Cricket: Seamingly grounded as prospects soar

STRAIGHT UP: Andrew Mathieson says neither McLean Park nor Canterbury Kings hold any surprises tomorrow. PHOTO/FILE

BLOKES in the mould of Andrew Mathieson are not inclined to put on airs even if they have accomplished cricketing feats deserving national recognition.

That's because Mathieson, who was last summer's top wicket-taker in the one-day Ford Trophy competition, is capable of removing himself from a euphoric state to measure his self-worth.

The Station Napier Old Boys' Marist seamer believes his 2014-15 summer of success can be attributed to a sum of other variables.

"I had a lot of luck because the guys were taking catches and others were bowling tightly at the other end so it could easily have been someone else [enjoying that success]," says the 26-year-old right armer, who will spearhead the attack for the Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags when they defend their crown in the opening round of the one-day campaign against the Canterbury Kings at McLean Park, Napier, tomorrow from 11am.

Mathieson, who was returning today from his parents' home on the outskirts of Hamilton after celebrating Christmas, says just as relevant to bowling partnerships last summer is the fact that he played every limited-overs game.

Before last season he was coming to terms with running out the snake lollies during breaks probably more often than he would have liked to.

"Last season I got more regular game time and I was doing less and less 12th-man duties.

"I think it always motivates you not to want to run the drinks out because everyone is there to play."

Mathieson's record-breaking domestic effort in one-dayers caught the eye of Black Caps ,selectors who dropped him a line when the New Zealanders were touring England last winter when he was playing for the Sidmouth Cricket Club in Devon, the birthplace of Somerset County CC.

A spate of injuries to the likes of Trent Boult saw Mathieson included in the squad as cover.

"I didn't think I'd get a game so it was quite exciting," says the man who became 158th New Zealand international at Durham, taking the scalp of opener Jason Roy for 12 runs caught Martin Guptill in the final ODI, which the Caps lost by three wickets on Duckworth-Lewis Method to lose the five-match series 3-2.

Nevertheless, Mathieson didn't lose sight of what is required to become a top-gun bowler on the international stage.

His sobering self-assessment for finding himself at the right time and place: "I've got a fair way to go."

Down to earth at a traditionally benign batting McLean Park wicket, he doesn't expect any surprises after CD's televised T20 match there earlier this month.

"I think we know what McLean Park is offering with its short squares and long straights," he says, also aware of what the Andrew Ellis-captained Canterbury will bring bar the odd change in personnel.

While the Heinrich Malan-coached CD have newcomers, including rookie skipper William Young, Mathieson emphasises seasoned highfliers such as Doug Bracewell and Adam Milne weren't in last season's one-day campaign because of international duties.

He sees the irony in Ben Wheeler overcoming his stress-related back injury but perhaps ending up in the Black Caps' equation. Mathieson is managing his own back where a vertebrae "is out a little bit".

The experience of retired captain Kruger van Wyk and English convert Kieran Noema-Barnett is gone but he feels it's always an exciting opportunity to see how the young brigade will respond to defending the title.

However, he echoes the sentiments of Malan that talk in the changing room centred on not going out there from tomorrow to defend a crown but winning it.

"We think you can't rest on your laurels because you have to go out with the intention of beating everyone. You can't think we're defending champions because that won't put you in a good stead."

In his fourth domestic season arriving here from Northern Districts, Mathieson does feel like a senior with the influx of young guns but prefers to see himself more as "a regular now".

BOTH TEAMS

The Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags squad for the two Ford Trophy matches against Canterbury Kings tomorrow at McLean Park, Napier, and the Wellington Firebirds on Wednesday next week at the Basin Reserve, Wellington:

CD STAGS (from): William Young (c, Taranaki) Ajaz Patel (HB), Tom Bruce (Taranaki) Seth Rance (Wairarapa)/Kurt Richards (HB), Josh Clarkson (Nelson), Jesse Ryder (Wairarapa), Dane Cleaver (wk, Manawatu), Bevan Small (Manawatu), Martin Kain (Nelson), Ben Smith (Wanganui), Andrew Mathieson (HB), Blair Tickner (HB).

Coach: Heinrich Malan.

CANTERBURY KINGS (from): Andrew Ellis (c), Tom Latham, Leo Carter, Michael Davidson, Peter Fulton, Todd Astle, Cameron Fletcher (wk), Ronnie Hira, Logan van Beek, Kyle Jamieson, Hamish Bennett, Ed Nuttall.

Coach: Gary Stead.