AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND 1980-81

At Melbourne, December 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. Drawn. New Zealand showed in this match what they might have done had their batsmen found any sort of form early in the tour. Although Australia had just the better of this exciting draw, the match did much to restore New Zealand's reputation. While Australia kept to the same side which won in Perth, Howarth, who was fit again, came back to captain New Zealand. He won the toss and fielded. Australia again made a bad start, losing Wood for his third successive 0, caught behind off Hadlee, and Dyson, yorked by Troup, soon afterwards. There was moisture in the MCG pitch which had been roundly criticised because the bounce had been growing increasingly low and awkward throughout the season. Greg Chappell had said publicly that he felt the Australian board should move Tests away from Melbourne, or anyway find another Melbourne ground, until the MCG was improved.

Painstaking innings by Chappell himself, Hughes, who once drove an off-break from John Bracewell straight for 6, Border and Walters took Australia to 222 for six by the end of the first day. They went on to reach 321, largely as a result of an innings of 107 by Walters, his fifteenth Test century though his first since he made 250 against New Zealand at Christchurch in 1976-77. In all, he batted for 276 minutes and hit only six 4s.

New Zealand then lost both openers for 32, not to Lillee or Pascoe but to the leg-spin of Higgs, who was helped by the low bounce. Parker, who had been fortunate to hold his place in the Test side, and Howarth then showed great determination as they set about rebuilding the innings, putting on 125 for the third wicket before Parker was caught behind playing forward to Pascoe; 6 runs later Hogg knocked over Howarth's leg stump as he, too, played forward. Resistance continued through Burgess and Coney until bad light and rain ended play on the second day in mid-afternoon.

New Zealand were eventually dismissed for 317, which gave Australia a lead of 4. Inspired bowling by Hadlee, who took six for 57 and was named Man of the Match, was mainly responsible for Australia being bowled out for 188 in their second innings, and only a brilliant piece of batting by Chappell, who made 78, took them this far.

New Zealand needed 193 to win in 145 minutes plus the mandatory twenty overs in the last hour, Australia having reverted to six-ball overs. They were given the usual good start by Wright and Edgar, but in the end the requirement was too much for them.