A record 42,000 fans - fired up by the infamous Underarm Incident in Melbourne - turned up for the 1982 cricket ODI against the Aussies at Eden Park, and some got a bit carried away.
A record 42,000 fans - fired up by the infamous Underarm Incident in Melbourne - turned up for the 1982 cricket ODI against the Aussies at Eden Park, and some got a bit carried away.
Buzz before tomorrow’s big match against transtasman rivals harks back to cricketing heyday of the early 80s, writes Steve Deane
Cricket is back. Really back. So far back it is almost the early 1980s again, when a simple change of dress code from cream flannels to, let's face it, appallingly coloured flannels brought Kiwis flocking in their tens of thousands to watch our national heroes strut their stuff.
It helped that our team were good. Darn good. The likes of fast bowlers Sir Richard Hadlee, Gary Troop and Martin Snedden used to run in with not just the wind at their backs, but a stadium full of well-lubricated fans growling "wooooooaaaaaaaaaahhhhh", urging on every stride.
Cricket grounds once rocked. For much of the past three decades they have been more of a rest home for train spotters than Party Central.
But there was no mistaking the roar that accompanied Black Cap Tim Southee on his approach to the bowling crease in Wellington last week, and the applause that greeted him each time he blasted out another hapless English batsman.
"The place I noticed it was when Southee had finished his over and wandered back down to field on the boundary and the crowd was just standing and giving him a huge ovation," says Snedden, the former all-rounder who has forged an impressive career in sports administration.
"When the crowd is so into it that at the end of an over they are on their feet yelling and screaming and clapping, that's a lovely feeling."
Snedden would know. Turn the clock back just over 33 years and Snedden, Hadlee, Lance Cairns, Martin Crowe and Jeremy Coney were bent on avenging one of the most despicable days transtasman relations have known - the Underarm Incident.
On February 13, 1982, Australia visited NZ for the first time since Greg Chappell ordered his brother Trevor to roll a ball to Brian McKechnie to win a match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
A record crowd of 42,000 flocked to Eden Park for what would turn out to be one of the wildest days in New Zealand cricket's history.
"Until this Saturday that will have been the biggest crowd that ever attended a one-day match in New Zealand," says Snedden. "But in those days there was no concept of the fact that people sitting in the sun for seven or eight hours needed some space. And you were allowed to bring in whatever you liked, including chilly bins."
New Zealand batted first, posting 240. The major flashpoint came when Chappell came out to bat at No4 to resounding boos.
"A guy jumped off the terraces with a [lawn] bowling ball and bowled it out," recalls Snedden. "Jeremy Coney picked it up - he's got a great sense of humour - and bowled it back to him. Chappell went on to score a really good hundred and the crowd gave him a standing ovation."
Chappell's hand, though, was a lone one, with New Zealand riding the pumped-up crowd to victory.
"There was not enough space in the terraces so people began to hop the fence and push the boundary rope in so they could sit on the grass," says Snedden.
"The boundaries were short enough as it was and they were getting shorter and shorter. And every time we took a wicket the crowd ran on to the field, just invaded, and it took five or 10 minutes to clear everyone off and we'd start again.
"It was beautiful weather, we were playing well and it was a good game. It was just sensational."
The golden days were still in full swing when batsman Ken Rutherford came on to the international scene in 1985.
The right-hander spent much of the first five years of his fielding career to a backdrop of "Hadlee, Hadlee" chants as the champion fast bowler continued to be the mainstay of the New Zealand attack well into his 30s.
"You might get a bit of that on Saturday with Southee or [Trent] Boult," says Rutherford, who like Snedden will be in attendance.
"I'm looking forward to it because it is probably the first game of cricket we've had at Eden Park since it has been done up where we are going to see a 'sold out' sign out front.
"It is going to be quite a unique experience for everyone and very unique for the players. With a full house, boy, there is going to be some noise and the players are going to feel a lot of that noise right on top of them," says Rutherford.
The only question mark over the Black Caps is how well they will deal with the occasion, he adds.
A record 42,000 fans - fired up by the infamous Underarm Incident in Melbourne - turned up for the 1982 cricket ODI against the Aussies at Eden Park, and some got a bit carried away.
"It's not just about a game of cricket this Saturday, it's a lot more than that. It is going to be intriguing to see how the Kiwis react to what we know the Australians will try and do.
"It is not just about batting and bowling better than the Australians, it is about how we cope with the super-charged atmosphere the Australians will look to create."
About the only thing that could prick cricket's bubble right now would be a famous Black Caps collapse. But there is a growing feeling, even among those who have been part of the good times and the bad, that the current team is not one to capitulate meekly.
"It goes through its ups and downs but this is definitely an up time," says Snedden.
"It is lovely for someone like me who loves cricket so much to see most of the population enjoying the cricket, enjoying the Black Caps, with no negativity. Cricket is having a golden moment right now."
Warm and dry for Australia match
Cricket fans will be pleased to hear the weather forecast is looking good for tomorrow at Eden Park.
The Black Caps take on Australia from 2pm, and MetService meteorologist John Law said the day should be warm and dry.
"Much of the day looks fine and dry with temperatures reaching the mid-20s. There could be the odd shower on the radar, but chances are Eden Park will stay dry."
He said most of the North Island would be dry for most of the weekend. "However, a few showers are possible here and there across the more central parts of the North Island.
"For the South Island, another front is set to push northwards during Saturday, bringing with it some cloud and showers, especially for the south and west."
WeatherWatch.co.nz will be providing updates throughout the day tomorrow of any possibility of showers around Auckland that could affect conditions at Eden Park.
Meanwhile, WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said March was shaping up to be dry for most of the country.
