All-round party pooper

I missed this one, but the trans-Tasman rivalry continues in earnest. Word has it that the Black Caps' greatest all-rounder Richard Hadlee was overlooked by Cricket Australia and not sent an invite to the upcoming Chappell-Hadlee series. Oh well, at least he was invited to bulldoze the infamous Bay 13 at the MCG a few years ago; he must have done such a good job back then that CA have finally got one back on NZ's chairman of selectors.

Nevertheless, this is a chance for the Nutley to relive some classic anecdotes involving Hadlee and Australians:

He once received a letter from an inmate in Auckland jail asking for some memorabilia. He wrote that it was difficult to get to the grounds at weekends because they preferred to keep him in on both days. Hadlee then said the letter finished: "P.S. If it helps, the house I burgled was owned by an Australian." Another Hadlee anecdote involved a lady who went up to the Kiwi a couple of times during an autograph session. "Haven't I seen you before?" said Hadlee. She said: " Yes, but when I get 10 of yours I can swap it for one Dean Jones."

Could have been a Cairns

Who is New Zealand's highest paid sportsman? That old pub banter question will be no more after Steve Williams, the Tiger Woods caddy, was usurped by Ryan Nelson.

Kiwi Nelson's five-year signature deal with Blackburn Rovers means he will earn £3.1m a year, earning more than the whole of the Black Caps squad put together. And why not throw in the All Blacks squad as well.

The reason for this post? My Kiwi spy tells me he gave up a burgeoning cricket career for soccer in 1999, when Nelson was seen as the next great hope in New Zealand cricket. Like many multi-talented Kiwi sportsman, however, Nelson could still make the Black Caps if he retires from soccer around the average 35 mark.

Jeff Wilson, the former All Black great, was included in New Zealand's Twenty20 squad two years ago, after a 12-year hiatus from cricket internationals.

Picturesque Pukekura Park

Radio New Zealand has scooped a huge cricket ground story, learning that Pukekura Park (right, below) in New Plymouth is to be named by Wisden as one of the six best in the world.

According to Radio NZ: "Wisden editor Tim de Lisle says he was surprised the secret was out before he had even finished proof-reading the book." Is there a Kiwi spy working in the Wisden Cricinfo office?

Or maybe it has something to do with another Pukekura story. The real estate has just been named as 'Mayfair' on a local Kiwi edition of Monopoly, costing gamers $4m (GBP1.5m) for the prime postion. Perhaps Wisden staff are buttering up Pukekura governors and the local tourist board for a swanky stay ahead of England's tour to NZ next year?

A new joker?

We all know about former Kiwi opener Mark Richardson who used to sprint-off against opponents wearing his lycra. Well it looks as if current opener Lou Vincent has taken over his mantle - but in a slightly different way.

During their St Lucia leg, Vincent is seen in the background sporting the famous Borat kit during a run-of-the-mill interview. Watch the hilarious YouTube clip here.

On another note, there are more photos up on flickr. Including the below one from the ground urinals. Spot the manufacturer's name? Thought not. The famed ICC tape has seen to that to thwart non-tournament sponsors from appearing anywhere in the vicinity.

Family ties

Hadlee - perhaps the most famous name in New Zealand sport after Tiger Woods' caddy. But before Richard came his father Walter, who died on Friday aged 91.

Walter was pivotal in the development of Kiwi cricket and who knows where the island may stand today in the ICC rankings if it weren't for the family name?

He captained New Zealand on a successful tour of England in 1949, when tours took six months and getting there took six weeks, before turning is attention to cricket administration and bringing up three sons who all played international cricket. Read more here.