As
I have grown older I have become less certain about stuff. No longer do I
believe, as I once fervently did, that Mr Gladstone had the solution to the
Irish Question. I am not as sure as I was that gherkins are the ideal
complement to a roast dinner, and I concede that it is worth spending more than
$10 on a shirt.
But
on one matter I will not be shaken. That test match cricket is the finest public
entertainment that could be conceived of, and that its existence is sufficient
of itself to mark us out as a sophisticated civilisation.
That
belief has been reinforced by today’s play at the Basin. One day I will write
about the best days’ test cricket I have had the privilege of attending. This
day will be on the list, no doubt about it.
The
facts are these: Kane Williamson and BJ Watling, having batted throughout the
final session of play yesterday, kept their wickets intact until well into the
final session today before withdrawing unbeaten with their respective highest
test scores of 242 and 142.
More
than that, together they put on 365 for the sixth wicket, more than any pair
has managed in any of the 2,156 test matches that have been played since 1877.
Remarkably, the previous record was set at the Basin last February and BJ
Watling was involved then too, with Brendon McCullum. I would have to check
Bradman’s record more carefully to be certain, but a quick perusal of CricInfo
does not produce any other example of a batsman breaking his own world
partnership record.
And
I was there to see it. Watching a world partnership record being set has always
been a spectating ambition of mine. I had thought that being there for the
first 150 or so of the McCullum/Watling record would be as close as I would get.
There
were not a huge number of ravishing shots. Between them, Williamson and Watling
hit only 27 fours (and one six for the latter). A death-march slow outfield did
not help, but the beauty of the batting was in the discipline and tempo. After
an hour’s play today I wrote a note questioning if they might be a bit slow, it
being too soon to bat just for time. They knew what they were doing: ensuring
that the foundation was absolutely solid. When the pace quickened in the
afternoon, it was not through big hits, but precisely placed shots for one and
two. So very clever.
Williamson’s
concentration is extraordinary. He could sit through the Ring Cycle followed by
a reading of War and Peace without
showing the least sign of weariness. Nine test centuries and he is not 25 until
August. Watch him bat and remember that you are watching one of the greats.
On
the radio Allen McLaughlin has been making the point that BJ Watling featured
in none of the World XIs picked by various pundits at the end of the year. Most
pick AB de Villiers as keeper. De Villiers is a fine batsman, but a
manufactured custodian. Watling is a superior keeper and, as a double world-record
breaker in the last twelve months, has the batting credentials.
Conventional
wisdom would have it that New Zealand—one up in a two-match series—should bat
on well into the last day, so as to remove Sri Lanka’s chance of winning completely.
Some of us hoped that McCullum would be bold enough to give Sri Lanka four or
five overs at the end of the day, chasing a target of 450 plus.
But
Brendon McCullum likes to roll the dice. He is interested in winning test
matches as much as test series. The declaration came earlier than we had dared
to hope (or in some cases, feared). It was thrilling, audacious and so smart.
He set Sri Lanka 390 in 107 overs. Very tough, but possible, with Sangakkara in
the line-up. And Sri Lanka have to have a go if they are to save the series, the
risks they must take thus increasing New Zealand’s chances. Test cricket needs
captains prepared to be as bold as McCullum.
Contrast
with Steve Smith, grimly batting on at the MCG last week until India were
completely shut out, cutting his own chances of victory off at the knees.
What
will happen on day five? Boult and Southee might swing it like the Glenn Miller
Orchestra. Sangakkara might emulate Arthur Fagg and score two double hundreds
in the same game. Or it might peter out into a tame draw. The uncertainty will
quicken our step down the Kent Terrace on the way to the Basin on Wednesday.
Thanks for your 'on the ground' reports, Peter. I've watched each day of the Tests on Sky here in the UK (mostly highlights, as I no longer have the stamina for the all-nighters), and it's been good to read the take of someone who's been there.
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth I think it's a bit early to describe Williamson as 'one of the greats' (except, perhaps, in strictly New Zealand terms), but he's obviously outstanding. You do, though, have the advantage over me of actually having seen him make some live runs, as I've seen him bat twice, once for Gloucestershire and once for Yorkshire, and he was out for 0 on both occasions.
I completely agree about Watling - his keeping always looks, neat, unobtrusive and excellent, and to have broken a world partnership record twice inside a year tends to indicate that he knows what he's about with the bat too.
McCullum is simply McCullum, Jimmy Neesham looks like one of those classic big lads who can hit the ball miles, bowl some seamers and has hands like buckets (slight echoes of Flintoff, but with better batting technique), and Southee and Boult are superb. The most refreshing thing about them is that they're happy just to get batsmen out without feeling the need to send them off with a mouthful of abuse.
Like many people around the world, I've always had a soft spot for New Zealand, and I really hope their current vein of form continues. If they played England at home now, I think they'd be strong favourites.
Hi Brian
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment and your interest in the blog. I agree that Williamson isn't a Viv Richards or Ricky Ponting, that is to say a batsman that you can recognise as a great player almost from their first appearance. My comment was influenced by Martin Crowe (as you may know, now in his final weeks) effectively handing on the title of NZ's greatest batsman to Williamson.
We are quietly confident about the two tests at Lord's and Headingley in May/June, but it remains to be seen if that confidence is justified.
I'll post on day 5 of the test later today.
Thanks, Peter. I didn't know about Martin Crowe (although, of course, I know he's been ill off and on for a while). I was always a great admirer of his, going right back to the 1983 tour, and will have to clear some time to write something about him.
ReplyDeleteIt seems a safe bet that Williamson is going to break all the New Zealand records, and do so in style. For me it's his his off-driving that really marks him down as a player of high class.
When I commented yesterday I'd forgotten that the Black Caps are coming here in the spring, probably because it's less than two years since they were last here. Much will depend on the NZ openers (will Rutherford still be around?) and whether Southee and Boult can match or better Anderson and Broad. And isn't McCullum due a bit of a dip in form?
They could be really good games if the weather plays ball. Many NZ Tests here in recent years have been played in Arctic conditions.