After a massive defeat in the third test in India, massive if over 400 runs short is such a defeat, England Skipper Christchurch born Ben Stokes and Coach Brendan McCallum Dunedin born had a go at the DRS electronic review system suggesting it was flawed in particular as regards Zac Crawley’s dismissal LBW.
The DRS first replays the actual delivery and the Batsman’s effort in defense to discover if the Bat touched the ball before the Pad, any contact even the mildest “feather” destroys any prospect of an LBW dismissal.
That is when Technology becomes the arbiter as should the replay fail to deliver a definite visual ruling using frame by frame slomo, things move to where “Snicko’ now termed Ultraedge, indicates even a smudge on the Bat ruling contact or a Microphone at the wicket used to detect a touch so light it defies the naked eye with a simultaneous line of sound with the Ball passing the Bat until contact with the Pad. Any spike rules a touch. Then things go a little more surreal with Ball Tracking, showing where the ball is suggested to have travelled, had it not hit the Pad without hitting the bat first then onto the wicket. An on field decision by the Umpire becomes very involved as a ball suggested hitting the stumps and the volume of ball hitting or missing then confirms or overturns the Umpires call, Half or more hitting, out, less than half and not out leaving the Umpire’s call as prevailing. A recent inovation bringing the onfield Umpires back to the decision making that was threatened to be extinguished with onlky technology being the final arbiter. Now I believe that would not be in the spirit or indeed the interests of the wonderful game.
Anyway yesterday Stokes “benefited” from the DRS when less than half the Ball was deemed to have hit the wicket allowing survival as Umpire had given not out as his call, to his credit Ben Stokes immediately saw his good fortune with a very wry smile, although as the day progressed it only got worse for England attempting to bat India out of the fourth test, all out for a mere 145 and a lead for India to chase of just over 200. They have made a good start with 40 for no wicket at stumps.
Today beckons with another five day test being decided on the fourth day.
Yes I plead guilty as a test cricket tragic. Today possibly ends the India England showdown with either India shutting Bazball out or it goes on to a deciding fifth test and New Zealand hosting the Baggy Greens, day one at The Basin.
That brings another matter, I know Auckland has the population and no ground while Wellington and Christchurch have magnificent grounds and pitches even if lacking grandstands such as are currently in use on the Subcontinent. Playing “Pyjama” matches at the premier Rugby ground, Eden Park makes those games a lottery, too often decided by the toss of the coin.
The Basin and Hagley Oval although not fitting the commercial model make for much more enjoyable cricket for this fan anyway.
No Minister 
The last time I was at the Basin it was worse than Eden Park.
Christchurch, Dunedin (in summer – about 8 days per annum), and much as I hate to type it, Hamilton are the best grounds for test cricket in NZ for spectators although ChCh needs more trees.
Tinman (are you the original mttinman?) McLean Park Napier is good viewing from the bank or (used to be ), and/or used to be from the Centennial Stand which for some unknown reason is now closed down. Anywhere roughly behind the bowlers arm for me.
The one drawback with McLean Park is the slightly short boundaries square of the wicket.
Like GD I say the only cricket really worth watching is test cricket although I do tolerate 50 over matches – no T20 hit and giggle though.
Auckland has a superb test cricket ground at Albany. But politics……………..
I cannot understand why this series is only two tests. I actually booked accommodation in Wellington before I found out that the first test was all sold out. Since when do test matches in New Zealand sell out?!
There should be a third test at Eden Park. We’ve waited half a decade for one. Nobody wants to watch cricket in the Tron.
Hard to believe it is sold out for all 5 days.
pdm, yes, I am.
McLean Park is a nice ground but the only time I’ve been there was for a First class game. CD v Canty, many, many years ago.
Struck me as too small for a test venue, but that was the hey-day of The Basin. The ground in New Plymouth the same.
I really have been disappointed in The Basin recently because, over the years, it has provided me with an excuse to go there simply by providing damned good cricket.
Thinking about it the only traditional teams I haven’t seen play there are SA and WI – I’ve seen WI at Dunedin (The Boock/Troup game) Eden Park, Lancaster Park and Hagley. England, Pakistan, India and the Ockers at most venues, Except ODIs (Lancaster and Carrisbrook) I have never watched SA.
Adolf, I had a look at Seddon Park, great but bloody awful traffic problems getting to and fro, but never Albany. Tell us about North of the Bridge.
I have only been to the basin once 1992? World Cup – saw WI play India. A good days cricket.
Only top country I haven’t seen live is the Aussies.
Last test was NZ/India at Napier – a good test with Jesse Ryder 201, Ross Tylor 151, Gambhir and Tendulker saved the game with excellent hundreds in their second innings.
The two tests I best remember, except G Chappel’s ton in a session followed by Wrights 142 at Lancaster Park were both at Carrisbrook.
The WI game where Troup and Boock put on a magnificent 10 (or was it 8?) to beat WI – the funniest, most enthralling partnership I’ve ever seen and when Chats, Coney and Goodall beat Pakistan after Cairns used his best assett.
The last test I saw live had Latham winning against Sr Lanka at Hagley. Too little shade and, like the Basin, I got horribly sunburnt.
I might go back when the Poms or Ockers next play a test in ChCh – not holding my breath.
I took my late 80’s uncle to the India test in Napier 2009. He wanted to sit in the Centennial Stand behind the bowlers arm. We made the big mistake of not moving as the shade moved in the stand.
Next thing he was all wobbly and I had to hold him up. We were about 10 metres from the TV commentary box so when I asked for help we had:
1 Ian Smith bringing over him a drink of bottled water and asking what they could do to help.
2. Martin Crowe and others from the commentary team coming to check on him.
3. Mark Greatbach running the length of McLean Park to get the Ambulance people.
He was fine after being rehydrated at A&E and dined out on it until he died 3or 4 years ago at 97.
pdm, I never met Crowe but the other two were both gentlemen. Smith, in the Hadlee days, was fantastic to talk to.
Their actions for your uncle were just the type of people they are.
I’m biased, I know but in my experience 99% of serious cricketers (and 95% of serious sportsmen) are gentlemen of the highest order.
`I’m biased, I know but in my experience 99% of serious cricketers (and 95% of serious sportsmen) are gentlemen of the highest order.’
So right Tinman. The sledging in CHB Cricket when I was playing (1960 to 1968) was probably more brutal than any test match.
Same with Lawn Bowls – so enjoyable to play against the very best players – Peter Shaw, Bruce Ballinger, Rob Ashton, Neville Risbridge, Peter Pethrick and others. Apologies for the name dropping.
Name dropping is a hobby for me.
I played at Belfast alongside Kelvin Scott and Gary Lawson in the late ’90s. My first serious game of bowls was against Leo Leonard at Kia Toa in Timaru – he thrashed me.
Played with the NZ Champs (rinks) winners at times. Watched West Indies lose to NZ in the Boock-Troup game with a fellow called Barry Andrews – part of the SC four that won the NZ champs years later.
Bowls was great. You met top sportsmen from damned near every code, most still bloody competitive.
I played pairs against an ex-Otago cricketer in a tournament once who was damned near 90. I was on top of my game at the time, so was my lead but the old bastard came within one (very old and very wide tracking) bowl of beating me.
My feet are buggered and I’d never last for a game but I still look longingly at the bowl-bag at times.
Isn’t it interesting how sport brings out such good memories as well as the best people?