Pigott's Test memories

Richard Hadlee was a thorn in England's side

As England prepare for the first Test in New Zealand, Steve Beauchampé talks to an ex-player for whom Christchurch will always be a special place.

England's visit to New Zealand in 1983-84 was a largely forgettable experience.

But as England circa 2002 get ready for action in Christchurch, Tony Pigott's mind inevitably drifts back to his one and only Test appearance almost two decades ago.

The series opener in Wellington saw skipper Bob Willis surpass Fred Trueman's England record of 307 Test wickets and Ian Botham 138) and Derk Randall (164) share a stand of 232 as the tourists secured a first innings lead of 244.

  One-Test wonders

England players to make their sole Test appearance against New Zealand

John Arnold (Hants),
Lord's 1931

James Parks (Sussex), Lord's 1937

Austin Matthews (Glamorgan), Oval 1937

Alan Wharton (Lancs), Leeds 1949

Tony Pigott (Sussex), Christchurch 1984

But on a drying, lifeless pitch, New Zealand batted themselves to safety second time around, with Martin Crowe (100) and Jeremy Coney (174) helping them amass a home Test high of 537, with the ninth wicket stand of 118 between Coney and Lance Cairns still a Kiwi Test record.

The pitch for the second Test in Christchurch was a very different beast - and it resulted in a case of severe embarrassment for English cricket.

Anthony Charles Shackleton Pigott was a 'good solid pro' but Despite 72 wickets for Sussex the previous summer, the 25-year-old opening bowler had failed to make the touring party.

But the old adage of 'right place, right time' held true as injuries ruled both Neil Foster and Graham Dilley out of contention.

Playing for Wellington, Pigott found himself called up at 24 hours notice for what would be his only Test appearance.

It was an appalling wicket and we were told simply to try and bounce them out

Tony Pigott

"I'd been injured for a month and had just returned against Central Districts when the call came. It was lunch on the third day, I'd only bowled two overs and frankly, I was struggling, but I didn't let on."

Worse, Pigott was getting married on the Sunday of the Test!

"It wasn't a difficult decision; people think it came out of the blue, but I was actually on stand-by - it was partly why I was playing for Wellington. We postponed the wedding a month and off I went, but I wasn't nervous - I didn't have time to be."

With only his seventh ball Pigott dismissed Bruce Edgar and soon New Zealand were 87 for four, then 137 for five, Pigott also claiming Jeremy Coney's wicket.

But Richard Hadlee, with 99 off 81 balls, turned the innings around, helping New Zealand to an improbable 302.

"At one stage I'd taken two for 30 off 11 overs, which was a decent start. But the Christchurch pitch slopes and I was bowling uphill, into the wind, and lacking match practice I soon tired."

Pigott struggled after an excellent start

When England batted, things rapidly deteriorated, and scores of 82 and 93 - the first time in the 20th century that they'd been dismissed for less than 100 in both innings - gave New Zealand victory by an innings and 132 runs.

Hadlee posted match figures of eight for 44, and with the game lasting under three days, Pigott could have made his wedding after all!

It was a demoralised England that travelled to Auckland for the final Test just five days later.

Centuries from John Wright, Jeff Crowe and wicket-keeper Ian Smith were the final nails in England's coffin as New Zealand declared on 496 for nine.

England's ponderous reply of 439, amassed in 187 overs, was no advertisement for Test cricket, despite Botham's 70, and the game petered out to a draw.

It was New Zealand's first-ever series win in a Test rivalry stretching back to 1929-30 - a low point for English cricket, but the apex of Pigott's career.