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The Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve has a rich history and records yet another milestone next Friday when the BLACKCAPS and Australia record its 400th First Class Match. The much loved ground is more than just part of the landscape, it holds a place in the hearts of all Wellingtonians.
First Class debut - 1873
The Basin Reserve, which became the 11th ground in the world to host 50 Test matches when it hosted Pakistan in early December, saw its first official first-class cricket match on 30-31 November 1873 when the touring Auckland team beat Wellington by 3 wickets.
Wellington played various inter-provincial matches against teams from Nelson, Auckland, Canterbury, Hawke’s Bay and a North Island West Coast team before hosting New South Wales on 21-22 February 1890 in its first international first-class match. This was followed by three further visits by New South Wales and one by Fiji between 1890 and 1895 before the first international match was played on the ground between New Zealand and a second Australian state side, Queensland, on 26 and 28 December 1896. New Zealand won by 182 runs.
New Zealand v England - 1930
The first official Test was played on the ground between New Zealand and England in January 1930, which was preceded by five tours to New Zealand between 1905-1928 including three non-Test matches against New Zealand.
In total New Zealand has won 14, drawn 19 and lost 17 of the 50 Test matches played at the Basin Reserve.
Taking on the Aussies
As we welcome Australia back to Wellington its worth reflecting on what has been traditionally a challenging battle for New Zealand Test sides.
Australia has played 19 previous first-class matches at the Basin Reserve against Wellington and New Zealand between their first visit there as a national team in 1905 and their last in 2005 (not including one other scheduled match in 1974 against Wellington that was abandoned without the toss being made).
Of these 19 matches, eight have been official Test matches. Australia has won three (including the first in 1946), four have been draws and New Zealand has won one (in 1990).
The first international match involving a New Zealand team against Australia was over three days between 16-18 March 1905, won by Australia by 358 runs. Australia next toured New Zealand in February and March 1910, playing separate three and four day matches against Wellington (won by Australia by 6 wickets) and New Zealand (won by Australia by 162 runs). The Australians made their third tour of New Zealand in March 1914, drawing their two-day match against Wellington.
Australia played three matches on the Basin during their next tour in February and March 1921, beating Wellington by 8 wickets, a minor association representative side by an innings and 6 runs and drawing with New Zealand (local bowler Stan Brice taking 7 for 80 for New Zealand in Australia’s first innings).
- A big century to Australian opener and Test captain during the infamous Bodyline series against England four years later Bill Woodfull was a feature of Australia’s 4-wicket win over Wellington on 17, 18 and 20 February 1928.
- There were then two Tests on the Basin between 1930 the outbreak of World War Two at the end of the decade, the first against England and the second against South Africa in 1932.
- Australia made its sixth tour to New Zealand in March 1946 and played matches at the Basin against Wellington and New Zealand – the first official Test between New Zealand and Australia. Australia beat Wellington by an innings and 160 runs and then New Zealand by an innings and 103 runs in the Test. Leg-spinner Tiger O’Reilly took 5 wickets in bowling New Zealand out for just 42 in its first innings.
- Australia then beat Wellington by an innings and 85 runs in early April 1950, John Reid registering Wellington’s top score with 74 in the first innings.
- New Zealand drew with Australia over three-days in another non-Test match upon their next visit in March 1957, Wellington’s Bob Blair taking his 50th first-class wicket of the 1956/57 season in Australia’s first innings and Australian leg-spinner Richie Benaud taking 6 for 79 off 38 overs in New Zealand’s first innings.
- John Reid had a match double of 73 not out and 52 in the drawn non-Test match over four days between New Zealand and Australia in February 1960.
- Wellington ’s Barry Sinclair made 148 in Wellington’s drawn three-day match at the venue against the Australians in February 1967.
- Bevan Congdon scored 128 and left arm spinner Hedley Howarth took 5 for 61 in New Zealand’s drawn non-Test match against Australia over four days at the end of March and the start of April 1970.
Australia ’s next tour of New Zealand was in February and March 1974, where they played twice on the Basin, against Wellington and again New Zealand in another official Test match. The match against Wellington was abandoned without a ball being bowled, but the Test, which was drawn, was notable for being a run-feast – 1465 runs scored in three innings of cricket. Australia batted first and amassed 511 for 6 declared (Ian Chappell 145 and Greg Chappell 247 not out). New Zealand replied with 484 all out (Congdon 132 and Brian Hastings 101). The Chappells then each scored second innings centuries, Ian making 121 and Greg 133.
Australia next toured New Zealand in February and March 1982 and played its third official Test at the Basin in a rain-dominated Test that finished in a draw. Day one was washed out and a full day’s play was only possible on day five. New Zealand batted first and scored 266 for 7 declared and Australia reached 85 for one when the match ended. This was also Martin Crowe’s Test debut, on a ground he was to go on and score six Test centuries on, including the highest score in Tests at the ground of 299 against Sri Lanka in 1991/92.
Another great player to achieve much success on the Basin was Sir Richard Hadlee, taking two Test ten-wicket hauls at the ground and picking up 53 Test wickets on the ground at an average of 20.3. At 4.08pm on 21 February 1986 he made history by becoming the first New Zealand bowler and sixth of all time to take 300 Test wickets when he had Australian captain Alan Border LBW. This Test was also drawn, but was also notable for Wellington batsman Jeremy Coney scoring his second Test century on the ground, 101, and Hadlee also scoring 72 with the bat.
Few of New Zealand’s home Test victories have been as sweet as New Zealand’s comprehensive rout of Australia in March 1990. New Zealand won by 9 wickets. The heroes for New Zealand were captain John Wright with a second innings unbeaten 117, Richard Hadlee with 5 for 39 and Danny Morrison with 3 for 22 in Australia’s first innings and John Bracewell with 6 for 85 in Australia’s second innings. Other highlights of this win were Hadlee, in his last New Zealand Test, securing the final wicket to achieve one of the last goals of his career – 100 five wicket bags in first-class cricket (35 in Tests). Martin Snedden also broke the Test record for longest time without scoring a run when he remained on 6 for 94 minutes.
In March 1993 New Zealand drew with Australia with Crowe in a familiar position as top run scorer. Crowe scored 98, while John Wright (72), Mark Greatbatch (61) and Tony Blain (51) were also all amongst the runs. Danny Morrison took a career best 7 for 89 off 26.4 overs.
Australia won by 6 wickets in the March 2000 Test match between the two countries at the Basin, despite Chris Carins scoring 109 and 69 and taking 4 wickets with the ball.
Most recent Test against Australia
The most recent Test match between New Zealand and Australia at the Basin was in March 2005, ending in another draw. Australia batted first and made 570 for 8 declared with Damien Martyn (165) and Adam Gilchrist (162) scoring centuries. Gilchrist landed many lofty blows, but one in particular will be well remembered when he smashed one of the windows in the stand. Lou Vincent top scored for the BLACKCAPS with 63 in New Zealand’s 244. Asked to follow on, the match ended with New Zealand on 48 for 3 in its second innings.
Next Friday we will begin to see what the 400th first class match will hold. Every match contains something very memorable so ensure you're at the Basin to enjoy the moment and celebrate the history of this wonderful ground.
