Tuffey's 10-year drought
Plays of the second day between New Zealand and Australia in Wellington
Brydon Coverdale
20-Mar-2010
Anyone for football?: Mitchell Johnson celebrates his fancy footwork • Getty Images
Tuff opponents
Daryl Tuffey's Test career against Australia has spanned ten years - long enough, you'd think, for a big tally of wickets. In that decade Tuffey has taken a grand total of ... zero Australian wickets. In fairness, this is only his third Test against them, the first coming in Hamilton in March 2000 and the second at Bellerive Oval in November 2001. Unfortunately for Tuffey, by the time the declaration came on the second day at the Basin Reserve he had career figures of 0 for 250 against Australia in Tests.
Daryl Tuffey's Test career against Australia has spanned ten years - long enough, you'd think, for a big tally of wickets. In that decade Tuffey has taken a grand total of ... zero Australian wickets. In fairness, this is only his third Test against them, the first coming in Hamilton in March 2000 and the second at Bellerive Oval in November 2001. Unfortunately for Tuffey, by the time the declaration came on the second day at the Basin Reserve he had career figures of 0 for 250 against Australia in Tests.
Chris Martin to Clarke: I will try to fix you
Chris Martin took a leaf from his Coldplay namesake's lyric sheet when he jagged one back to strike Michael Clarke flush in the groin. It was enough to send Clarke into crouching position, taking a few deep breaths to regain his composure. "Don't panic," Clarke may have thought, "yes, it hit me in my place, but the hardest part is over". A couple of deliveries later the electronic scoreboard brought up a message advising the crowd to "Keep your eye on the ball" to avoid being struck by any stray sixes. A sly dig from the scoreboard operator?
Chris Martin took a leaf from his Coldplay namesake's lyric sheet when he jagged one back to strike Michael Clarke flush in the groin. It was enough to send Clarke into crouching position, taking a few deep breaths to regain his composure. "Don't panic," Clarke may have thought, "yes, it hit me in my place, but the hardest part is over". A couple of deliveries later the electronic scoreboard brought up a message advising the crowd to "Keep your eye on the ball" to avoid being struck by any stray sixes. A sly dig from the scoreboard operator?
Mitch, the footy star
Mitchell Johnson can do some wonderful things with ball, bat and, as it turns out, his feet. Johnson effected one of the more memorable run-outs when he sprinted almost level with the stumps at the striker's end and soccered the ball from side-on. The action found Peter Ingram short during his attempt at a quick single. Perhaps those football warm-ups are useful after all.
Mitchell Johnson can do some wonderful things with ball, bat and, as it turns out, his feet. Johnson effected one of the more memorable run-outs when he sprinted almost level with the stumps at the striker's end and soccered the ball from side-on. The action found Peter Ingram short during his attempt at a quick single. Perhaps those football warm-ups are useful after all.
Beating a memorable pair
The 253-run partnership between Clarke and Marcus North was Australia's highest fifth-wicket stand against New Zealand, surpassing a 24-year-old record that was also set in Wellington. Greg Ritchie and Greg Matthews, two of the characters of the Australian team in the 1980s, had put on 213 back in 1985-86.
The 253-run partnership between Clarke and Marcus North was Australia's highest fifth-wicket stand against New Zealand, surpassing a 24-year-old record that was also set in Wellington. Greg Ritchie and Greg Matthews, two of the characters of the Australian team in the 1980s, had put on 213 back in 1985-86.
Nathan H...
The ground announcer at the Basin Reserve had a little trouble pronouncing the name of Australia's spinner when he came on for the first time, advising the crowd they were about to see "Nathan Hore-witz". Still, you can't blame him. One of Australia's selectors, Merv Hughes, kept saying "Horritch" when he was giving special comments during the Ashes coverage on Australian television, while another occasional commentator, the aforementioned Matthews, insists on calling him "Horridge".
The ground announcer at the Basin Reserve had a little trouble pronouncing the name of Australia's spinner when he came on for the first time, advising the crowd they were about to see "Nathan Hore-witz". Still, you can't blame him. One of Australia's selectors, Merv Hughes, kept saying "Horritch" when he was giving special comments during the Ashes coverage on Australian television, while another occasional commentator, the aforementioned Matthews, insists on calling him "Horridge".
Brydon Coverdale is a staff writer at Cricinfo