‘underarm’ had come about because of the pressure he felt arising from Australia’s relentless schedule in the years immediately after the split with media businessman Kerry Packer’s ‘rebel’ World Series Cricket came to an end.
“The underarm had very little to do with winning that game of cricket, because, in fact, we’d won the game,” said Chappell, now Cricket Australia’s national talent manager. “They weren’t going to get six off the last ball of the game.
“It was my statement. My cry for help was: ‘You’re not listening. This might help you sit up and take notice’,” added Chappell, whose post-playing career was marked by a controversial spell as coach of India.
But while it did little for Greg Chappell’s cause, McKechnie, speaking to New Zealand’s Television Three, on Thursday, said the incident had helped establish cricket’s place in a rugby-mad country — something he was well-placed to appreciate as a dual international who kicked a winning penalty late on for the All Blacks against Wales in Cardiff in 1978.
“It was huge for cricket in New Zealand, cricket took on a new interest almost so that was great and I think it’s also helped this trans-Tasman rivalry, it’s great to play Australia now so that’s good for sport in general.”
New Zealand beat Australia in the first round phase of the 1992 World Cup, the last time the two countries co-hosted the tournament.
But with New Zealand having defeated Australia, albeit by just one wicket, at Auckland’s Eden Park in the pool stages of this World Cup, McKechnie said expectations among Black Caps fans of victory on Sunday had now reached new heights.
“All of a sudden it’s a game unlike ‘92 when we weren’t expected to win that game whereas this one there’s an expectation now because of the way this team is playing,” added McKechnie, who after his on-field sports career ended became a Canterbury and then a New Zealand cricket selector.