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By BV Swagath

After Javagal Srinath, Steve Waugh, Waqar Younis, Gary Kirstein , Nasser Hussain and Michael Slater, Test Cricket has lost yet another fighting cricketer. Christopher Cairns, who has been the No.1 player for New Zealand for sometime now, has put an end to his impressive test career much to the disappointment of the fans. Cairns had been struggling to play day in and day out with his troubled knees and back problems and this decision would certainly prolong his one-day international career. A wonderful match winner both with the bat and the ball, Cairns had produced some terrific performances for New Zealand over the years. He may not be in the Hall of Fame in the all-rounders category that includes the Hadlees, Kapils, Imran Khans, Sobers, Wasim Akrams, Bothams but Cairns isn’t that far away from this elite list at all.

Chris Cairns has been a top class all rounder in his own rights with God Gifted ability of producing a match winning knock and follow that up with a five-wicket haul or vice versa. Cricket has been in his blood, with his father, Lance Cairns who had played 12 years for New Zealand between 1973 and 1985 with reasonable success. The junior Cairns has only picked up from his father’s limited ability as an all-rounder to shape up into a world class one. Both the Cairns – Lance and Christopher hailing from Canterbury have put in 27 years of Test Cricket for New Zealand. Just after four years of his father’s last test match, Chris made his Test Match debut at the W.A.C.A in 1989. It was a quiet Test Match for Chris; nevertheless it was a learning experience for the then 19 year old.

Cairns finally made his presence felt in the Test Arena during a home series against the touring Lankans in March 91. Cairns took 9 wickets in the 3rd Test at Auckland. He scored an impressive half-century in the 1st test at Christchurch against England in 1992 and in the 2nd Test at Auckland, he picked up 8 wickets. But the real big performance came only in 1996 at Auckland, where he scored his maiden test century against Zimbabwe. From then, Cairns established himself as a top class all-rounder with useful contributions with both bat and the ball. Chris Cairns reached the milestones of 3000 runs and 200 wickets in a Test Match against South Africa in 2004 and it was again at Auckland, his favourite hunting ground. Cairns has a highest score of 158 in just 214 balls against South Africa at Auckland in March 2004 and his innings was simply breathtaking to watch with 18 boundaries and 7 powerful hits for sixes. His best bowling performance in Tests has been the 7/27 from a little less than 23 overs against West Indies at Hamilton in December 1999. Cairns has ended his test career with 3320 runs from 62 Tests at a decent average of 33 and 22 half centuries and 5 hundreds. But that is only the batting stats of Cairns. Cairns has also taken 218 Test wickets at a good average of 29 and a good enough strike rate of 53. He has taken 13 five-wicket hauls and 1 ten-wicket haul, which came against West Indies at Hamilton, December 1999. Auckland has been the most successful venue for Cairns with 2 centuries and 35 wickets in the 8 Tests, Cairns had played at the Eden Park. Chris Cairns is the current record holder for the maximum number of sixes in Test Matches with 87 to his credit, behind him is the great Sir Vivian Richards with 84.

Chris Cairns has a perfect bowling action for youngsters to emulate. An economical run-up, a beautiful leg-cutter, which I feel only Jason Gillespie, Shaun Pollock and Cairns can bowl with perfection and a fastish off spinner sums up Chris Cairns as a utility bowler. Chris Cairns is a dangerous batsman who can change the course of any game in just a few minutes of his stay at the wicket with his lusty hits. Even though New Zealand lost the 3rd Test at Trent Bridge and that too on Chris Cairns’ birthday and his last test, Cairns has every reason to walk away with his head held high and amidst standing ovation. Cricketfundas.com salutes this man for what he has done in his test career and is looking forward to some more sterling performances from Cairns in the ODIs. If at all Cairns has a rebirth, then I pray God to make him injury-free and allow him to play atleast more than 62 Tests in a 15 years long career.
 

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