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A good toss to lose
Wisden CricInfo staff - March 19, 2002
All Tests at Wellington
There have been 38 previous Tests at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, and New Zealand have won ten, lost 12 and drawn 16 of them. But NZ's record here has improved: they lost seven of their first ten Tests, but since 1968-69 they have won ten and lost five out of 28.
Historically, winning the toss at Wellington has been a big disadvantage, with sides that have done so winning only seven Tests in 38. Even more strikingly, they have won only three of the last 27 Tests.
It's not a great pitch to bat first on either, with those who have done so winning only two of the last 22 Tests, and six out of 38 in all. Those two wins by the team batting first were pretty spectacular, though: West Indies battered New Zealand by an innings and 332 runs in 1994-95, when Courtney Walsh took staggering match figures of 13 for 55, and New Zealand returned the compliment with an innings and 105-run victory five years later.
Innings victories have been a feature of recent matches here, with five in the last ten. In fact only one of the last ten Tests here has been drawn, going back to 1993-94. In the ten before that, between 1983-84 and 1992-93, there were nine draws.
No side has scored more than 215 in the fourth innings of a Test here. New Zealand made 215 for 6 to beat India in 1998-99, the only fourth-innings total of over 200 to win, lose or draw. maybe: NZ's 215 for 6 to beat India in 1998-99 is the highest fourth-innings total here.
There have been some extraordinary individual performances at Wellington. In 1990-91 Martin Crowe and Andrew Jones added a world-record 467 for the third wicket - the second-highest of all Test partnerships. Crowe's share of the spoils was 299, the highest individual score here.
New Zealand v England Tests
England have played eight Test matches at the Basin Reserve. England have won three and New Zealand one, with four draws. New Zealand's only victory was also their first against England anywhere. It came in 1977-78, when England were routed for 64 in the second innings, the lowest total anyone has ever made against New Zealand in Tests.
England won by an innings and 68 runs on their last visit here, in 1996-97. Andy Caddick, playing only his second Test in three years, shared 15 wickets with Darren Gough, whose 9 for 92 is still a career-best.
An unremarkable match in 1991-92 - otherwise only notable for Graeme Hick bowling 69 first-innings overs and Ian Botham playing his 100th Test - will always be remembered for the horrific injury suffered by David Lawrence. Lawrence's kneecap shattered during his delivery stride, and he was carried in agony from the field. Despite various comeback attempts, his career was effectively ended by the injury.
Tom Bowtell is a freelance journalist.
© Wisden CricInfo Ltd
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