Longest day ends history’s longest winning streak
Millions of bleary-eyed Australians sat glued to their TVs to witness one of sport’s greatest moments — and got a free pass from the PM to take a sickie.
NATION REJOICES AS CUP IS OURS
- First published September 1983
It was the longest day of the year. Six million Australians sat up all night, watching the America’s Cup. And hoping. Their thoughts and determination were with a white-hulled boat on the other side of the world, competing for a battered Victorian silver jug in a cabinet in a snooty New York club.
It was the worst of days, and the best of days. We’ve been there before, many times, the underdog fighting to the top.
And this time we did it. From behind, when it seemed we’d lost it all, when we were in a seemingly unwinnable position. And we did it the best way, against a tough and cunning and dogged opponent who didn’t give up, and we got there first. By just 41 seconds.
It was the longest 41 seconds in the world. It’s taken 21 years and millions of dollars and the work of uncounted men and women since the first challenge to achieve that 41 seconds.
We finally did it yesterday, and a nation celebrated. We’d worked hard at it.
We deserved it.
The American skipper, Dennis Conner, was as generous in defeat as the Australians were gracious in victory. Conner won Australia’s admiration as he pushed on to the end, burdened by 132 years of unbroken success.
But in the end, Australia II’s skipper John Bertrand had the better boat, the better crew, and the better luck.
The champagne corks popped and the car horns blared across a continent bigger than Europe. It was a stunning victory.
As the nation rejoiced at achieving the seemingly impossible, the America’s Cup was beginning the long journey to Perth.
And the eccentric genius who designed the winner already has Australia III on the drawing boards. It will probably defend the America’s Cup in 1988, the Bicentennial year. It will be but a short wait.
UNDERARM BALL ‘UNDERHANDED’
- By Jim Woodward. First published February 1, 1981
The Australian cricket captain, Greg Chappell, last night had no regrets about asking his brother, Trevor, to bowl the last ball underarm against New Zealand at the MCG yesterday.
He has drawn howls of protest concerning bad sportsmanship and for totally denying the Kiwis any chance of a tie in the third all-important Benson and Hedges World Series Cup final match.
With New Zealand 8-229 and requiring six from the last ball to tie the game, batsman Brian McKechnie had no option but to tap away the ball as it rolled towards him.
A world-record crowd for a one-day game of 52,990 couldn’t believe their eyes when Trevor Chappell made his delivery with the aplomb of a lawn bowler.
Greg Chappell said later he didn’t want to run the risk of the match being tied, which would have forced the two teams to play another game in the best-of-five $55,000 finals.
In another incident, the Australian captain was given not out when apparently caught in the outfield. Television replays certainly indicated a fair catch.
Underarm bowling is banned in one-day cricket in England.