It’s safe to say that if there’s one nation that Kiwis like to get the better of on the cricket pitch , it’s our Australian neighbours.
We share a rich history with plenty of highs and lows and in honour of ANZAC this weekend, we’ve gone back and taken a look our top 5 favourite moments against our Trans-Tasman rivals.
We’ve left off a certain dubious delivery in 1981, although it’s certainly played its part in fueling the rivalry.
Cricket Australia have made their own list below as well, which you can have a look at if you really want to.
New Zealand's top moments
McCullum’s 116*, Christchurch, 2010
Christchurch was treated to the spectacular in February 2010 when Brendon McCullum became the second player to score a Twenty20 International century. The fact that it came against Australia just made it extra special.
McCullum terrorized the Aussie bowlers with eight sixes and 12 fours en route to an unbeaten 116 off just 56 balls. The BLACKCAPS went on to win the match in an enthralling super-over.
The inclusion of Twenty20 on this list is sure to ruffle a few feathers amongst the traditionalists out there, but watching McCullum scoop Shaun Tait for six at over 150kph is a little bit magical.
Whitewash of Chappell-Hadlee Series 3-0, 2007
The Chappell-Hadlee ODI series was a fan favourite, with New Zealanders loving the opportunity to try upset an Australian team which was dominating world cricket. They came in 2007 without Ricky Ponting or Adam Gilchrist, but were still expected to be too much for the BLACKCAPS.
The first match of the series in Wellington quickly dismissed that notion.
Led by Shane Bond, Stephen Fleming and Lou Vincent, the home side dished out a 10 wicket thumping, handing Australia their heaviest ever ODI defeat. The series was wrapped up next match with a Ross Taylor century helping the BLACKCAPS chase down an imposing 336.
The pièce de résistance came in the third and final match though, with the BLACKCAPS claiming the second highest successful run-chase in ODI history when they overcame Australia’s 346. Craig McMillan smashed 117 off 96 balls, contributing five sixes to a whopping 26 maximums struck in the match.
The Chappell-Hadlee series is sadly no longer the regular fixture it was, but that 3-0 drumming will always be cherished.
Hobart Test victory, 2011
Being still reasonably fresh in the memory, one can’t help but feel a warm-glow while reminiscing of the Hobart Test.
Following a heavy defeat in the first match and a fair bit of not-so-uncharacteristic sledging from some of the Aussie players, New Zealand came back to win the second test – their first on Australian soil in 26 years.
A green seaming pitch made it a low scoring game and heading into the final innings Australia required 241 for victory.
Introducing Doug Bracewell.
The then 21-year-old bowled himself into history with an incredible spell of 6-40, including the final wicket to secure a glorious seven run win. The final overs of the match captivated the nation and players and fans rejoiced alike.
May we remember the miserable faces of the Australian players afterwards forever.
White Ferns win World Cup Final, 2000
It’d be fair to say that the Australian Southern Stars have had the better of the White Ferns in recent years, but that’s not always been the case.
Hosted in New Zealand, the White Ferns met the Stars in the 2000 World Cup Final and looked to be struggling after being dismissed for 184 in the first innings. In the end though it simply made for a more brilliant fight back, with the New Zealand bowlers securing a tense four run win and the Cup.
To this day, it’s the trophy of most repute on the NZC shelf.
Following the match, Debbie Hockley announced her retirement. She is indisputably the White Ferns finest ever batsmen and had been instrumental in thwarting the Australians numerous times over the years. We consider her royalty.
First Test victory on Australia soil, Brisbane, 1985
The first Test of the 1985 series in Brisbane saw New Zealand record its first ever Test win on Australian soil, but will predominantly be remembered for Richard Hadlee’s masterful effort with the ball.
The legendary seamer took nine out of 10 wickets in the first innings, taking the catch of the only scalp to elude him. He backed that up in the second innings with another six wickets, finishing with a New Zealand record of 15 dismissals.
It often gets forgotten that both Martin Crowe (188) and John F. Reid (108) scored centuries that match, allowing New Zealand to declare at 553-7.
Make no mistake - this was a right royal spanking.
New Zealand went on to win the Test series 2-1 and began what was a golden era against our neighbour.
Australia's top moments
Chappell brothers' twin centuries, Wellington 1974
Their dominance was absolute, the brothers each scoring a century in each innings. Between them, Ian and Greg Chappell scored 646 runs.
Greg's unbeaten 247 in the first innings was complemented by Ian's 145. In the second innings, Greg scored 133 while Ian added 121.
None of the New Zealander bowlers could trouble them, Widen's report from the match describing Greg's innings as "elegant, imperious" and he "looked capable of thrashing a Lindwall or a Larwood".
It wasn't the first or the last time the Chappells tormented New Zealand but it was the most dominant.
Michael Bevan 102*, Melbourne 2002
When your side is in strife chasing a big total, you call Michael Bevan. New Zealand and South Africa had it all over Australia in the 2001-02 tri-series, and the BlackCaps by all rights should have knocked Australia out of the finals at the MCG after posting 8-245 on a slow deck.
Before his back crippled him, Shane Bond was crippling Australia, removing Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist quickly and leaving the hosts in dire straits at 6-82 after 21.3 overs.
Bevan answered the call like he had so many times before. He teamed up with Shane Warne and Brett Lee, steering Australia to victory with surgeon like precision, scoring his sixth and final ODI hundred for his country
That Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori dropped catches that would have halted Australia's charge made a memorable night all the sweeter.
First Twenty20 international, Auckland 2005
If we only knew what we were unleashing on the world. The first ever Twenty20 international was a hit-and-giggle affair, coloured kits, moustaches and headbands harking back to the 1980s.
Facial hair couldn't do for Craig McMillan and Hamish Marshall what it did for Mitchell Johnson though, and Ricky Ponting was soon flaying the Kiwi attack to all corners of Eden Park and beyond.
A 55-ball unbeaten 98 took Australia to 5-214 from their 20 overs. Daryl Tuffey was brutalised with 30 runs leaking in the 19th over: 6-2-6-6-4-6 . On 97 with four balls to go, two leg byes and a single followed for Ponting, who watched from the non-strikers end as Hussey hit the next ball for six to rob him of the chance of a century.
It was a parade of beige to and from the wicket in New Zealand's innings, Michael Kasprowicz collecting 4-29, while Glenn McGrath's joke pretend underarming was met with good humour.
Despite his success, Ponting was underwhelmed: "I think it is difficult to play seriously," he said after Australia's victory, but added: "If it does become an international game then I'm sure the novelty won't be there all the time."
McMillan st Gilchrist b McGrath, Wellington 2005
Not a great match, although Australia did win by 10 runs, not an innings filled with particularly memorable strokes, but a very strange dismissal that still baffles to this day.
Looking to advance down the pitch and hit the quicks – to mixed results, mind you – Adam Gilchrist had finally seen enough. He donned a helmet and stood up to Glenn McGrath's bowling.
Australia's No.1 quick wasn't happy to see it, as no fast bowler is happy to see a wicketkeeper standing up, and there's no way McMillan could have missed the ploy. But the very next ball, McMillan danced down the track again, flayed wildly, missed and was stumped with the greatest of ease by Gilchrist. It still has to rank as one of the funniest Kiwi dismissals going.
Southern Stars domination of White Ferns
It's not just about the men, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have enjoyed an intense rivalry with their New Zealand counterparts too. And enjoyed success against them.
The Stars won the 2010 Cricket World Cup by five wickets with 14 balls to spare in front of a monster crowd at India's Eden Gardens. Belinda Clark's half-century steered our girls home. The bowlers had set-up the victory, two wickets apiece to Bronwyn Calver, Karen Rolton and Charmaine Mason restricting the White Ferns to 164 from 19.3 overs.
Australian dominance was extended in the 2010 Women's World T20 final but it took the intervention of Ellyse Perry's boot to secure a thrilling three-run win that broke New Zealand hearts.
Australia had been restricted to just 8-106 after winning the toss and batting and needed quick wickets to keep the Kiwis down. Perry to the rescue, with two in two overs to have NZ at 4-29. The White Ferns found scoring tough under Australia's suffocating pressure but even so entered the final over needing 14 to win. That equation became five off the final ball – a boundary would force a super over. It was struck firmly back down the wicket and only the intervention of Perry's right foot – she is a talented footballer after all – deflected the ball safely to mid-on.
