Cricket: Cairns in company of greats

By RICHARD BOOCK


Chris Cairns was walking in the company of the greats yesterday after leading New Zealand to a historic nine-wicket win over South Africa.

Having already delivered a crushing blow with the bat on Saturday, Cairns helped to perform the last rites with the ball yesterday morning, taking three wickets and ending the match with the coveted 200-wicket, 3000-run double.

It was New Zealand's first win over South Africa at home since their rivalry began in 1931-32 and just their fourth in 29 tests against the Proteas overall.

Cairns' dismissal of Nicky Boje, caught at the wicket in the 18th over of the day, unleashed a wave of emotion around the old ground, as team-mates rushed in to congratulate him, and a sparse crowd rose and cheered in appreciation.

A hugely relieved Cairns was caught first by a jubilant Daniel Vettori, then by fellow all-rounder Jacob Oram, and as the rest of the team arrived, was hugged by ecstatic skipper Stephen Fleming.

Only five players in test cricket have previously achieved the feat, and Cairns could not possibly find a quintet of more famous all-rounders.

From April 1971, when West Indian legend Gary Sobers reached the milestone, only Ian Botham (England), Kapil Dev (India), Imran Khan (Pakistan) and Richard Hadlee (New Zealand) have managed to follow suit until now.

Highlighting Cairns' achievement is that he reached the mark in just 58 games, faster than all his fellow club members apart from Botham, who took his 200th wicket in 41 tests and scored his 3000th run in 55.

Cairns is also the only player of the category to have reached both halves of the double in the same game.

The moment was all the more special for the 33-year-old because it left New Zealand well-placed to wrap up their first series win.

Man-of-the-match Chris Martin began the day on a positive note for New Zealand when he sent back Shaun Pollock and took his 11th wicket of the innings, and Cairns wrapped up the tail to end with 202 career wickets.

Requiring 51 to win the test, New Zealand romped to the total in true celebratory fashion, Fleming crashing 31 off 11 balls and finishing the game with a huge six off left-arm spinner Nicky Boje.

Cairns said afterwards he was struggling to accept the idea of being included in such exalted company.

"It's starting to sink in," he said. "When people start talking to you about people such as Sobers, Imran, Hadlee and - my favourite Botham, it can all get quite surreal really, but it just feels fantastic."

Cairns said of his five fellow club-members, he related mostly to the approach of Botham, because of the way he played, his unselfishness and his ability to turn a game. "I always found him pretty special".

But he conceded that the most Bothamesque aspect of his performance yesterday was getting a couple of his wickets caught at deep backward square, and at cover just like the "Beefy" of old.

New Zealand's other member of the club, Hadlee, reached the mark in 83 tests, and said yesterday that he was delighted for Cairns and the reputation of the national team.

"Yes, I got a real kick out of Chris achieving that mark, absolutely," Hadlee said last night.

"To see two New Zealanders in the top six something no other country has been able to achieve, is just quite extraordinary."

Cairns, the son of former New Zealand all-rounder Lance, said his father was delighted with his efforts at Auckland, and was sure the pair would meet soon for a celebratory ale or two.

"Dad left a message on my phone on Sunday night. He's pretty stoked," Cairns said.

"As much as he's a proud father, he's also a proud New Zealand cricket supporter and it's great to have his support. He's been the greatest influence on my career."

And there was also lots of praise for Oram, who turned in compelling all-round performances in the first two tests, and is shaping up as the man to take over when Cairns decides to retire.

"Jacob will become the world's best all-rounder, without a shadow of doubt," he said. "He's got all the attributes ... He's somebody who's learning every game, and (what) he's still got to learn is how good he actually is."