Richard Hadlee took 9 for 52 in Australia's first innings at the Gabba in November 1985, the best single-innings figures by any fast bowler in the 20th century, and followed it with 6 for 71 in the second innings to set up an innings win.
Hadlee, then 34, was at the peak of his powers and had taken over 250 Test wickets.
Coney's decision to bowl on a tinged Gabba pitch was vindicated within an hour as Hadlee swung the ball both ways.
Jeremy Coney won the toss for New Zealand and put Australia in. Hadlee then produced one of the great fast-bowling spells in Test history — 9 for 52, with the only wicket he did not take being a running catch he himself held off Vaughan Brown's bowling at deep third man, denying himself the chance to become only the second man after Jim Laker to take all ten in a Test innings. Brown was given a maiden Test wicket; Hadlee was widely teased afterwards for the 'most generous' catch ever taken. Australia were dismissed for 179. New Zealand replied with 553 for 7 declared (Martin Crowe 188), and Hadlee returned to take 6 for 71 in the second innings for match figures of 15 for 123. New Zealand won by an innings and 41 runs. The 9 for 52 stood as the best Test innings figures by any fast bowler until equalled or surpassed by some, but it remains one of the most discussed individual bowling performances in Test history.
Coney puts Australia in
Hadlee dismisses 9 of the first 10
Hadlee catches Vaughan Brown's wicket at third man, denying himself a perfect ten
Australia all out 179
Match figures 15 for 123; NZ win by an innings and 41
Day 1, morning
Coney inserts Australia
Day 1, afternoon
Hadlee 9/52; Australia 179 all out
Day 3
Crowe 188; NZ 553/7d
Day 4-5
Hadlee 6/71; NZ win by an innings and 41
“If I had my time again I would have dropped it.”
“He bowled like a magician. We had no idea where the next one was going.”
Hadlee took 33 wickets in the three-Test series — a New Zealand record against Australia.
The best single-innings Test figures by any fast bowler in the 20th century — and the catch Hadlee took to deny himself a perfect ten.
Hadlee himself later joked that the third-man catch was 'the worst tactical decision of my career'. The figures remained a benchmark for fast bowlers for decades.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.