25 years in Australia

I have now lived in Australia for 25 years. It's not news to anyone, but the longer I've been in Australia, the attachment I feel towards New Zealand grows. That's not to say I don't like Australia, its just NZ is part of who I am. A lot of this piece echoes my sentiment, even if it is in places unnecessarily provocative.

So, this post is a little about NZ, a little about Australia, and the rivalry between. The recent world cup clash added another chapter.(and maybe a meeting in the final will too....)

What better place to start than with some of my lasting memories in Trans-Tasman sport.

Cricket

• Hadlee's 9/52 and Crowe's 188 (1985/86)
• Whitney & McDermott batting out most of the last hour against Hadlee in Melbourne (1987)
• Both McGrath & Warne's highest test scores came against NZ (Gillespie and McGrath put on 114 for the tenth wicket, McGrath made 61, 2004),
• Warne made 99 before he decided to offer catching practice in 2007.
• The 2007 Chappell-Hadlee trophy series - NZ chased over 340 twice (and won the series 3-0)
• Bracewell's 6/40 (and Warner's hundred) in Hobart. (2011)

Rugby Union

• George Gregan's tackle (1992), Mortlock's intercept or Carlos Spencer's pass, (2003), numerous last minute penalty goals or tries (by Burke, Kefu & Eales). Does anyone else remember Eales stopping a penalty before it went over the crossbar. 
• The All Blacks flawless 43-6 win in torrential rain (Wellington, 1996)
• Lomu's try after the siren in the first Rugby Union international at Homebush. The All Blacks won 35-31; and the test has been described as the best played.
• The one Bledisloe cup I saw at ANZ Stadium (won 50-21 by the All Blacks, 2003)
• The miracle in Brisbane last October.

Netball

• The closeness of the Netball results most tests are decided by a handful of goals, I can only remember two which were won by more than six goals. Both NZ and Australia have won in Extra-time.

A few other sporting memories (which don't involve Australia)

Cricket

• Most recently Guptil's 237* (highest score by a Kiwi; highest score in a World Cup Game, and the second time Guptil has batted all 50 overs in an ODI)
• Crowe's 299
• McCullum's 302
• Corey Anderson's 36 ball hundred (until earlier this year the fastest ever).
• It says something about the NZ team that in ODI Cricket, NZ have 3 entries in the top 10 highest successful chases.
• Crowe & Jones shared a 467 run partnership for the third wicket in 1991, 
• Watling shared in an unbroken stand of 365 with Williamson; and a 352 run stand with McCullum
• Ronchi & Elliot's 267 run stand for the 6th Wicket in the ODI against Sri Lanka earlier this year.
• As an aside Hastings and Collinge (1973) had the highest stand for the 10th Wicket until Agar & Hughes (165) and then Jimmy Anderson & Joe Root (198) both went past their stand of 151. 

Rugby

• At school watching the All Blacks game against Italy during the 1987 world cup
• The drop goal in 1995, the two French disasters; this song sums it all up
• Madly refreshing a phone during the last few minutes of the World Cup Final in 2011. 
• The miracle in Dublin (2013)

Rugby League

• Any win by the Kiwi's is one to cherish, given they are so rare (the World Cup win in 2008, the 24-0 win in 2005, and last year's Four Nations where they beat Australia twice) would be the highlights. :) 

Other sports... 

• The America's Cup Win (and retention) before the amazing loss in the 2013 series (they led 8-3 before losing 9-8.
• Can't forget the All Whites being the only undefeated team at the 2010 World Cup, despite leaving at the group stage. 
• The Breakers - who were the first team from NZ to win in an Australian competition, and earlier this month won their fourth tittle in the past five years.
• The Phoenix have done really well in the A-League and may not have a better chance to win the competition

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