A loss and a win in rainy New Zealand - Iain O'Brien at Cricinfo

We moved on to Auckland for the final match in the series and guess what, the rain followed us. Thankfully it stayed away once the match got underway.

We were out for warm-ups at normal time but the drizzle came in, the covers went on and we went off. The stands were already virtually full by this point, it was a sell-out up here, and it looked like the whole of the Indian community had come to watch the match. With the amazing attendance and noise, you just have to give a big ‘well done’ to the Auckland Indian community. The previous night Rossco [Taylor] and I had gone out to Syliva Park Mall to do a signing at the Canterbury store, our clothing brand. Two-thirds of the signatures were for Indian supporters. It is amazing the support they have given to cricket since ‘their’ team has been in town. We were even lucky enough to be offered a curry from the owner of the Spice Trader food court restaurants; he had popped in while we were signing autographs. Very generous man, and a very good curry, thanks! Oh and thanks to the guys at Canterbury. I’m loving my new Warriors shirt!

I had sent Dan [Vettori] a text in the morning, before we met for our team meeting, that I wanted to open the bowling. I really wanted to take the attack to the openers. I had a plan and thought the earlier I bowl the better it might go. It worked, kinda; wasn’t quite rewarded with the wicket(s) I was after but I did cause some problems, that was till my fourth over; which went for 20. I had the ball swinging back into Sehwag and was trying to swing it away from Gambhir. For some reason I just couldn’t get my lines right to the ‘lefty’ and bowled to many wides (well, one is too many). In my fourth over I was still trying to be aggressive with my lines and lengths, Sehwag came hard back and got the better of me in that over.

I then had to retreat to the boundary to, again, lick my wounds and put in every effort in the field. Jake [Oram] and Jesse came on to bowl and changed the game. Jake took two wickets early in his spell and then Jesse picked up three through the middle order. The game had changed and we were finally in front in an ODI; it had been a while. I came back on towards the end and picked up a couple of wickets quite cheaply to finish off the innings. I’ll take the wickets but really it was like painting over rust. They made my figures look okay, but there is still some work to do underneath, and I’ll get that work done. I’m looking forward to the next bout of limited-overs cricket that I get to play!

A chase of 150 and the mood is pretty buoyant in the shed. Baz was bowled early but that didn’t stop Jesse and Martin Guptill taking the attack fully to the Indian bowlers. Jesse was special today, everything just came out of the middle and he looked the class player we know he is; no slogging, just amazing cricket shots. Guppy got into the act too hitting, again, clean cricket shots, some with just beautiful timing. Rossco finished the job with Guppy once Ishant Sharma got his man. Jesse and Ishant had had a little run-in on the field; nothing to write about, but it was exciting viewing seeing two good players, go hard at each other for a period of time. One player was dominating the other and then, in time, the other getting his own back.

I really wanted to take the attack to the openers. I had a plan and thought the earlier I bowl the better it might go © Getty Images

It felt good getting one game back in the series, sure it was a little hollow wining a ‘dead rubber’, but they still need wining. A couple of beers and wines in the changing room, I got one of Ishant’s shirts signed up for an auction for the NZ Foundation of the Blind which will go up in a couple of days and then back to the hotel for a couple more reds.

I meet up with Mikee and Nick from Autozamm (these two wonderful guys had passed on some signed Autozamm albums for me to pass onto the guys, and we’re enjoying them, thanks heaps) a bit later in a bar and meet some of their wonderful friends. I had a great time catching up with these two and meeting the others. I was amazed at how many people I meet had either read or heard of my blog. It’s still a little weird that so many people read it. So, hi to Charlotte (C4), Tamara, Brian (about every good NZ band) and Juliet (Satellite), thanks for a great night! And to you Bridges (Z, C4... etc....), yes I know you’re reading.

We’re now in back in Hamilton, the rain has stayed away, preparing for the three test series. I’m really excited about this upcoming series. But you’ll hear enough about that over the next few weeks.

I will apologise for not getting this out earlier, it’s been a pretty tough schedule with play, travel and getting enough recovery time to sit and basically just let the brain rest has been hard. It’s not harder to sit down and do these when we lose, quite the opposite really. But I can assure you I’d rather go down the harder route and write about wins.

So there we are. The tests are about to begin and along with them the true tests of this all conquering Indian team. They were at their aggressive best in the ODI series except the last game. I think the Indians got a bit too carried away with their confidence and thus spilled a golden chance to keep the board clean.

The saga of ODI marauders is gone and here comes the more sane version of cricket, 'The Test series'. Oh Boy!Its pretty difficult to predict a winner here. I would still say this though basically I am an Indian fan becoz my perception is that the pitches for the tests will be more livelier compared to their ODI counterparts.

So one could be quite optimistic about a more balanced and a humdinger of a series. But remember India have their own set of 'Mr.Specialist' batsmen for the tests. Anyways wishing u Good luck Ian. I wish the ball moves not around the park but around the bat this time n we get to c yet another fascinatin series to enrich the treasure of cricket.

Posted by: Just another boy from Petone (near the Rec). at March 16, 2009 8:18 PM

@rshn

Club cricket standards you reckon? Do yourself a favour and have a look at the current ICC ODI Bowling rankings and show me a 'club' that has two bowlers in the top ten. And while your there, tell me how many Indian bowlers are in the top ten too?

@everyone else - it's this sort of ill informed rubbish from Indian supporters that gives most of you a bad name. We have huge respect for your team, your players, your supporters, and your people; and what you've done for cricket over the last two-five years, especially giving the Aussies some curry!... but some of you need to think a little before you post.

Looking forward to a great test series - India are clear favourites and (on paper) should win three-nil... but I can't see that happening. And I do hope to see Jimmy show some of his capability with the bat... as well as JR, Baz, Guppy and Rosco... will also be good to see how little Dan (F) comes back too :)

If only our best bowler was allowed to play!

Be safe, keep smiling

Iain - Interesting to read your addictive blog again.
I like your fighting attitude mate!

In 5th ODI NZ stuck to basics of seam bowling & Indians simply caved in!
My view is that the series stood at 3-3 (counting the two 20's match) and not 3-1. Which implies, its all even Stevens!
The real test starts tomorrow, when the past shall only be statistics and history.
India got to be cautious, and take it easy in the first few hours, if they bat first. Alternatively, use the early morning conditions to the likes of Sharma and Khan for swing bowling.
would be fun to see likes of Dravids, Laxmans, Sehwags, Tend's take on charged up McCullums, Ryders, Vettori's!
I pray for no rain and a good gripping match.
Last, I express my disappointment over Sony TV's request on change of Test Timings for their commercial gains.
I stay in Netherlands, and watched ODIs from 3 am. I remember back in India, as a kid, I used to get up at 3/4am to see India take on NZ in NZ!

I now await your 1st-test blog :)