Even as the outstanding young batter in New Zealand domestic cricket, Black Caps hopeful Rhys Mariu knows he has to be patient if more international opportunities are to come his way.
At 24, Mariu’s short career makes for impressive reading at the top of the order, the most difficult place to bat in New Zealand conditions.
Capable of opening the batting or walking in at No 3, Mariu’s 23 first-class matches for Canterbury have returned 2065 runs at an average of over 55.
That, coupled with a career-best 249 scored for New Zealand A against South Africa A last year, Mariu’s numbers indicate a player that’s too good for the level he’s currently playing at.
That form has already been rewarded, too. In the final matches of New Zealand’s 2024-25 home summer, Mariu was awarded his first international cap by former coach Gary Stead, when he was called into the Black Caps’ One-Day International squad to face Pakistan.
And while white-ball cricket might not necessarily be the format Mariu is most adept in, 58 from 61 balls in his second match showed that selectors’ faith is well-placed.
“I was very fortunate to get a run under Steady,” he told the Herald. “It was a pretty cool moment, it definitely gave me confidence that what I’m doing is on the right track.
“I don’t take it for granted that I was able to pull on the shirt and represent my country. That’s something I’m striving to do more as I go through my career.”
Now, though, as the Black Caps’ first-choice top order continues to age, Mariu will be among the first of the next generation of New Zealand internationals.
In test cricket, five of New Zealand’s first-choice top six – captain Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell – are aged between 33 and 35.
What’s more, given New Zealand’s blockbuster test schedule this year, in combination with franchise opportunities for more established players, tours to Ireland, England and Australia either side of home series against India and Sri Lanka could open the door for the next generation.
And even though Mariu isn’t in contact with Black Caps coach Rob Walter, or selection manager Gavin Larsen, he knows only performances for Canterbury will give him the chance to seal a regular spot.
“I’m definitely just waiting and seeing,” he explained. “If you look too far ahead, you get in your own head and start to worry about each performance, it’s a slippery slope.
“I’m just trying to score runs and contribute to wins, eventually, hopefully, that’ll pay off.
“If not then that’s okay, as long as Canterbury is winning and I’m contributing to that.”
Like several promising youngsters coming through domestic cricket at present, Mariu’s record in first-class cricket stands above his displays in the shorter formats.
However, the modern landscape of the game dictates that while performances in red-ball cricket might carry more prestige, the shorter formats bring greater opportunities – developmentally and financially.
While Mariu might average in the mid-50s against a red ball, that mark drops to 33.25 in 50-over cricket, and 16.16 from a handful of T20s.
But with Canterbury hoping to be more than just contenders in the Ford Trophy and T20 Super Smash, Mariu wants to maximise his chances to translate his Plunket Shield displays into the other formats.
“Red ball, I’ve probably found more of a solid gameplan. It’s about translating that as much as I can into white ball.
“It looks a little bit different when it comes to T20. I’m still trying to find that solid gameplan that works, but I’m definitely making inroads into that.
“I’m trying to take as much as I can from what’s going well in red ball into the white ball stuff.”
Aside from the chance to catch international eyes, displays for Canterbury this season could also see Mariu and his teammates achieve history.
Since the introduction of Twenty20 cricket in the 2005-06 season, no Kiwi domestic side has won all three competitions in the same season.
Canterbury sit third in the Super Smash, top of the Ford Trophy and second in the Plunket Shield.
And while his own form might not necessarily be as eye-catching as it has been in past seasons – yet – Mariu understands exactly how significant a domestic treble would be.
“It’s been cool, we’ve been playing some decent cricket – winning games and sitting well on all three tables,” he said. “It’s been pretty good so far.
“To get the three-peat is a very hard thing to do, but we’re sitting well on each table. We’ve got a very strong team.
“It would be a pretty tough thing to do. If we can do that, we’d definitely be making history for Canterbury. That’s a big goal.”
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.