Iain O'Brien's Cricket Blog

We entered the final day of this Test series, one all; we won the First Test, Pakistan the Second.  A series win would be a great way for me to finish, and it was possible; if only we could get some wickets on this ‘so damn flat’ wicket.

I had told Dan about wanting to retire before the Second Test.  He had sent me a txt later in the day saying “you now I’m going to bowl you into the ground now, don’t you?” 

“I don’t expect anything less.” was my reply.  As I wasn’t going to be a part of the rest of the NZ summer there was no point him trying to keep me fresh or injury free.

Day five started as it always does with a bit of a team talk huddle before we kick into warm ups.  Dan outlined the things he wanted us to focus towards and then started “let’s go out there, stick to our plans, hang tough, win this Test and let’s try and give OB a stress fracture!”  In that statement I knew I was going to shoulder a lot of the bowling, I knew this already, and to be honest, I really couldn’t wait. 

It quite all go that simply.  It took us the majority of the day to dismiss Pakistan and if there hadn’t of been a couple of the Pakistan’s batters self destruct; we could still be out there now trying to dismiss them.  I reckon it might just be starting to go a little up and down now.

I came out and bowled after lunch and something wasn’t quite right.  I had 10 or 12 warm up balls at the end of the break, felt fine, but after I had bowled two balls in my first over something was up.  I was wobbly, dizzy, sweating a lot and generally felt woeful.  I got through the over and went off the park for a sit down, a drink and a little something more to eat.  I really felt about as average as I have ever done, but I didn’t want anyone else taking the ball out of my hand so I got back out there for my next over; and thankfully so.  I picked up Gul through a great catch by Flynny in close.  We celebrated the wicket and I just had to take a knee.  I was cooked.  I finished this over and started to feel better.  I really wanted to bowl here now as we were really into the tail and it was the chance for a couple more wickets; not for me though.  I finished up with six for the match and I’m happy with that.  That gave me 15 for the series, an average of five per game; more than I’d averaged through my career and happy for it.

As I said the rain came and washed away any hope of a win and with that both teams shook hands and the match, the series and my career for NZ were over.  I was a little emotional, as you can imagine, and with the boys, that night, we enjoyed a good night celebrating a good series.  One poor younger member of the team tried to keep up with the big boys (it must be known that I am not one of the big boys; I can’t drink for toffee) that night; it was an early night and a tough couple of days after for him.  Bless him!

One more game for Wellington Firebirds at the Basin, I really wanted to play one more for Wellington.  It was a One Day game vs. Canterbury, the team who I made my One Day debut for Wellington against.  And this one went much the same way.  We lost.  There was to be no fairytale ending to my NZ or Wellington career; although there was a couple of positives and maybe a small piece of ‘Boys Own’ annual in this game. 

The Boy's Own

I bowled my first spell of seven over for just 17 runs and picked up a wicket in my first over; it all started so well!  My next three overs were in the batting power play.  I didn’t quite get it right here and went for 30 off my those three, but I did do something I thinks pretty cool; I got a wicket with the last ball of my 10^th over, my last ball for Wellington on my home ground, the Basin Reserve.  Personally I couldn’t have asked for a better last ball finish than that.

Last Ball for Wellington: Taken and used with permission by Carey Clements

Release: Taken and used with permission by Carey Clements

Eyes up and looking: Taken and used with permission by Carey Clements

Goooooooone!: Taken and used with permission by Carey Clements

That's it, all over. I'm done in in NZ: Taken and used with permission by Carey Clements

To be continued...... part 4 of 3 coming up soon (I’ve just go so much to say; like my old Indoor Cricket days.....)