Cricket: Marshall well placed to shine

By RICHARD BOOCK


If nothing else, Hamish Marshall's return to the New Zealand test squad has raised the possibility of a rare statistical milestone.

Having taken the one-day stage by storm, the dapper little right-hander is now knocking on the door of a test recall, and should be well placed to cash in if he receives a chance in the second test at Chittagong.

Marshall has proved a fascinating study for New Zealand fans, finding success in the ODI arena despite never having scored a first-class century since his debut for Northern Districts in 1998-99.

But he will become an even bigger story if he manages to break the drought in a test match, thereby equalling the deeds of just three previous New Zealanders - Noel McGregor, Bruce Taylor and Warren Lees.

McGregor was 23 when he struck his maiden first-class century in the second test at Lahore in 1955, a battling, 340-minute epic that allowed his team to scramble through to what seemed respectability at 348.

Unfortunately, his milestone was in vain, as Pakistan rumbled on 561 in reply, and went on to win the test by four wickets.

Taylor's 105 against India in 1965 was noteworthy, not only because it came in the cauldron of Calcutta's Eden Gardens, but also because the century was scored on his test debut - the second New Zealander to achieve the feat.

To cap it off, Taylor's second first-class century was also scored in a test match - 124 against the West Indies at Eden Park in 1969.

Lees became the most recent member of the club in 1976, when he blasted 152 against Pakistan at Karachi, teaming with Richard Hadlee and Lance Cairns to rescue the innings and, eventually, the test.

The Otago wicketkeeper had arrived at the crease with his side in deep trouble at 104 for five, after Pakistan had racked up 565 for nine, including a double century for Javed Miandad and centuries to Majid Khan and Mushtaq Mohammad.

Marshall, who made his test debut against South Africa four years ago, has never scored more than 92 in a first-class match, but has raised eyebrows with his ODI efforts and is likely to get a test opportunity soon.

It could even be in the second test , given the lacklustre effort from New Zealand's top-order in the series opener, and keeping in mind coach John Bracewell's desire to find out more about Marshall in the longer game.

Certainly, the batting appeared to lack an element of composure in Dhaka, where - of all the specialist batsmen - only Mathew Sinclair showed the patience and wherewithal to post a meaningful score.

The issue is a critical one for Bracewell, who has voiced his concern about the lack of genuine run collectors in his team, as opposed to the surfeit of boundary hitters and shot-makers.

For someone so attuned to the dynamics of his batting line-up, there's no doubt he would have noticed the tell-tale signs in the first test, when New Zealand's top-order looked bereft of ideas.

It was that concern, after all, that prompted him to persuade Stephen Fleming to abandon his plans of opening the test side's batting and to revert back to No 3 in order to stabilise the New Zealand middle order.

However, the suggestion now is that Bracewell might be tempted to further bolster the middle-order by recalling Marshall, in the hope that his more controlled but upbeat style might rub off on his team-mates.

It could be that Bracewell opts for Marshall as a replacement for a batsman such as Nathan Astle, but he could be tempted to go in with one bowler less, in which case Ian Butler might find himself under pressure.

Whatever his leanings, it would be strange indeed if he took Marshall to Bangladesh on a hunch, and then baulked at playing him in either test.

Making a splash

New Zealanders who have scored their maiden first-class century in a test

* Noel McGregor, 111 v Pakistan, 2nd test, Lahore, 1955

* Bruce Taylor, 105 v India, 2nd test, Calcutta, 1965

* Warren Lees, 152 v Pakistan, 3rd test, Karachi, 1976