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CLASH OF
THE HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS
Scotland vs New Zealand - Forthill Dundee, July 1978
Alex Steele
A lex Steele recalls that “in January 2021
I received a most welcome letter from the Chairman of the Forty Club to Honorary Life Members. I noticed in the next
newsletter that two of those that responded were myself and Sir Richard Hadlee and memories came ooding back of Scotland’s game with
New Zealand in 1978 in which we both played.
The venue was Forthill Cricket ground, Broughty Ferry by Dundee and I remember the game so clearly. Scotland had batted rst and posted 190, with a contribution of 29 from myself. When New Zealand batted they amassed a formidable total on a brilliant wicket, 472-8 declared, with Robert Anderson and Bruce Edgar scoring centuries.
Then it was Scotland’s turn to bat to try and save the game. Sir Richard, who hadn’t bowled in the rst innings, reduced Scotland to 14-3. The rst
Test Match between England and New Zealand was their next xture and I remember Sir Richard ring on all cylinders in preparation for the Test match!
I came in with Scotland teetering at 23-4 and with David Stewart prepared to rebuild. Everyone in
the large crowd could see Sir Richard was putting everything into his bowling. We started to build a partnership and I slowly built up a reasonable score and was really enjoying my battle with the great New Zealand bowler.
As time went on, we realised that with the rst Test looming he would probably only have a couple
of short spells. If we could see him o life would get easier. Then it happened, Sir Richard pitched a ball on leg stump and I tried to glance it. The ball
went “narrowly” past the edge of the bat skimmed my rump and went down to ne leg just out of the reach of Jocky Edwards the New Zealand wicket- keeper. I ran like mad to the bowlers end and in the rush to turn quickly my bat clipped Sir Richard on the bottom. Just as that happened the ball crossed the boundary and the umpire signalled four runs!
An irate Sir Richard turned to me rubbing his backside and shouted, “You didn’t hit that ball” the only reply I could think of at the time was “If Jocky Edwards had caught it, I was walking”.
We now had a relieved umpire, a fuming bowler and an apprehensive batsman!
This altercation had been witnessed by the Scottish dressing room and “helpfully” one of my team- mates appeared with a white towel and waved it several times above his head. For a second I was severely tempted to comply with the message!
The next ball was, without doubt, the fastest I’d ever faced but I was expecting it. It was straight and when it hit the pitch it reared sharply took the shoulder of the bat cleared the slip cordon and landed just inside the boundary at third man before crossing for another four!
In my career I’ve been lucky, or perhaps some would say unlucky, to have played against Bob Wil- lis, Colin Croft and some of the other West Indian quicks but none bowled a faster ball than this! As luck would have it that was the last ball Sir Richard bowled as he was taken o and rested as thoughts moved to the forthcoming Test.
Having stood rm against Sir Richard you can imagine my frustration when I was nally out for 48, to the slow left-armer Stephen Boock.
Anyway at tea, I apologised to Sir Richard for
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