It had been just three weeks since Pauline and Alan tied the knot. And then, on February 1, 1981, Greg Chappell committed that act of sacrilege at the MCG. Within minutes, Pauline got a call from her dad. "Dump that Aussie and come back home," he thundered. Thankfully, she didn't take her old man too seriously.
It had been just three weeks since Pauline and Alan tied the knot. And then, on February 1, 1981, Greg Chappell committed that act of sacrilege at the MCG. Within minutes, Pauline got a call from her dad. "Dump that Aussie and come back home," he thundered. Thankfully, she didn't take her old man too seriously.
Thirty-four years on, the underarm episode, one which Trevor Chappell was needlessly dragged into by his older brother, is still a bone of contention between the neighbours. The rivalry is fierce across many sports and will reach fever pitch on Sunday when nearly 90,000 will throng the Melbourne Cricket Ground to watch the final of the World Cup.
Pauline and Alan are happily married with two children. Their son lives in Sydney and daughter in Boston. On Friday, the cricket romantics boarded a flight from Sydney to Melbourne. Pauline happened to be on the seat next to you.
"Tough luck. India had a poor day," she said. Yes they did. "So my husband and I were at the SCG last (Thursday) night. The atmosphere was great," she added. Yes, it was. "We are going to watch the final. Who do you think is going to win?" Heart says New Zealand, head says Australia. "Yeah, I think so too," she shrugged. "Aussies can't accept it when they lose. Kiwis win well and lose well. They are humble all the time," she said.
If you haven't guessed by now, Pauline is a New Zealander married to an Aussie. Thankfully, getting hitched to someone from the neighbouring country is not considered a sin in these parts. Poor Sania Mirza.
But there's no way Pauline will compromise with her identity. "He supports his country and I support mine. I am going to wear my black-blue-and-white dress to the game. He will don his yellow cap. He hates the word 'yellow'. He says it's gold," she laughed.
Alan, seated at an arm's length, didn't hear any of this. Thankfully, he was busy enjoying the in-flight entertainment.
"So, we met in London in 1978. We got married three years later. Our love for cricket knows no bounds. But when New Zealand play Australia, it's a different ball game," Pauline said.
She wasn't done. "We are life members at the SCG. I have watched every New Year Test in the last 20 years," she revealed with an obvious sense of pride. What's her favourite SCG moment? "It has to be Steve Waugh's final bow in 2003," pat came the reply. Wow, what a game. Sachin Tendulkar's 241 not out (yes, the one without a single cover drive), VVS Laxman's 178, Anil Kumble's 12 wickets and, of course, Waugh's defying, match-saving 80 — it was a classic in every sense of the word.
"It was a special game. As always, I was seated in the Members' Pavilion," Pauline recalled. "On Day One, I saw a lady sitting under the harsh sun. I thought she was pregnant, so I brought her up and offered her a seat in the shade. The others weren't impressed. One Aussie asked me as to why I was favouring an Indian fan. It was bizarre. The lady, an India living in South Africa, told me she was friends with Rahul Dravid's wife. The die-hard fan in me rushed and purchased a miniature bat. I handed over the bat and asked her if she could get me Dravid's sign. I didn't see her on Day Two, Three and Four. My husband laughed at me. He even said the lady must have run away with my bat. Naturally, I was disappointed," she added.
But on Day Five, Pauline was in for a great surprise. "The lady came over to the Members' Pavilion with Dravid's wife, Vijeeta, in tow. I was thrilled. I saw the bat in Vijeeta's hand. I knew my wish had come true. Vijeeta, oh, she's so beautiful, so kind. She thanked me for being nice to her friend. Then, she handed over the bat. And you know what, the entire Indian team had signed on it," Pauline gushed. "One kid asked me if I would part with the bat. I gave him a stare. The poor boy offered me money. I told him I wouldn't trade it for anything. The bat's at home now," she said.
Soon, the plane landed in Melbourne. Alan said hello. All smiles, the couple posed for a picture. One of them won't be smiling after Sunday's game.
What happened
Circa MCG, 1981. What might have been a forgettable third final of the one-day series produced one of the most controversial finishes of all-time. with New Zealand needing six to tie off the last ball, Australia captain Greg Chappell instructed younger brother Trevor to role the ball underarm along the ground. Angry New Zealand tailender Brian McKechnie, who was on strike, threw his bat away in disgust and Greg Chappell's decision brought forth a torrent of criticism. New Zealand's then Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, said the delivery was "an act of true cowardice and I consider it appropriate that the Australian team were wearing yellow".
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