Ten memorable trans-Tasman moments

Some dramatic and unforgettable matches, performances and incidents from the past 35 years

UNDERARM, 1981, MELBOURNEBrian McKechnie was at long odds to hit a six off the final ball and tie the one-dayer, but Greg Chappell took no chances – ordering brother Trevor to bowl an underarm delivery. New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon called it the "most disgusting incident I can recall in the history of cricket", Australia won the match, and relations have been frosty ever since.

KIWIS EXACT REVENGE, 1982, AUCKLANDA crowd of 43,000, which remains a record for a cricket match in New Zealand, turned out to jeer Australia the first time they crossed the ditch after the underarm match. The hosts got up by 46 runs, despite a century from chief provocateur Greg Chappell.

NZ’S WORLD CUP UPSET, 1992, AUCKLANDDefending champions Australia were expected to easily account for co-hosts New Zealand in the tournament opener, but Martin Crowe scored a century to push the hosts to a strong 248. The Kiwis then surprised the visitors by opening the bowling with off-spinner Dipak Patel, and the home side went on to claim a 37-run win.

WAUGH’S WORLD CUP EPIC, 1996, CHENNAINew Zealand looked a strong chance to cause a boilover of epic proportions by bundling the highly-fancied Australians out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage, following a superb century by Chris Harris. But Mark Waugh became the first player to score three hundreds at a World Cup, steering his side to the total of 287 with 13 balls to spare.

THE DIZZY AND PIDGE SHOW, 2004, BRISBANEIn the first Test of Australia’s home summer, tailenders Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath thoroughly embarrassed the Kiwis' attack, both passing 50 for the first time in their Test careers. Michael Clarke posted his first Test ton on home soil in the innings-and-156-run shellacking.

Jason Gillespie laps up a first Test 50 // Getty Images

 

BINGA’S BEAMER, 2005, AUCKLANDBrett Lee apologised for his dangerous delivery to Brendon McCullum, but NZ coach John Bracewell was fuming. "It is the fourth time this season that he's beamed one of our guys and he's been apologetic every time he's done it. That's a lot of apologies," Bracewell said.

KIWIS’ REMARKABLE RUN CHASE, HAMILTONThe Black Caps got home by one wicket in a final-over thriller, chasing down a target of 346 thanks to Craig McMillian's ton and McCullum's unbeaten 86. The win meant they won the Chappell-Hadlee trophy, and it was the second chase of 330-plus they’d managed in as many matches, leaving stand-in Australia captain Mike Hussey shaking his head in frustration.

BROOM, HADDIN CONTROVERSY, 2009, PERTHReplays showed wicketkeeper Brad Haddin's gloves were in front of the stumps and knocked off the bails as he attempted to dismiss Neil Broom, meaning the batsman was incorrectly given out. Daniel Vettori felt Haddin should have made an effort to keep Broom at the crease, while the keeper called Vettori's response "poor" and "low".

JOHNSON AND STYRIS CLASH, 2010, NAPIERAussie quick Mitchell Johnson and Black Caps allrounder Scott Styris were both fined by the match referee, with umpires noting Johnson approached Styris and made deliberate and inappropriate physical contact. Styris steered his side to a final-over win.

KIWIS END AUSSIE DROUGHT, 2011, HOBARTNew Zealand celebrated their first Test win on Australian soil since 1985 in an absolute thriller, getting up by seven runs despite centurion David Warner carrying his bat in the final innings. Doug Bracewell was the unlikely hero for the Kiwis, taking 6-40 in the final innings as the Black Caps snuck home in what remains the equal-seventh closest Test win in history.