Cricket: Home where the Hart is

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Robbie Hart long ago lost count of the number of matches he has played on his "home track," but none are as special as the one he is playing this week.

One of four Hamilton-based players in the New Zealand team for the second test against India, Hart says playing at Westpac Park is "absolutely a thrill, something real exciting."

It may be his first test at the park which is one of only two or three true cricket grounds in the country, but he has been part of the ground's "culture" for years.

"I have always watched tests here," Hart said on the eve of his fifth test. "I remember in one test a few years ago, Dion Nash said to me, 'Maybe one day you will get to play a test here.' Now it has happened.

"It is a great place to play cricket. I love the atmosphere. The time I have spent in the dressing room is special. There has been a real pride for us as Northern Districts players to spend so much time at the park.

"We enjoy the feel of the ground. There have been some big wins and some not so great moments - like when we were bowled out for 32 a few years ago.

"It is my favourite ground in a city I now consider home," said the 28-year-old, who moved from Te Puke to Hamilton to study law at Waikato University 10 years ago.

With some careful planning, Hart has been able to continue his career in law and play his cricket.

A regular in the ND side for the past 10 years, Hart has led the team for the past six or seven seasons - a challenge he has relished but one he is happy to leave to someone else in the test arena.

"It [playing without the worry of captaincy] has given me the opportunity to work really hard on my game.

"It is a different game at test level for sure. I have to look after my No 1 job, wicketkeeping. Batting at this stage is secondary, but something I really enjoy working at.

"Being part of the test environment is fantastic. [Team manager] Jeff Crowe has worked with me a lot, just as Bruce Blair has done when ND are practising. Everyone is keen to help. If it's not Jeff Crowe then [coach] Denis Aberhart or someone else helps out.

"It is fantastic to have my first home test [in Wellington] out of the way," he added, having made his long-awaited debut against Pakistan in Lahore in May. There he claimed his first victim, from the third ball of Northern Districts team-mate Daryl Tuffey's first over.

But it did not signal the start of a memorable test for Hart, or New Zealand, as Pakistan amassed 643 runs and went on to win by an innings and 324.

Hart said he felt some pressure going into this test.

"You have to make pressure work for you. In the West Indies I felt under huge pressure to perform," said Hart, who has always impressed with his work efficiency behind the stumps.

"As a keeper I always pride myself in keeping byes to a minimum, but if some do get through - and often it is beyond your control - you can't let it eat you up."

In four tests, Hart has kept his captain happy.

In that huge Pakistan innings he conceded just one bye. In the second innings of the first test in the West Indies, five slipped by, and four in the one innings (138.1 overs) of the second test.

He had clean sheets in both innings of the Basin Reserve test against India.

While his keeping is paramount, Hart is determined to contribute with the bat as well.

"I've worked out my game and where I can score."

He scored six in the first test before being sawn-off by a shocker from umpire Daryl Harper.

Hart also has his eyes on the one-day side. "I would like to think I had a chance. At the moment all I'm thinking about is this test. After that I'll back it up with whatever cricket that comes along."

With a shorter-than-normal summer test programme, Hart knows there could be some spare time.

It might, he said, give him time to fit in some work with law firm Norris, Ward, McKinnon, with whom has enjoyed a good relationship for the past two years because they have given him time to fit his work around his cricket.

Or is it the other way round?

Just the facts

Name: Robert Garry Hart.

Born: December 2, 1974, Hamilton.

First-class debut: ND v Auckland, Eden Park, Jan 1993.

Record: Played 86 games, 2416 runs, highest score 127 not out, average 23.23. Two 100s, two 50s, 229 catches, 15 stumpings.

Tests: Five. 139 runs, highest score 57no, average 27.8, 7 catches, 1 stumping (going into this week's test). Debut: v Pakistan, Lahore, May 1-3, 2002.

ODI: Two. Debut: v Pakistan, Karachi, April 21.