It seemed like a good idea at the time and former Australian cricketer Dean Jones, who was in Dunedin during the weekend to speak at a tribute dinner for Otago great Warren Lees, had a solid theory behind his method.
For the most part it was a very successful plan - it just came unstuck against New Zealand, or more accurately, Sir Richard Hadlee.‘‘I only lasted on average four balls an innings against him,'' Jones joked.
‘‘Paddles was the best new ball bowler I ever faced. He questioned everything about your defence and everything about your mental preparation for a test innings.
‘‘But one-day cricket was completely different. His strengths were he could bowl line and length better than anyone else in the world.
‘‘I thought, well, if I can get to him on the half volley, I might be able to upset his length. And maybe that might upset the way he bowled and it did on occasions.''
Jones averaged more than 50 against New Zealand in one-day cricket but Hadlee had his number in tests, picking up his wicket three times in five games.
For observers of a certain generation, Hadlee's duel with Jones brought great delight.
In 52 tests, Jones scored 3631 runs at an average of 46.55, including 11 centuries.
But against New Zealand he averaged 24.43 and made more ducks than scores over 50.
‘‘[Hadlee] was just so unbelievably professional and he knew exactly what to do. He was meticulous in his planning and I wanted to try and upset him a little bit.
‘‘He didn't win too many battles in the one-dayers but he got me in the tests.
‘‘Everyone said he was my nemesis and he was a little bit. But [Glenn] McGrath got out Brian Lara [15] times but they don't talk about him being his nemesis.
‘‘But I probably learned more from him than any other player I played against. He put me through hell in the papers in his columns and he had a go at me on radio. But when you look back I was probably 25 or 26 and I didn't fully have my game put together.
‘‘I wasn't at my best and he really helped me from that experience.''
Jones had the last say, though. He clipped Hadlee for a boundary to bring up a hundred and seal an eight-wicket win at Eden Park in March 1990.
It was one of Hadlee's last one-dayers and the last time he played against Australia.
Jones was so emotionally charged he chased after Hadlee.
‘‘I've followed him into the dressing room and there is no-one else in there and he is standing there with a beer in his hand. I turned to sledge him and give him everything but I just put my hand out to him and said congratulations on a wonderful career.
‘‘He said ‘Deano, sit down and have a beer with me' and I did and we've become good mates since.''
