‘It was amazing’: how Kiwi hospitality proved pivotal for ailing Anderson

B rendon McCullum has tried to show off the very best of New Zealand’s hospitality on this whistle-stop tour of his homeland, but 15 years ago, on the other side of the divide, England’s head coach was far from happy about it.

This was a pivotal moment in the record-breaking career of Jimmy Anderson. Aged 26 and averaging 39 with the ball after 20 caps, Anderson found himself flirting with the tag of an unfulfilled talent during the 2008 tour and was low on confidence thanks to the flashing blade of McCullum during the one-dayers that came first.

Come the first Test in Hamilton, he was due to carry the drinks but through a contact of England’s bowling coach, Ottis Gibson, came a surprise offer to play for Auckland against Wellington in the State Championship. It caused a fair old stink. New Zealand Cricket’s chief executive at the time, Justin Vaughan, said he was “not particularly enthusiastic about it”, while his equivalent at Wellington, Gavin Larsen, went further.

“We can’t get our heads around this,” said Larsen, who has since become New Zealand’s chief selector. “It really hits me in the pit of my stomach. To paint the worst-case scenario, Anderson takes seven for 30 against our boys, Auckland have bowled him into form, and before you know it he’s opening for England [in the second Test].”

The numbers were not accurate – Anderson claimed two for 95 from 38 overs in an innings defeat – but the prophecy still came to pass.

With England 1-0 down after Hamilton, the head coach, Peter Moores, plumped for youth, swapping the old guard of Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard for Anderson and Stuart Broad. When Anderson immediately knocked over New Zealand’s top five in Wellington cheaply, it kickstarted a thrilling 2-1