Traditionally England have travelled to New Zealand more in expectation than in hope yet series have not always gone to plan, as Crispin Andrews hears from some experienced tourists
“Why don’t people like me?” extra five weeks away. It was a proper tour in 197778. New Zealand had improved by then. Richard Hadlee had come on to the radar as something a bit better than they’d had for a while and we knew We had just been bombarded by Lillee and Thomson Geoff Howarth from Surrey. They also had a few on lively Australian wickets, so it was a relief to bat on placid English-style pitches. Once you got in, you could new younger players. Conditions suited my bowling, occupy the crease, score runs, play normal cricket again. similar to England, swung around a lot, apart from New Zealand didn’t have the same type of bowlers. You in Auckland where it was hotter and more like an Australian wicket. had to get yourself out. And yes, at Christchurch, we really did decide to We won by an innings at Auckland on a really flat pitch. Ewen Chatfield, the New Zealand No. 11, was hit run Geoffrey Boycott out. Mike Brearley was injured so Boycott was captain. At tea on the fourth day, we on the head by Peter Lever. He fell to the ground, and talked about quick second-innings runs so that we had swallowed his tongue and for a few seconds his heart time to bowl New Zealand out but Geoffrey and Brian stopped beating. Luckily, the England physio, Bernard Rose struggled to get it away. At drinks, Bob Willis, the Thomas, was at hand. We had all those bouncers in vice-captain, went out and told them to get on with it. Australia, from express-speed bowlers on such lively wickets, and no one was seriously injured. Then on a flat Brian tried and got out, Geoffrey carried on as before. Bob sent Ian Botham to hit out and run out the captain. wicket, with a fast-medium bowler on, this happens. At Christchurch, after the first two days were rained I’d been moved up the order so passed Boycott as he left the field. He gave me a wide berth. He was still in off, New Zealand wanted to play on the rest day. Typically, the TCCB gave in. Alec Bedser phoned me to the corner with his pads on when I got out, 20 minutes later. “Why don’t people like me?” he was saying. It tell me, from England, first thing in the morning. They wasn’t that. We just wanted to win. also arranged a sixth day, but that was rained off, too. We were a long time away from home and the players Allan Lamb (was part of England’s first series defeat worked hard to keep their performances up. There to New Zealand in 1983-84 and also played in the was a feeling that we were expected to win after what 1991-92 series that England won 2-0) happened in Australia. Mike Denness (captained the 1974-75 tour when England won a two-Test series 1-0)
Chris Old (toured with Denness in 1974-75 and again, under Geoff Boycott, in 1977-78, when the three-Test series was drawn 1-1) In ’74-75, everyone wanted to go home after the mauling we got in Australia. No one wanted an 24
Wisden EXTRA • New Zealand v England
The Mail on Sunday launched their paper on the back of the 1983-84 tour. They were more interested in their sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll story than they were in the cricket. We didn’t play very well at Christchurch. Should have bowled them out for 70 on that pitch, but Hadlee came in and slogged 90 and they got 307. Then