Reasons to move on from the underarm
Reasons to move on from the Underarm
38 years ago today, Australian cricket captain Greg Chappell asked his brother Trevor to bowl the last ball of a match against New Zealand along the ground, to prevent us hitting a six to tie the game.
And we've never heard the end of it. Along with perceived pavlova and Phar Lap theft, it's one of our favourite jandals to beat our trans-Tasman cousins with. Commentators often ask 'should we move on?', as if it's visions of Trevor Chappell's afro and Bruce Edgar doing the fingers preventing us from sleeping almost 40 years later.
If there's any doubt this 'incident' is a significant, but distant moment in our sporting pantheon, here are the top reasons we should all just get over it:
One. It was bloody good for the game here - this was the genesis of our brilliant 80's team, and Greg Chappell's skullduggery put the nation firmly in their corner. Righteous indignation is marketing gold and suddenly we were a cricket nation as well as a rugby, racing and beer one.
Two. Rob Muldoon was very annoyed at the time, and everyone enjoys annoying Rob Muldoon.
Three. It gave us the world's greatest dressing down - Richie Benaud tore Greg Chappell into little pieces, runs the pieces over with his car then feeds the pieces to Mrs Benaud's cat. The lip-purse at 3'52" will give you nightmares.
Four. Trevor Chappell is actually a good bloke.
Five. Let's face it, we're no angels - Richie McCaw sent his career performing unwholesome acts underneath rucks, and is the equivalent of New Zealand's Queen Mother, while Richard Loe treated Paul Carozza's nose like a steak that needed tenderising, and was rewarded with a commentary gig. Our grip on the sporting moral high ground is sometimes tenuous at best.
Six. It's tremendous for gentle bantz.
New Zealanders often forget that's much cooler for younger siblings to show they're not bothered - the underarm had a seismic impact at the time, but we generally stopped milking it years ago.
Besides - the Aussies are doing a superb job of humiliating themselves at the moment and envy the BLACKCAPS' team culture. That's probably the greatest slow-burn revenge of all.
Thanks for reading - Richard
The week's best NZ sport writing
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Michelle Langstone is easily NZ Twitter's MOST ENTHUSIASTIC cricket fan - here she is on the highs and lows of fandom for RNZ.
Bloody legend Ewan Chatfield hung up the boots for Naenae club last weekend - The Spotter writes for Sportsfreak on one of our all time unsung heroes.
Video nasty
Probably the best video ever shared on this newsletter. This guy's whole channel is amazing.
Long read
Burglary as art - really love a heist story, and this one about a French great art thief is a cracker [New Yorker]
Selected weekend fixtures
Internationals - the White Ferns play India today at 2pm in Hamilton, while the BLACKCAPS play India in the last ODI in Wellington on Sunday at 3pm, they're both on SKY
It's a rilly big weekend in the Burger King Super Smash, with Firebirds v Stags at 4pm at the Basin today, Kings v Volts at 4pm at Hagley tomorrow then 1v2 when the Aces host the Knights at Eden Park at 4pm Saturday. The last one's on SKY, see you there!
Bring back the gif
When you get to the end of the holidays.
