This week sees the 17th anniversary of South Africa's first game in New Zealand since returning from the sporting and political wilderness. Walter Cronje's side visited Auckland and enjoyed a 93-run win in a one-off game. The two nations had met in South Africa a few months earlier, with the returning heroes triumphant 2-1. However, the game at Eden Park was billed as a Centenary Test, but actually I've no idea what centenary it was commemorating, but never mind! Adam Parore's 89 helped the home team to a narrow first innings lead but a Cronje century and seven wickets from Fanie De Viliers and Craig Matthews turned the tables.
Since 1995, there have been few South African tours to face the Black Caps. Four years later, the visitors racked up loads of runs but won just one of the three fixtures, the others ending in draws. The first was memorable for Daryll Cullinan's magnificent 275 not out. He was a superb strokemaker on his day, but Shane Warne usually got the better of him on the pitch and disputes with the Cricket Board hastened his premature retirement ten years ago. At Christchurch it was Herschelle Gibbs' turn to hit a 'double' then at Wellington both made three figures in the first innings to set up an eight-wicket win.
Fast forward four more years, and the batsmen were again in charge in the First Test. Kirsten, Kallis and Jacob Oram struck centuries. At Auckland, Stephen Fleming's New Zealand were at their very best. Chris Martin's 6-76 brought about a rare SA batting collapse, followed by big scores by Chris Cairns and Scott Styris. Jacques Rudolph battled to an unbeaten 154 but another five-for from Martin ensured he had little support, leaving the Black Caps a simple target to reach for a memorable win. Rudolph and Martin again starred in the final match, which was a tight affair until the final day when Graham Smith, aided by Gary Kirsten, saw his team home by six wickets, tieing the series.
Since then the two countries have met a few times in brief Test series, but on South African soil. The home team were triumphant in both series, with NZ failing to register a victory. Last time around, three South Africans destroyed their guests. In each of the two Tests, Dale Steyn notched up a 'ten-for' and Kallis and Amla scored centuries, sharing triple- and double-century stands.
Who's to say it won't happen again in the coming weeks? Skipper Fleming has retired but New Zealand still rely heavily on Vettori, McCullum and Taylor, although if players like Guptill, Ryder and Southee find form simultaneously, they have a chance on home territory. Judging by what happened in a Napier pub, if Ryder and Doug Bracewell could only channel their aggression on the pitch instead, it could do them a power of good! Summoning up the spirit of Mirpur, where Vettori's men conjured a surprise World Cup quarter-final win against South Africa, would do no harm either.
