Black Caps v. Proteas. Tests.

[Donny]

All out 235. Will O'Rourke 5/34.

[Donny]

NZ 1/40.

[Donny]

NZ needs 81 to win. Williamson 100*, Dane Piedt 3/74.

[K]

[Pies4shaw]

That must all seem like a long time ago, now.

As, now, he has 7 centuries in his last 8 Tests, along with a newly-acquired duck and a 9. It's amazing how much different it is facing a Test-standard bowling attack.

And, of course, on that last silly debate, Hadlee is the greatest NZ cricketer of all-time - he was able to beat high-class opposition teams on his own. Hadlee walked into the Packer World XI as the star of the attack, despite the presence of Le Roux, Imran Khan and Rice - Williamson wouldn't even have carried the oranges for that batting line-up.

Apart from Lillee and Marshall, Hadlee was the most-skilled bowler most of us ever had the privilege to see bowl.

[Pies4shaw]

He is really starting to look like the Sam Isles or Adam Iacobucci of Test cricket - dominates in the seconds but struggles in good company. His Test averages against all nations are:

- Australia 37.26
- India 37.86
- England 36.85

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

- Pakistan 66.04
- Bangladesh 82.2
- South Africa 62.82
- Zimbabwe 78.6
- Sri Lanka 78.17
- West Indies 60.62

Specifically against Australia, he is just 17th in the list of New Zealand Test batting averages. More memorable players than him who have better averages against Australia include Turner, Martin Crowe (the best of all NZ Test batsmen by the length of the Flemington straight), Ross Taylor, Rutherford, Howarth, Vincent, Wright and both Astles.

Of course one can demonstrate how parochial that is by looking at the best Test averages between Australia and New Zealand. 10 players have Test averages of 67 or better in Tests between Australia and New Zealand. All 10 are Australian. Indeed, 23 batsmen have averaged over 50 in Tests between the 2 countries - 21 of them are Australian. The two NZ players are both statistical anomalies - Brownlie (196 runs in 2 Tests, top score of 77*) and Oram (186 runs in 2 Tests, top score of 126*). The Australians in that list who have played at least 5 Tests against NZ (to take a more sensible number that requires that they will have played in multiple series) are Border, SPD BradSmith (of course - he's in every list, ever), Ponting, Greg Chappell, Clarke, Langer, Walters, Special K, Warner, Gilchrist, Katich and Voges. Now there's a proper lineup for a top 7: Warner, Special K, Ponting, BradSmith, G Chappell, Walters and Gilchrist.

[Pies4shaw]

Sir Richard, by contrast, is the highest wicket-taker, all-time in NZ v Australia Tests, on 130. His average is also right up there (statistical outliers from small samples put to one side). So, Lyon and Lillee, two of the greatest bowlers of all time, both average under 20 runs per wicket. Hadlee is just a whisker behind on 20.56 - and given that he was bowling to Australia and the two Australians were just bowling to New Zealanders, he is, adjusted for degree of difficulty, the greatest of the lot.

[Pies4shaw]