Cricket: Hopkins doffs cap to Rixon after NZ call-up

LEICESTER - Steve Rixon might be long gone from the scene but his legacy remains, as yet another New Zealand cricket international labelled him his big career-influence yesterday.

Wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins, 27, will pull on the gloves for New Zealand here for the first time tomorrow against Leicestershire in a sneak preview of his impending one-day international debut next month.

Hopkins, from Taupo via Christchurch and Dunedin, was summoned from his north London club this week to fill in for New Zealand in their four-day match here before next week's second test in Leeds.

While it is only a low-key affair for Hopkins as Brendon McCullum rests his battered hands after last week's first test against England, there is a lot bigger to come.

McCullum will make way again next month when he returns home for the birth of his first child, meaning Hopkins could well play against the West Indies in Cardiff on July 3.

As with McCullum and former test gloveman Adam Parore, Hopkins rated Rixon's influence without peer during the Australian's time as New Zealand coach from 1996-99.

"When Steve Rixon was coach he laid down a template technically which I agreed with and wanted to implement in my game," said Hopkins, with 60 first-class matches to his name, a batting average of 28.38 and 136 catches.

"I stuck with that, it's a matter of video analysis, self-analysis and trying to change that way.

"It was a different technique, a different theory about standing up and taking the ball. I tried it and found I was a lot more consistent."

Hopkins was in the queue behind Parore and Otago's Martyn Croy back in 1999 when he graduated to the New Zealand A team duty, but he fell behind Chris Nevin, Robbie Hart and McCullum in the pecking order after Parore hung up the gloves in 2002.

Originally from Northern Districts, where he found Hart in the way, he shifted to Canterbury and stayed there five years before McCullum was enticed back last season.

That irked Hopkins and he took immediate action, effectively trading places with McCullum and heading for Otago under coach Glenn Turner who had a positive influence.

And of McCullum, the youngster who arrived and took his place in the Canterbury side?

"We haven't had a lot to do with each other because we've been in different set-ups. I'm looking forward to working with him and bouncing some ideas off."

Batting is a key part of Hopkins' game and he rose as high as three for Otago with Turner's input this year.

He scored 258 runs at 28.66 in State Shield one-day cricket and his glovework impressed the selectors enough to name him ahead of Nevin for the New Zealand A series against Sri Lanka A in April.

"I'm just trying to learn as much as I can and I'm really looking forward to that.

"Mentally my game has developed. My focus and concentration is a lot sharper for longer periods."

New Zealand coach John Bracewell admitted he will be learning as much about Hopkins as anyone in the next week.

He relied on the world of fellow selectors Sir Richard Hadlee, Ross Dykes and Brian McKechnie.

"He's multi-skilled with bat and gloves, and in their opinion is next cab off the rank for one-day cricket," Bracewell said.

"I can't agree or disagree because I haven't seen enough of him, but you have to rely on the expertise of the other selectors. They were more than impressed."

New Zealand will rest Shane Bond, Jacob Oram, Mark Richardson and Daryl Tuffey tomorrow, meaning opener Michael Papps and paceman Kyle Mills return.

Bond and Oram are resting injuries, Richardson earned a rest after his 93 and 101 at Lord's while Tuffey is back to the nets to try to get some bowling rhythm back after a mediocre first test.

- NZPA