian McKechnie on strike. The stage was set for a dramatic climax, and Australia’s Trevor Chappell had the ball in hand.
But a conversation with Trevor’s captain and brother Greg would change cricket, and despite the protests of the batsmen and Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh, Chappell delivered the final ball of the match underarm, making a six impossible.
In fairness to the Kiwis, they took it pretty well and certainly have forgiven and forgotten (or maybe not), but at the time it caused quite the stir.
Reid bottles the unlosable game – Hobart, 1990
Two runs off the final over. That’s all Bruce Reid needed to secure a win for Australia in Hobart.
The gangly left-hander was hardly a superstar with the bat, but surely he would at least be able to take a single to get Greg Matthews on strike. Surely.
Derek Pringle’s first ball perhaps should have been called a wide, but the rest of his over was bang on the money. Reid edged, cut, flayed and missed, all for no run.
The equation suddenly read two runs from one ball, and the pressure proved too much for Reid – he swung, he missed, he took off and he was run out. New Zealand won by one run.
Bevan the hero again – Melbourne, 2002
Australia was chasing 246 to win in a crucial match against New Zealand at the MCG, but had crumbled to 4 for 53 when Michael Bevan came to the crease.
Bevan had priors in miracle run chases, and as one of the finest limited-overs batsmen Australia ever produced, set about resurrecting the innings.
He needed some help, with Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Andy Bichel all providing valuable assistance, but Bevan took charge. His running between the wickets and ability to pick the gaps were, as always, the feature.
When Bevan reached his century, Australia still needed eight runs from eight balls for an unlikely comeback victory, but it was his partner Bichel who smacked two boundaries from the final over to seal the famous win.
The Macs lead an incredible fight back – Hamilton, 2007
Matthew Hayden belted an imperious and unbeaten 181 in Hamilton in 2007 to set New Zealand the most unlikely target of 347 to win.
The game was effectively over bar the shouting when the Black Caps found themselves in the mire at 4 for 41, until Craig McMillan began to make his presence felt.
He smoked an unbelievable 67-ball century, before Brendon McCullum strode to the crease to finish the job with a ruthless 86 not out as New Zealand recorded the highest successful chase ever between the two teams.
The Black Caps swept that ODI series 3-0, but it would be Australia who would travel to the Caribbean and claim the World Cup just a few weeks later.
A World Cup classic – Auckland, 2015
The meeting of these two teams at this very tournament a month ago had tongues wagging, with many expecting a high-scoring classic – it wasn’t high-scoring, but it certainly was a classic.
After an aggressive start with the bat, Trent Boult’s brilliant swing bowling tore through Australia’s middle and lower order, leaving the visiting tournament co-host in disarray and bowled out for just 151.
The game looked over when Brendon McCullum blasted a quick-fire 50, and when he fell with the score reading 2 for 78, it looked a foregone conclusion.
But Mitchell Starc, perhaps inspired by Boult’s earlier exploits, launched a stunning counter attack, rolling through New Zealand with the stunning figures of 6 for 28 to leave the Black Caps six runs shy with just one wicket in hand.
It could have gone either way, but Kane Williamson made sure it went New Zealand’s when he sent Pat Cummins sailing into the crowd over long-on to spark wild Kiwi celebrations and leave everyone hoping for a rematch in the World Cup final.