Mark Richardson: Whoever opens, don't be like me

When I cast my mind back to the 1999-2000 cricket season, I see a similarity to the 2005-06 season - discussion about opening batsmen.

The spotlight on this meant I got my chance at the big time and, when I look at those who now get their chance, I can't help but think the results could be more productive than what I did for the team.

When I came into the Black Caps, they had a very solid and, more importantly, free-scoring middle order. It read Fleming, Astle, McMillan, Cairns.

The destructive nature of this unit allowed me the luxury to play my rather boring, risk-adverse way. I could say I was doing my part and providing balance if I lasted long enough to knock the shine off the ball and set up the middle order glory boys for success.

While some argue this is the prescribed role of the opening batsman, I don't entirely agree. In fact, of the current candidates, I see potential for so much more.

It's just a matter of each player balancing their skills and approach to the situation at hand. We have the players but lack situational awareness in the role.

We now, once again, have a settled, solid and free-scoring middle order in Fleming, Astle, Styris and McCullum. So perhaps the situation dictates that our openers need to temper their natural tendencies for attack and play the all-out defensive proverbial outhouse role. Bollocks!

Jamie How, Hamish Marshall, Michael Papps and, if it is the only way they can gain reselection, Lou Vincent and Matthew Sinclair have the potential to offer so much more than I did and give our batting line-up a new dimension - the ability to dominate good attacks from ball one.

All have natural flair and attacking shots which I believe is crucial for applying pressure to quality attacks and also going on to match-winning personal totals. Where these players can make the adjustment to the level of consistent test-match opener is in their abilities to manipulate approaches to the requirements of the situation - possibly the hardest skill there is to acquire.

New Zealand conditions often require deliberate footwork, the ability to put the off-drive away and careful use of the pull and cut shots.

Basically, the first session, and sometimes day, belongs to the bowlers. The ability to be dominated by the ball for large periods is a skill in itself. That said, the mentality must be to attack balls in the low-risk areas straight and on the leg side.

On good surfaces the back-seat role is always there initially but the current candidates have the ability to dominate later on - they just have to get to that later on stage.

Overseas, the ability to dominate through drives, hooking and cutting is more available and actually crucial against the Subcontinent teams whose strength is spin bowling and reverse swing later on.

Our openers can be more than just blockers - but they also need to know when less is best.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY