FLEMING IN WIGGLES CONTROVERSYNew Zealand Tour Report
by AST Tour Manager, Sam Harrison
Is New Zealand Captain Stephen Fleming leading a double life as Greg the yellow Wiggle? – this was just one of the hard hitting questions posed to tour host Merv Hughes in one of his regular pre match briefings on the recent Tour to New Zealand. Despite a severe form slump, and the fact that "The Wiggles" TV show was never seen on TV at the same time as any cricket telecast over the three weeks, Fleming strongly denied that the stresses of an alleged double life in children’s television had anything to do with his inability to get his pads out of the way of Glen McGrath’s inswingers. Rumours that he was heard chanting “wake up Jeff” after a dropped catch from teammate Jeff Wilson in the One Day series were just pure coincidence, he said. "Dorothy the Dinosaur" refused to comment on the incident, adding to the speculation.
The ongoing Fleming/ Wiggles debate was just one of many laughs enjoyed by the recently returned Australian Sports Tours group for the Test Tour of New Zealand. The laughs were at “Ryno’s” expense early in the tour, when he went on a “swimming with the dolphins” cruise, but unfortunately was unable to find a single dolphin in three hours. It is arguable whether the dolphins were scared into hiding by the site of the fine 6 foot 7 speciman of Ryno squeezed into a regulation wetsuit, or whether he was just plain unlucky. Arriving in Christchurch, we were very lucky to have Chris Cairns, Brad Hodge and Jamie Siddons give some very interesting insights when they spoke at our pre match function at Jade Stadium.
New Zealand had the better of the first two days in the first Test at Christchurch, compiling 433, and reducing Australia to 6-203 early on day three. But we were then treated to an Adam Gilchrist special, who turned the match in a session with a breathtaking 100, ably supported by Simon Katich. NZ returned to the crease in the second innings with a one run lead, but you just sensed that they all realised they had let a big opportunity go by the wayside, and they were routed for 131 by Shane Warne (5-39), and Jason Gillespie. Dizzy had earlier straightened out his run-up on the advice from AST’s own Merv Hughes and Colin Miller and returned to form with 3-38.
In Wellington we were greeted by five days of drizzle, rain, fog and Merv’s references to his own made up nicknames for the NZ players. Craig “Second” Cumming, James “Ben” Franklin, and Ian “Windscreens” O’Brien, were just a few of the poor attempts on offer. Thankfully we were able to endure all this from the comforts of the Wellington Cricket Club Long Room with comfy chairs, heating, free Tea and Coffee, and TV screens to get action replays. Mind you, there’s only so many times you can watch a replay of the groundsmen getting the covers on. Many of the group attended an all inclusive Wellington Cricket Club lunch in the recently renovated Norwood Room on the Saturday – recently renovated by an Adam Gilchrist straight six the previous day which had smashed a window and facilitated some primitive air conditioning.
We were also able to chew the fat with former greats Alan Davidson, Neil Harvey, and Ashley Mallett as well as former NZ opening bat from the 1985 West Indies Tour – Ron Hart. No one really new much about Ron, but he became a legend of the game in our eyes when it became apparent he owned a bar in downtown Wellington and was handing out drinkcards like there was no tomorrow. The match ended in a draw after another awesome Gilchrist batting display, this time with Damien Martyn. Three full days lost to rain saved the Kiwis from almost certain innings defeat.
So a few of us ventured down to Ron Hart’s bar following the Test Match, and enjoyed his generous hospitality as he regaled us with anecdotes of his brief career at the top. Ron Hart’s career stats won’t go down in the annals of the game, but if there were stats taken on giving away free drinks to Aussie tourists he would be up there with Bradman. He became a cult figure that night, people were getting photos with him and getting him to autograph their drinkcards, and for the rest of the tour he had hero worship status. Eventually this lead to the formation of a Ron Hart appreciation society (The Hart Foundation) and construction of the Ron Hart Stand in Auckland. (For more details on Ron Hart, The Hart Foundation and Ron Hart Day click here.)
Beautiful Rotorua was visited enroute to Auckland where we all received a dose of culture at a traditional Maori Hangi and concert. A few of the boys also put in a very successful days fishing and there was trout all round for dinner that night. Rotorua is one of the most thermally active areas in New Zealand, with the mud pools and geysers a highlight for everyone. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves also had the group captivated, although there was some controversy over who was making all the noise in the cave and scaring the little critters into hiding...but we don’t want to open up a can of glowworms over that one…
So Auckland was our final destination, and there was a couple of changes in the NZ side with “Windscreens” O’Brien dropped from the New Zealand side. Apparently his appealing was not convincing enough and the umpires could “see right through him”. From all reports he was “shattered” at his omission...
It was a non stop celebrity watch at the hotel too where at breakfast each morning you might run into the North Queensland Cowboys, the ACT Brumbies or any of the match officials, including West Indies great Clive Lloyd. Again it was an all the way Australian win, with twin knocks from Ricky Ponting setting up, and then completing the Australian victory. A few of the boys made good use of the facilities at the Auckland Cricket Society Social rooms during the test, where the offer of $6 jugs was just too good to pass up. The early finish allowed the group some extra sightseeing time in Auckland and a keenly contested second round of the Merv Hughes Skins Shootout at Auckland City Country Club. A highlight of the test was undoubtedly having Matty Hayden and Justin Langer come and speak to the group at our final function, along with Kiwi great Martin Crowe. It was an emotional moment when 87 year old Arthur, the oldest AST passenger ever, shook hands with his favourite player Matty Hayden.
So that was about it for AST’s tour to New Zealand. Great company, great cricket, great sightseeing and good times had by all. I can’t wait to get back in there four years time, and catch up with Ron Hart.
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Stephen Fleming has denied he is also Greg the yellow Wiggle, pictured here (in yellow) with Dorothy the Dinosaur
Chris Cairns spoke to the group at the pre match function at Jade Stadium
Merv and Funky express concern at Dizzy's crooked run up in the first innings at Christchurch
The view from the Wellington Cricket Club Pavilion, following some Adam Gilchrist renovations
Allen with a prize trout from Merv's fishing trip in Rotorua
A heartwarming moment - Arthur meets Matty Hayden |
