The Martin Crowe inspired New Zealand team of the 1992 World Cup had a reunion here at the Basin Reserve on Saturday. That immensely popular side bucked the odds to make the semifinals of the ’92 World Cup before succumbing to Inzamam-ul-Haq’s batting heroics in the last four clash.
The ODI World Cup returns to Australia and New Zealand in February 2015. During the tea interval here on the second day, the team lapped the ground to the delight of the crowd. The former cricketers threw balls into the stands and posed for photographs.
Crowe said the memories of ’92 would never go away and spoke about the bonding in that team.
Among those present were Mark Greatbatch and Dipak Patel. Greatbatch made a great impression in that tournament by giving the new ball bowlers the charge and hitting over the in-field. The pinch- hitter up the order had arrived.
And Crowe, who captained with imagination, got Patel to bowl his off-spinners with the new ball. The ploy worked and became popular in the subsequent years.
Also there were the dibbly dobbly seamers, Gavin Larsen, Chris Harris, and Rod Latham. Their pace might have been friendly but the trio, brilliantly employed by Crowe, ambushed several big teams including ‘bitter-neighbour’ Australia.
For the Kiwis, it was a re-gathering to remember.
