The Richard Hadlee Interview

So Richard, what are your views on Ajaz Patel breaking your record of the best bowling figures for a New Zealander in test cricket?

Ah, that’s Sir Richard please.

So Sir Richard, what are your views on Ajaz Patel breaking your record of the best bowling figures for a New Zealander in test cricket?

It was a great performance, but he must be feeling really tired because he bowled a lot more overs than I did.

What do you mean by that?

I mean, I’m famously and humbly not someone for being preoccupied by stats so I haven’t really looked into it, but Patel bowled 47.5 overs, and I bowled 23.4 magnificent overs At the Gabba so it’s important to remember that.

Good point.

Also, I bravely took a catch off Vaughan Brown, and there is no way I’ve replayed that in my mind less than 10,000 times again over the years.  Naturally, I ve never talked to the bloke again.  He went to Christ’s you know.

Not really anyway

Do you remember how I outthought Andrew Hilditch?  I had it on a string back then.

Will anything in Ajaz Patel’s career ever beat this?

How have you remembered all of this over the years?

Not sure.  In one of my many DVDs, I think it was the fourth one, I described the test against England at Lancaster Park as “Richard’s test”  (I wasn’t knighted at the stage), but with all humility I have always rated that test alongside that magnificent spell of fast bowling in Brisbane..

Have you got anything else to say about Ajaz Patel?

Not really. Although it’s important to note that I got two test centuries.

How do you think Patel will go in Australia?

Has anyone chanted “Ajaz is a wanker, a wanker. A wanker” in Australia?  Didn’t think so; not that that ever got to me.

Anyway, I’ve just bought rights to the 10FOR number plate (I like numberplates) so I look forward to hearing from Ajaz at some stage.

Also, the Audi was great.  Not the best car to drive, but it felt so good to be behind that wheel.  I got quite excited when I drove that car.  Powerful even.