Cricket: Elusive mark for batsman

By RICHARD BOOCK


Mark Richardson has shelved the experimentation with his scoring rate until further notice.

The man who has crafted an impressive test record on the back of just three shots had been flirting with expanding his game-plan, introducing not only more strokes into his repertoire, but also a more aggressive mind-set.

However, having lost his wicket in unfortunate circumstances in Bangladesh and after falling to a miscued hook last week at Sydney, the greying opener said it was more important in Australia for him to stay in for as long as possible.

"The hardest thing over here is making sure you don't try to play like the Australians, and that you stay true to yourself and play your own game," he said.

"You can't afford to fall into the trap of trying to live up to the hype."

He said the idea of increasing his scoring rate might be revisited at some stage, but that he was certainly not intending to make the hook-shot a big part of his game again.

"No, definitely not. Every time I try it ends in tragedy so it's going to have to be put away.

"I was trying a few things because I wasn't really enjoying my cricket at the end of last year and thought I might look to become more positive.

"That may still happen but at the moment, at this level, I'll probably be pulling back into my shell and just being me again."

At 33 years of age, and with a test average before the Gabba match of 47.03, Richardson is one of the most secure of New Zealand's test squad, and could probably keep going for a further three or four years if his fitness lasts.

But he gave a hint of how he viewed his future when he said that posting three figures against Australia was something he'd dearly love to accomplish before his career ended.

Richardson has scored four centuries in his 36 tests before the Gabba showdown, reaching the milestone against Pakistan (2001), Bangladesh (2001), India (2003) and England (2004), and falling one run short against Zimbabwe in 2000.

He might have a chance to add one against South Africa when New Zealand tour there next year, but is unlikely to be still around when New Zealand return to Australia in about 2008.

"As far as I'm concerned, a hundred against Australia is one of the few things I'm missing," he said. "I haven't had a long career, but I've been bloody happy with what I've achieved so far, especially considering where I came from.

"But scoring a hundred against the best team in the world would be one of the only things left for me at the moment."

Richardson isn't fazed by the banter and gamesmanship that occurs repeatedly during the build-up to Australian tests, reasoning that the best plan is to accept the favouritism of the home side, forget the baiting, and to concentrate on your own game.


"The only way to combat them is to keep out the good balls, absorb the pressure and score off the bad balls," he said.

"Even the finest bowlers in the world deliver balls you can score off, so it's all about the batsman being in a good enough mental state to take advantage of it.

"Australia's the best team in the world because they've got the best players. But that's not to say that they're unbeatable.

"There's no reason why, on your day, you can't have some success against them yourself."

Richardson also revealed that Australian batsman Darren Lehmann was being investigated as a possible rival for the traditional end-of-series 100m sprint race.

Regarded as one of the slowest-moving players in world cricket, Richardson has so far beaten Auckland team-mate Aaron Barnes (to Barnes' eternal shame), but has been defeated by Pakistan's Dinesh Kaneria (who looked as if he had one leg shorter than the other), Neal McKenzie (who was quick to show the South Africans had no sense of humour), and England slow-coach Ashley Giles.

"I've heard that Darren will be up for it but I haven't spoken to him yet," he said. "Our guys seem to like it, and I don't mind being laughed at.

"It's a tradition that would be quite nice to keep going because people seem to get a kick out of it.

"In fact, it would be quite nice to see if we could get some sponsorship for it and send the money off to charity. I thought the Land Transport's Speed Blitz campaign might be a good cause."

Where are our quicks today?


SHANE BOND

The demolition man in Australia in 2001, a back now demolished and pinned with titanium.

DARYL TUFFEY

Knee problems on top of side strain. On road to recovery and on light duties.

SHAYNE O'CONNOR

Quit international and first-class play suddenly last year saying injuries, uncertainty about income and long tours had taken their toll. Last seen running an accommodation centre in Alexandra.

CHRIS CAIRNS

Carrying something like nine ongoing injuries and ailments at the time of his retirement from test cricket at Trent Bridge this year. Still playing ODIs.

GEOFF ALLOTT

The left-armer shared the wicket-taking record with Shane Warne at the World Cup in 1999 but had to pull out of the game after multiple stress fractures to his back meant he needed a pain-killing injection before every game.

HEATH DAVIS

Had speed to burn. Turned out last season for Auckland Aces.

CARL BULFIN

Rapid rise to international cricket in 1999 but quit in 2002 because of wear and tear and lack of motivation.