Blazing Paddles: When Kiwi king Richard Hadlee became the wizard of Oz

Goosebumps - a tingling sensation, a shiver of cold. These feelings occur whenever I think of the greatest cricketer New Zealand has ever produced, Richard Hadlee, the strike bowler who inspired the Kiwis to be world beaters while he graced the team.

I watched Paddles play many a great Test match – and he was the greatest sportsman of our time, beyond any of the All Blacks.  His formulate years were almost unspectacular, but this only gave momentum to when he came of age.

In 1980 the awesome power of the West Indians came to New Zealand to smash them.  The New Zealanders, giant outsiders, won the first Test in part due to Paddles' 11 wickets.  In the second Test the magnificent man scored his maiden Test century to defeat the West Indies for the first time in a series, and to start a 12-year unbeaten run on home soil for the New Zealanders.

But the ultimate day of wonder came in 1985. It was at this time that Hadlee was beginning to win not only games but entire series based on his brilliance with the ball, and reliability with the bat.