Cricket: Marshall sitting on top of the world

Hamish Marshall's trio of successes leave him on an average of 212 overnight. Picture / Fotopress

Hamish Marshall is poised to sit on top of the cricketing world this morning after fashioning his maiden test century on the opening day of the first test against Australia.

The mop-topped batsman continued a startling run at international level when he walked off Jade Stadium last night unbeaten on 103, in the process helping New Zealand into a position of rare comfort against the world champions.

The century was a watershed for Marshall, whose previous two trips to the batting crease have realised innings of 40 not out at Johannesburg in 2000, and 69 in last year's second test against Bangladesh at Chittagong.

The trio of successes mean his test average was hovering at 212 overnight, leaving him a likely candidate to take over the world record today, as long as he can score a further 13 runs.

The highest average in test cricket belongs to West Indian Andy Ganteaume, who in 1948 scored 112 against England at Trinidad, and the highest from a New Zealander is Rodney Redmond's 82.50.

Not even the great Don Bradman could hold a candle to Marshall's mark, having wound up his test career in 1948 with a duck, and a career average of a mere 99.94.

Marshall said last night he was determined to survive the early stanzas when he arrived at the crease, because the pitch was true and he believed there were runs in the offing if he worked through his initial awkward moments.

"I decided early on that if I could get in and hang in there I would get the pace of it and the bowlers would tire," he said.

"I don't have many shots so I just played the ones that I've got and noodled the ball around when the opportunity arose."

Asked if he received much of the characteristic Australian gamesmanship while batting, he said there was a bit of "chat" as he and Lou Vincent toiled against the bowling attack in the post-tea session.

"It wasn't too bad, actually," he said. "They were doing enough with the ball to keep us under pressure, but they're always in the game; they're always quite chirpy and they let you know they're there."