Cricket: Dad's delight at Doug's debut

Reporter·NZ Herald·

6 Nov, 2011 04:30 PM3 mins to read

Doug Bracewell appealing for the wicket of Zimbabwe batsman Tinotenda Mawoyo last week. Photo / AFP

Brendon Bracewell was rather short of sleep yesterday. He sat through the night watching the final day of his son Doug's test debut against Zimbabwe and was delighted at his contribution to New Zealand's 34-run win in Bulawayo.

Bracewell's five for 85 in the second innings was a significant factor in the victory. The fast-medium bowler became the seventh New Zealander to take five or more wickets in an innings on test debut - the most recent being Tim Southee's five for 55 against England in Napier three years ago.

"I was very proud of him," Brendon said yesterday.

"He maintained his intensity, kept running in and trying to bowl good line and length, used his bouncer intelligently. He's got a big heart.

"He's a tough boy and he used his toughness really well."

But he insisted his mind didn't flash back even briefly to his own spectacular start to test cricket.

At the Oval in 1978, Brendon Bracewell, an 18-year-old speedster, dismissed England openers Graham Gooch and Mike Brearley with his first eight balls in tests. It hinted that a special career might lie ahead.

Instead, injuries hit hard and Bracewell played only six tests, taking 14 wickets between 1978 and 1985.

Asked whether the mind took a brief trek down memory lane early yesterday, he said: "No, not at all. I'm not one for reminiscing."

Now 52, Bracewell bowled each ball with his 21-year-old son from the couch. He admitted to the understandable parental anxieties and ended up chuffed with Doug's achievement.

The Zimbabwe tour has been a success for the younger Bracewell. He also played both T20 internationals and two of the three ODIs on his first senior international tour, finishing with a total of 13 wickets.

His match haul of six for 136, off 48 overs, and the manner in which he kept up good intensity in trying bowling conditions would suggest a second test, against Australia in Brisbane at the start of next month - and in more favourable conditions for a lively fast-medium bowler - is near certain.

Before the tour began, coach John Wright - a New Zealand teammate of both Brendon and his brother John - admitted he liked the look of young Bracewell.

"Doug has got cricket in his blood and I've got a hunch he may turn out to be a tough competitor, typical of some of his relations," he quipped.

"Doug's had [a couple of] seasons behind him in first-class cricket and we think he's got quite lot of upside."

That upside has been on show throughout the Zimbabwe tour, and Brendon Bracewell was also pleased Wright's hunch had been justified.

"Wrighty showed a heck of lot of faith and trust in Doug, and Doug responded in kind."

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

The eight combinations to have played test cricket for New Zealand:

* Giff Vivian (debut 1931, 7 tests) and Graeme Vivian (1965, 5).

* Walter Hadlee (1937, 11), Dayle Hadlee (1969, 26) and Sir Richard Hadlee (1972, 86).

* William 'Mac' Anderson (debut 1946, 1) and Robert Anderson (debut 1976, 9).

* Zin Harris (1955, 9) and Chris Harris (1992, 23).

* Wynne Bradburn (1964, 2) and Grant Bradburn (1990, 7).

* Rodney Redmond (1973, 1) Aaron Redmond (2008, 7).