Random Cricket Photos Post 106

#RandomCricketPhotosThatMakeMeHappy

The Kiwi way of playing Cricket!

There is a lot more that this photograph hides than it reveals. In fact, thanks to the protagonist's poker face, it tells us nothing about what has just transpired.

Just a few overs ago, New Zealand looked set to draw the 3 match series 1-1 when the 9th wicket was taken. In their eyes, they had already won it but Danny Morrison's appeal for a certain LBW against McDermott got a reply in negative from the umpire.

It all came down to the hero of the match Richard Hadlee, who had already taken 10 wickets, to dismiss an absolute bunny with the bat, Mike Whitney, to win it for Kiwis with the last six deliveries of the match at the MCG.

Plucky Whitney saw it off. Australia won the series one nil. Hadlee's 10 wickets hadn't proved good enough to give his team a series equalling win.

But seconds after bowling the last delivery and not getting the desired return, he can be seen here congratulating a jubilant Whitney here.

The Australian later wrote "I remember walking off and to Richard's credit, the moment the game was over he put his arm around me and said 'Whit, you've done a great thing for Australian cricket.'

Moreover, Ian Smith picked up the ball and gave it to Whitney saying, "You've earned it today."

Interestingly, this was the only ball with which Hadlee had taken a fifer that he didn't have in his collection. That was until Whitney returned it in 2015.