Lynn McConnell
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Only Test: New Zealand v Zimbabwe at Wellington, 26-30 Dec 2000 Lynn McConnell |
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Pre-game:
New Zealand 1st innings: |
Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan, the last pair of recognised batsmen in the side had added 45 runs by stumps and were New Zealand's best hope of still managing a score in excess of 300.
Astle's effort was especially welcome after his recent bout of poor form. Coming to the crease just after the lunch break when skipper Stephen Fleming had been run out, he batted for the rest of the afternoon, grafting the whole way to be 56 not out at stumps.
It was an uncharacteristic innings from Astle who has been under the selectors' gaze following his poor scores in Africa. But the more he worked, the more his confidence grew and by the end of the innings he was starting to despatch loose balls with something more akin to his usual style.
A six over mid-wicket from leg-spinner Brian Murphy released a great deal of frustration and helped him bring up his half century off 154 balls in 211 minutes.
Craig McMillan, who has also been struggling for his best touch, followed Astle's example, without quite taking as long to play himself in, and lofted Murphy over long off for six. He was 20 not out at stumps.
The bout of scoring at least lifted the scoring rate without taking the game by the scruff of the next and shaking it into life.
Still, every run on the board is likely to count in the final outcome and the two New Zealand spinners, off-spinner Paul Wiseman and leg-spinner Brooke Walker, can expect some long spells bowling.
The left-handed opener who is in his first season of international play is playing his first Test on home turf and demonstrated the powers of concentration that have already won him plaudits overseas.
Despite his embarrassing involvement in the run out of his skipper Stephen Fleming who departed just after the lunch break for 22 runs, Richardson maintained his composure to carry on and score his half century off 140 balls in 198 minutes.
He was joined by Nathan Astle, who has been enduring the worst form of his international career. They ground out the runs on a pitch which was low and slow and offering no suggestion that it was going to last the distance.
Astle, while working hard to regain some of his better touches, unleashed some trademark shots square of the wicket on the off-side but was still troubled in getting his timing right.
At the break, Richardson was 70 not out and Astle 24 with New Zealand 129-3.
Fleming was halfway down the wicket responding to partner Mark Richardson's call only to be sent back and predictably fall short when mid-on fielder Guy Whittall's throw was held by bowler Bryan Strang who broke the wicket.
It was a setback to New Zealand and left them 67-3. Ironically, Fleming had been looking in ominous form after the setbacks he suffered during the recent tour of South Africa.
One trademark on-drive offered a suggestion that the technical flaws he had been working out were close to being sorted out.
But the run out cut that promise short and the pressure went on Richardson to ensure New Zealand mounted a big total on a pitch which looks likely to deteriorate in the latter stages of the game.
Fleming's dismissal did offer Nathan Astle the chance to restore his form to something like his pre-African tour standard.
The strong north-westerly wind made life demanding for left-arm medium pacer Bryan Strang. He was given the job of battling into it, a job he did well despite several times being knocked off his stride and having to re-start his run-up.
Captain Heath Streak remained the most likely looking of the Zimbabwean bowlers, his 13 overs having cost 28 runs.
At the drinks break, New Zealand were 100-3 with Richardson on 49 and Astle on 16.
Zimbabwe had the home side wondering if it had made the right choice when batting first after winning the toss.
Matt Horne's return from injury was totally inauspicious when he paid the price for waving at a wide one from Heath Streak that should have been left well alone.
Then Mathew Sinclair was trapped by left-arm swing bowler Bryan Strang who did enough with the ball to convince umpire Steve Dunne that Sinclair, on nine, should be on his way leg before wicket.
But the two left-handers, Richardson, playing his first Test at home, and skipper Stephen Fleming playing his first first-class game in front of his newly-adopted home crowd, set about restoring the side's position.
Fast man Henry Olonga could make no impression on the pair and while he peppered the pair with bouncers they caused few problems for the batsmen.
They went to lunch having carried New Zealand to 63-2, with Richardson on 30 and Fleming on 22.
New Zealand chose to bat against an attack which if not lethal was at least accurate, with captain Heath Streak causing some problems for the right-handers when bringing the ball back into the batsmen.
Ironically, it was one of his less accurate deliveries which resulted in the first wicket when Matt Horne, returning from the hand injury he suffered on tour in Zimbabwe earlier in the summer, couldn't resist having a flick at a wide ball.
He got the touch and wicket-keeper Andy Flower flew, almost in balletic fashion, across the face of first-slip Alistair Campbell to take a fine catch. Horne was gone for one and New Zealand had only five on the board.
Mathew Sinclair, no doubt with memories of his last Boxing Day Test in Wellington when he scored a double century on debut, strode to the wicket and almost immediately unleashed one of his trademark assists of a wider ball through the gully region for four runs.
He repeated the exercise in the next over, but apart from a single, that was to be his lot for the day as he fell victim to Bryan Strang.
Finding some movement through the air he brought Sinclair forward and caught him on the pad, sufficiently enough in line for umpire Steve Dunne to give him out leg before wicket. New Zealand was 22-2.
Streak finished his first spell of seven overs with one for 11. Henry Olonga replaced him and saw Mark Richardson put his first ball between third slip and gully for four runs.
After the first hour, New Zealand was 26-2 with Richardson on 15 and New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming had not yet scored.
Conditions were marred only by a blustery north-westerly wind fanning the ground.
Prospective Test all-rounder James Franklin will have to wait another Test before making his debut after being named 12th man for New Zealand. Angus Mackay was named Zimbabwe's 12th man.
That means New Zealand will go into the game with a spin duo of off-spinner Paul Wiseman and leg-spinner Brooke Walker.
The Basin Reserve pitch which is usually one of the better batting tracks in New Zealand had a dry look to it, possibly forcing the CLEAR Black Caps' hands on their bowling choice.
The umpires are: Steve Dunne (New Zealand) and BC Cooray (Sri Lanka).
Play starts at 12 noon (NZ time):
The teams are:
New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Matthew Horne, Mark Richardson, Mathew Sinclair, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Adam Parore, Brooke Walker, Paul Wiseman, Shayne O'Connor, Chris Martin, James Franklin.
Zimbabwe: Heath Streak (captain), Guy Whittall, Alistair Campbell, Stuart Carlisle, Andy Flower, Angus Mackay, Trevor Madondo, Douglas Marillier, Brian Murphy, Henry Olonga, Gavin Rennie, Bryan Strang.
© CricInfo
Date-stamped : 26 Dec2000 - 10:33