The most famous delivery in New Zealand history was once Trevor Chappell’s infamous underarm to Brian McKechnie in 1981.
Step aside, because that was overtaken by a much less controversial moment when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern delivered her daughter at Auckland City Hospital on Thursday.
Aussie skipper Greg Chappell’s dastardly deeds were relegated to second place, replaced by a much more joyous moment in the minds of most Kiwis.
These are the athletes who were born on this momentous day, sharing a birthdate with the new first baby of New Zealand.
He wasn’t playing on that fateful day in 1981, despite it falling in the middle of his stellar New Zealand career, but Jeremy Coney is a good place to start.
Coney played 52 tests and 88 ODIs for New Zealand between 1974 and 1987, while enjoying a fine first class career just down the road from Parliament, at Wellington’s Basin Reserve.
He’s now one of New Zealand’s voices of cricket, commentating on New Zealand matches for radio during the summer months. The first baby could do worse than following in Coney’s footsteps.
IRENE VAN DYK – NETBALL
Born in South Africa, Irene van Dyk arrived in New Zealand in 2000 and soon became a national treasure.
The lanky goal shoot played 145 games for the Silver Ferns between 2000 and 2014, winning the World Championships in 2003, and Commonwealth Games golds in 2006 and 2010.
If the first baby is a girl, netball would be a fine path to head down if a future in sport is the aim.
MICHEL PLATINI – FOOTBALL
Michel Platini was once a great French footballer, but is now best known for being banned from the game.
If we head away from New Zealand shores, French former footballer Michel Platini was born on June 21, but cuts a very controversial figure.
The good: Platini is one of the best attacking midfielders you could ever lay eyes on. He played for Nancy, Saint Etienne and Juventus during his 15 year professional career, scoring a goal every other game. He was outstanding.
The bad: He moved into politics, which seems appropriate in a story like this. However, it all turned sour when he was found guilty of ethics violations at the top of football, and was banned from the sport for eight years.
MATT KUCHAR – GOLF
Matt Kuchar, US golfer, was born June 21.
A much less controversial figure, Kuchar is one of the world’s top golfers.
The American won the Players Championship in 2012, and has top 10 finishes at each of the four major championships, including a second place finish at the Open Championship in 2017.
If the first baby were to replicate Kuchar and head into golf, there are several Kiwis they could try to emulate in Lydia Ko, Danny Lee and Ryan Fox.
Source:-stuff.
