Cricket: Astle, McMillan ruin what was a good day

It should have been a memorable day in New Zealand cricket history, but in the end it became a finger-pointing exercise for the country's most disaffected cricketers.

The records will show that one of the first actions of Craig McMillan and Nathan Astle after their 222-run stand in Wellington this week was to attack the media over what they believed had been unfair criticism of their performances.

McMillan hoped he had quietened a few people and proved some others wrong, while a tired Astle refused to attend his own press conference afterwards, although he apparently had enough energy to voice similar sentiments in a radio interview.

Astle returned from the tour of South Africa with a test series average of 15.50. McMillan performed better, but still disappointed with an average of 27.40.

This week, the pair helped to lift the cloud that had descended over the New Zealand team this season, starring in a record fifth-wicket partnership against allcomers and each scoring long-awaited and overdue centuries.

It had been about 18 months since either had reached three figures. The fact that they reached the mark on a flat, slow New Zealand pitch against a weakened Zimbabwe attack could not disguise the relief they felt, or their bitterness towards the media.

The only trouble was, it seems no one in the media had questioned their selection apart from the convener of selectors, Sir Richard Hadlee.

Sir Richard pushed the case of rookie Hamish Marshall and criticised the performance of New Zealand's middle-order batsmen, both in his Sunday newspaper column and in reported remarks in other newspapers.

He made no apologies for placing the players under increased scrutiny and had no reason to, although his tactic of putting them on public notice may not have been the best action.

A quiet chat with each would probably have sufficed, after which the convener needed to say nothing except that he believed the best team had been picked, and that he had faith in the players . Instead, he virtually placed them on public probation.

Things became more complicated in the lead-up to the test when coach David Trist, understandably keen to boost confidence in the ranks, subtly shifted the point of attack in the direction of the media in general, claiming they had placed unfair pressure on his players and always needed someone to decry.

McMillan said afterwards that he and Astle had already proved their ability at the required level and believed the criticism had been misplaced and unfair.

"We've shown we can play at test level. We've got good test records, Nath's got six test centuries. The criticism had been unfair and we got singled out because we play aggressive and positive cricket. Sometimes that doesn't come off," he said.

When asked who he was talking about when he suggested critics had been quietened, the 24-year-old McMillan pointed the finger, not at his own convener of selectors, but at the reporters he was facing.

"The media have speculated about Nath and I, about the worth of playing us. But we've both got proven test records, and we've shown that again today."

He did not as much shoot the messenger, as dance on his butchered body.

Earlier, the Canterbury right-hander had just blasted his way to his fourth test century, which he celebrated with an extravagant signature in mid-air, something he was not prepared to elaborate on afterwards, saying it was "a private thing and I don't want to delve into it." Quite why anyone would choose one of the most public moments of his life for a private ceremony has not yet been adequately explained, but it has at least left things open for speculation.

Some said it might have been a private message to his partner; others said it might have been a more pointed message to the convener of selectors. There were those who thought he might have been attempting to ward off some sort of flying insect. It could have been all three.

Whatever the intention, the result was confusing and the reaction of Astle and McMillan afterwards was just as baffling.

There should have been words of satisfaction, relief and hope, but instead the pair seemed defensive, bitter and reticent.

A good day spoiled.