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Cairns bids farewell with nine wickets
New Zealand all rounder Chris Cairns almost finished his Test match career with a winning display on his birthday on Sunday.
New Zealand all rounder Chris Cairns almost finished his Test match career with a winning display on his birthday on Sunday.
England's new-found self belief, however, scuppered a fairytale ending.
A 3-0 series whitewash by England, the first for 26 years against New Zealand, might not seem the ideal time for the Kiwi's talisman to leave the Test arena but Cairns had made up his mind to retire, although he will continue to play one-day internationals.
The former Nottinghamshire player was fingertips away from a 10-wicket haul in his swansong on his old home ground before England edged to a four-wicket victory.
When the match was still in the balance, Ashley Giles hit the ball straight back to Cairns but like the match and the series it slipped past the 34-year old's grasp.
"Chris Cairns gave his last hurrah with a great effort but it was not to be," said New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming.
He had already taken five for 79 in the England's first innings to go with the four for 108, taking up the mantle of main strike bowler following New Zealand's terrible injury problems.
In the series as a whole, he grabbed 12 wickets, double the total of any of his team mates.
But Cairns will be remembered for his batting as much as his bowling during his 62 Test career.
When he left the crease for the final time, after being bowled by Ashley Giles for one, his former home crowd saluted him with an ovation only reserved for crowd pleasers and all rounders like his team's former lynchpin Richard Hadlee, who was also a Nottinghamshire player.
The England team also applauded, hiding their delight at removing the Kiwi's danger man, who has bludgeoned 22 quick fire fifties and five centuries since he made his debut against Australia in 1989.
Injuries curtailed his career and he never quite fulfilled his potential, but New Zealand will find him very difficult to replace.
