Nottinghamshire legend Derek Randall had contrasting experiences playing international cricket for England in New Zealand, contesting series there in 1978 and 1984. As the current national side prepare to face the Kiwis in a two-Test series that begins in Auckland on Thursday (22 March), he tells trentbridge.co.uk about his experiences on the farthest flung of all tours.

Climate in New Zealand

“The conditions in New Zealand are similar to England; probably the most similar of anywhere in the world.

“You can get a bit of moisture in the morning and some cloud cover where the ball will swing, but you can also get some very sunny weather where it’s really good for batting.

Facing former Notts bowler Sir Richard Hadlee

“New Zealand were spearhead by Richard, who was one of the best bowlers in the world, and made them really hard to play against.

“He was an Achilles heel for me, getting me out early quite a few times. He could land the ball on a sixpence at a decent pace and move the ball both ways.

“A weakness for me when I was batting was the ball that shaped away – and he regularly got it to do that against me.

“The conditions in New Zealand and in England were ideal for him. I played against him at Christchurch a couple of times and he was unplayable.

“I was definitely pleased when he was on our side at Notts and he got matches finished in a couple of days sometimes – he definitely got us a few days off!

England’s first Test defeat to New Zealand in 1978

“During the period I played, New Zealand had a very good side and really came at us.

“They had never won a Test match against us before that 1978 tour – and I also played in the match at Headingley, when they later won their first Test match against us over here.

“It was seen as a shock when we lost to New Zealand at the time because it hadn’t happened before, and for us to be dismissed for 64 (chasing 137 to win in the second innings) was even more of a surprise.

It wasn’t that it was a bad wicket either. It was just a great spell of bowling from Richard. I got out to Richard Collinge, a big left arm seamer. We were really disappointed at the time and couldn’t quite believe what had happened.”

The Ewan Chatfield run out of Randall in 1978, as he backed up

“It was unheard of at the time and the function I attended that evening was probably among the times I felt most disappointed in cricket, because of what happened.

“The TV replays show now that a lot of batsmen do it and it’s generally accepted. I think at the time, Ewan thought I was trying to pinch some ground, but I was just eager because Bob Willis and Ian Botham fancied their chances with the ball and wanted us to get on with it.

“It did not matter in the end as those bowlers did get plenty of wickets and we won.”

Centuries on the 1984 tour in Wellington and Auckland

“As I say, you can get really flat wickets and the one at Wellington was beautiful for batting on, helping me get a big hundred, and then I got another one at Auckland too.

“It was great to get some runs – I got 293 runs in the series from three matches at 73.25 – especially having struggled so much against them previously.

“I thought I could get a hundred against New Zealand, so it was pleasing to do it in the end – and score 80-odd against them in an innings at Trent Bridge, which I really enjoyed.

Partnering Ian Botham as both scored hundreds at Wellington

“It was easy playing with Ian when I got my 164 because I just plodded along as normal while he took the game away from the opposition with his 138. He was a masterful kind of player.

“When he smacks it around, he lifts the pressure off you and by the time I was at the wicket, he was already starting to pull the match round, like he did so often with bat and ball.

“It was touch and go whether I was going to play in that Test match because it could have been an extra batsman or an extra bowler.

“I was pretty relaxed as I only found out I was going to play about 20 minutes before and I ended coming it at number seven and we went on to draw the game comfortably.

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