Cairns proves worthy heir

Cairns loves nothing more than beating Australia

Following his match-winning innings in Brisbane, BBC Sport Online profiles all-rounder Chris Cairns.

It is difficult trying to follow in the footsteps of a cricketing great - just ask anyone who has struggled to become Ian Botham's successor.

For New Zealand's Chris Cairns, however, it has been twice as bad.

Not only was he long regarded as the man to fill the boots of Sir Richard Hadlee, but he also had the task of following his father, Lance, into the international arena.

  Chris Cairns factfile

Born: Picton, 13.6.70

Test debut v Australia, Brisbane 1989

ODI debut v England, Wellington 1991

54 Tests, 2,830 runs (average 32.91), 194 wickets (average 28.91)

141 ODIs, 3,370 runs (average 29.30), 138 wickets (average 33.27)

Whereas Hadlee was one of the best to have played the game, father Lance was more of a New Zealand cult hero.

He once hit six sixes in a one-day innings against the Australians and, bowling off the wrong foot, took 130 Test wickets.

But Cairns junior had the unenviable task of trying to live up to the expectations of a cricketing public demanding he be not only as good as his father, but also in the same league as Hadlee.

Match-winner

The year 2000 proved a watershed in the career of a player who was thrown into the international Test arena against Australia as a teenager.

He almost single-handedly tore apart England and the West Indies to finally remove the albatross of expectation from around his neck.

But the most obvious evidence of a new maturity came in Kenya where, despite being hampered by a knee injury, Cairns carved out a magnificent 102 not out to see New Zealand to victory over India in the ICC Knockout final.

Victory in Kenya was New Zealand's first major one-day success

The 30-year-old was named as one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year, but less than four years earlier his international future was in doubt as he fought running battles with New Zealand cricket authorities.

He walked out of New Zealand's tour of West Indies declaring himself unfit, but appeared for his county side Nottinghamshire a matter of days later.

In addition, the following year he breached a team curfew in the middle of a Test against England in Wellignton, wore black shoes during a domestic one-day final and refused to cut his hair.

Growing up

At that stage Cairns was in danger of being consigned to the international scrapheap.

His nickname, BA (which stands for bad attitude) summed him up.

But understanding management and a more responsible take on life, means that Cairns has learned to live with the responsibilities heaped upon him.

He has not only led the New Zealand attack, bowling with more control and guile than in his formative years, he has developed a fearsome reputation as a batsman who can take an attack apart.

Hadlee: Cairns is a worthy successor

Equally important, however, is his ability to keep a cool head under pressure.

Cairns showed he was the man for a crisis in Nairobi and came good again in Brisbane where New Zealand were 98 for five, chasing a distant target of 242, against South Africa - a side they had not beaten in a one-day game since March 1999.

Certainly no slogger, he played some thoroughbred strokes in reaching 102 not out off 99 balls, winning the game with a searing extra cover drive for four off Shaun Pollock.

Cairns, referred to at one time as "son of", has now established his own legacy.