Australian and New Zealand cricket ties still bind - Hadlee and Jones’ running sledge proves that
When Sir Richard Hadlee joined Dean Jones for a Christmas lunch this year the pair continued a friendly sledging match that began in the 80s, underscoring a special cricketing relationship between nations.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Cricket’s greatest rivalries never die ... they just take quirky twists.
New Zealand’s fast bowling legend Sir Richard Hadlee could not help himself when he accepted an invitation to spend Christmas lunch with Dean Jones before the Boxing Day Test.
His present was a pillowcase with a bunny’s head in honour of the 1987-88 summer in which the great Hadlee, he of the wicked stare and piercing grin, took Jones’ wicket three times in three Tests.
Stream the AUS v NZ Domain Test Series LIVE & Ad-Break Free During Play on KAYO with FOX CRICKET’s unmatched commentary line-up. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Hadlee rubbed it in back in the 80s’ by starting his syndicated newspaper column with the blunt observation “I’ve got the wood on Dean Jones’’ and now he is doing it in a more comical, colourful form though he did sign the back of it with the tribute “to the best Australian batsman I bowled to’’.
The deeper story however is one that says much about the enduring ties in cricket.
Hadlee’s father Walter stayed lifelong friends with Australian rival captain Bill Brown and through the furnace of a desperately intense battle has emerged another unexpected friendship.
“It started in his last match for New Zealand against Australia I made a hundred off 70 odd balls and for the first time I actually got him,’’ Jones said.
“I ran into the Kiwi rooms and was going to give him the biggest gobful but he was putting his hand into the esky and said “Deano, would you like a beer? We’ve been mates ever since. I love him.
“He has gone through colon cancer and liver cancer and is in remission now. I have kept in contact with him. He is the greatest bowler I ever learnt from and I have always admired that’’.
Rivalries in Test cricket take many different forms. Old team-mates of Dennis Lillee used to say that if one of his old bunnies like Englishman Keith Fletcher walked in a bar Lillee would grin in a “well, well look who’s here” sort of way.
Jones had a rugged time against Hadlee in Tests at a time when he was in his mid-20s and his game was not fully formed enough for the supreme technical and mental challenges offered by one of cricket’s finest bowlers. He had better luck against New Zealand and Hadlee in 50 over cricket.
“He was just a great bowler. He was like Glenn McGrath in that he just bowled line and length though he was a bit quicker that Pidge. He would swing it away and nip it back. He knew where to bowl.
“He was the ultimate professional. He shortened his run after watching Dennis Lillee ... and he was my only Test wicket.’’
Originally published as Australian and New Zealand cricket ties still bind - Hadlee and Jones’ running sledge proves that