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Watching and Waiting: Cairns on Ice

If you want boring, watch the Super 12
Chris Cairns - 27 March 2001

As I was watching the last day of the second Test last week I thought a result wouldn't be possible after another four days of play!

While that was the general feeling for this game, as I said last week, the concept should be the focus on that which is good. The groundspeople will get it right in time, so everyone involved should show patience and I'm sure that will reap rewards.

The speculation involving what wicket will be produced for the last Test has centered on a greenish wicket mainly because this is New Zealand's best chance.

History says the wicket at Hamilton does a lot on the first few days anyway, so it should be no suprise to find whoever wins the toss will be asking the opposition to bat. Personally, I think this is New Zealand's best cricket wicket. It has pace and bounce, it allows and permits good cricket.

Brooke Walker's injury on Saturday pretty much summed up what has been a horror run of injuries for the CLEAR Black Caps. Playing a club game before his recall he damaged his shoulder. I really feel for Brooke because he showed in South Africa that given time he could well be an asset for New Zealand cricket.

James Franklin's recall also means he gets another shot and I'm sure he will be looking to finish his first season in the Black Caps on a strong note.

On a completely different note, I went to the rugby out at Jade Stadium last Friday, to see the Crusaders and Chiefs in the Super 12. The marvel of finishing a cricket Test on the Monday and playing a rugby game on Friday is a credit to all involved.

The mumurings throughout the Test regarding the wicket left no doubt that people thought it was boring, but if you want boring you should watch the Super 12!

The people I feel sorry for are the public and the players. The players can only play according to the laws and can only do their best but let's get real, if you wanted to find something wrong in every passage of play in rugby, you could!

The game is currently remembered for the referee. But you don't pay to see how well he controls the game, open it up, what was wrong with the brilliance that allowed players to display sublime running skills only a few years ago? Three words can sum up the rugby season so far, go the Warriors!

Lastly, congratulations to India for a fantastic performance against the great Aussies. Coach John Wright will be hailed as a saviour throughout India and good on him.

The test for Wrighty will be if he can help India away from home. Their home advantage is the most difficult in cricket to overcome but can Wrighty produce the what no other Indian coach in modern time has done and that's success on foreign shores?

That is when he will be judged on his impact as coach.

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