By the end of 1979, the West Indies cricket team stood at the pinnacle of world cricket. They had vanquished Australia in their own backyard for the first time, a feat that not only confirmed their dominance but also signalled the beginning of an era where they would tower over the sport for nearly two decades. Clive Lloyd’s men were the torchbearers of aggressive, fast-bowling supremacy, an intimidating force that combined Caribbean flair with ruthless efficiency.
Yet, when they arrived in New Zealand, their journey took an
unexpected turn—not in terms of results alone, but in the sheer hostility that
erupted between the two teams, the umpires, and the cricketing authorities. The
series was not just about bat and ball; it was about respect, perception, and a
clash of cultures. What followed was a sequence of events that remain among the
most controversial in cricket history.
The First Test in
Dunedin: A Brewing Storm
From the outset, the conditions at Dunedin were challenging.
The pitch was deceptive, a minefield of inconsistent bounce and sharp movement.
When Clive Lloyd won the toss and opted to bat, the decision raised eyebrows.
The track was not conducive to stroke play, and any batsman who stayed back in
the crease was a prime candidate for an LBW dismissal.
The West Indies, known for their aggressive approach,
struggled against the disciplined and probing line of Richard Hadlee. The fiery
Kiwi paceman, whose skill with the ball was second to none, exploited the
conditions masterfully. His first thirteen balls dismantled the top order, and
the West Indies found themselves in dire straits at 29 for 3.
Desmond Haynes, however, was a picture of defiance.
Recognizing the perils of playing back, he courageously batted well outside his
crease to negate the swing. His innings of 140 was an exhibition of patience
and technical mastery, a rare bright spot in a West Indian batting performance
that otherwise crumbled against Hadlee’s relentless attack. The fast bowler
claimed five wickets, including four LBWs, a statistic that would later fuel
deep resentment among the visitors.
New Zealand’s Response:
Grit and Determination
If the West Indies had faltered against the moving ball, the
Kiwis had no intention of making the same mistake. Their approach was one of
grit rather than flair. John Wright and Bruce Edgar, though subjected to a
barrage of short-pitched deliveries, showed commendable resolve. Edgar batted
for nearly five hours for his 65, while Howarth provided steady support.
However, just as the innings threatened to stagnate, New
Zealand found a powerful counterattack from the lower order. Lance Cairns,
known for his explosive hitting, took apart leg-spinner Derick Parry in a
single over, smashing three towering sixes. Hadlee, as effective with the bat
as he was with the ball, added a quickfire 51, ensuring that New Zealand secured
a crucial 109-run lead.
This was not the usual way matches involving the West Indies
unfolded. The Kiwis had absorbed the West Indies' fast-bowling assault and
struck back, proving that they were not willing to be bullied in their own
conditions. The tension between the teams was palpable, but it was only the
beginning.
West Indies’ Fightback:
The Tension Escalates
The third day of play was heavily interrupted by rain, and
West Indies began their second innings at 18 for 1. The early loss of wickets
put them in a dire position at 29 for 4, but once again, Desmond Haynes emerged
as the saviour. First, he shared a crucial 87-run stand with the flamboyant
Collis King, who counterattacked with characteristic bravado. Then, he was
joined by wicketkeeper Deryck Murray in another crucial partnership worth 64
runs.
Despite Haynes' heroics, Hadlee remained the ultimate force,
picking up three more LBWs in the second innings. The West Indies had barely
managed to set New Zealand a modest target of 104—gettable, but not without its
challenges, especially against a fired-up West Indian pace attack.
Then came the moment that changed the match—and arguably,
the series.
Michael Holding Kicks
the Stumps: The Breaking Point
With New Zealand at 28 for 2, John Parker walked out to bat.
What followed remains one of the most controversial moments in cricket
history.
Michael Holding, the embodiment of controlled aggression,
produced a searing delivery that Parker appeared to glove to wicketkeeper
Deryck Murray. The appeal was instant and unanimous. Yet, umpire John Hastie
remained unmoved.
For a few seconds, Holding stood in disbelief. Then, rage
took over. In an uncharacteristic and extraordinary act, he walked up to the
stumps and, in a furious motion, kicked them down.
The image of the stumps cartwheeling through the air has
since become one of cricket’s most famous photographs. Croft later quipped that
Holding should have been signed by Manchester United for his “perfect kick,”
but the incident exposed the simmering anger within the West Indian camp.
A local radio DJ mocked them as a "bunch of
whingers," fueling their sense of injustice. The match was no longer just
about winning; it had become personal.
The Umpiring
Controversy: The West Indies vs. Goodall
Umpire Fred Goodall, already under scrutiny for his
decisions, found himself in direct confrontation with the West Indian players.
The breaking point came when Colin Croft, frustrated with the umpiring, ran in
to bowl but deliberately—or accidentally, depending on whom you ask—collided
with Goodall on his follow-through.
Goodall was livid. "I've taken verbal abuse, but I’ve
never been struck before," he fumed. He demanded that Clive Lloyd take
action, but he refused to withdraw Croft from the attack, unwilling to back down in an already hostile environment.
The incident pushed the West Indies to the brink. At one
point, they even considered boycotting the remainder of the match. The New
Zealand board refused their request to replace Goodall, further souring
relations.
A Nail-Biting Finish and
an Unforgettable Victory
Despite all the chaos, the cricket itself continued to
produce thrilling moments. New Zealand’s chase of 104 had seemed
straightforward, but Holding, Garner, and Croft had other ideas. When Geoff
Howarth fell at 40 for 3, the collapse began.
Within minutes, the scoreboard read 44 for 6. The West
Indies had seized control.
But once again, New Zealand’s tail stood tall. Hadlee and
Cairns fought hard, taking the score past 95 before Cairns was bowled with four
runs needed. Boock, whose career-best score was 8, faced the final over from
Joel Garner.
The drama reached its peak. A single brought the scores
level. Then, off the last ball, Boock nudged a leg-bye to win one of the most
controversial Tests in history.
The Aftermath: Bad Blood
That Never Healed
The remaining two Tests ended in draws, but the damage had
been done. West Indian players, furious with the treatment they had received,
openly spoke of leaving the tour early. The bitterness extended beyond the
series; in later years, accusations surfaced that Goodall had made racist remarks
at an after-dinner speech.
What began as a simple cricketing contest had become an ideological and cultural conflict. The West Indies, long victims of colonial discrimination in the cricketing world, felt they had been wronged. New Zealand, proud but often overlooked, had stood their ground.
Decades later, the scars remain. The 1979-80 tour of New Zealand was not just about cricket—it was about power, prejudice, and the limits of sportsmanship. It remains one of the most tumultuous and unforgettable series in the game’s history.
