John Bracewell now has a dubious honour in NZ cricket history.
As a rehearsal for the tri-series and the World Cup, this was a bit like leaving the bread on the kitchen bench and putting your hand in the toaster.
Major interest centred on whether New Zealand would make it past their lowest one-day international score of 64 (set
in 1986 against Pakistan when one J. Bracewell made 0 - one of three ducks in a New Zealand total which included only one score of double figures).
They did, just, but still posted their second worst innings with 73, giving coach John Bracewell the dubious honour of being the only New Zealander to be involved with the worst and next worst scores.
At least he is if you ignore the fact that Martin Snedden, the outgoing CEO of New Zealand Cricket, was also involved in that match in Sharjah. In a Bracewellian touch, Snedden was selected to open the batting in that match. He scored 0.
To further the irony, last night's batting effort, if it can be so called, was topped by the controversial Craig McMillan (29 not out). In the eyes of many cricket fans, if McMillan is the man guarding the citadel, it's a good reason to sneak out of town under cover of darkness. Or, at the very least, to fetch your car and beat the traffic.
But McMillan stuck it out bravely. He, like the rest of the batsmen, had trouble with Lasith Malinga, playing one rocket with his shoulder, another with the bat handle, another with the splice before a moment of high comedy.
He ducked a bouncer from Malinga, the ball shot high off the bat and Fernando somehow spilled an easy chance in the deep.
New Zealand's score then was 58 for eight and an ugly record was beckoning. But McMillan survived and he at least played the lbw ball well.
Which is more than can be said for many of his mates.
