Daryl Mitchell has been dropped from the Black Caps' XI for the first test against England despite scoring a century last time out. Photo / Photosport
Daryl Mitchell has been dropped from the Black Caps' XI for the first test against England despite scoring a century last time out. Photo / Photosport
OPINION:
A penny for Daryl Mitchell's thoughts right now.
The Canterbury batsman has found himself dropped from the New Zealand side to face England at Lord's tonight, despite scoring an unbeaten century in his last test.
Mitchell scored a blazing 102 not out for the Black Caps against Pakistan atHagley Oval in January, the last time the national side donned whites. He has felt the sharp blade of the selectors' knife however as Gary Stead has opted for Colin de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner in the all-rounder's spots.
While those choices are easy to justify - Santner offers a spin option and de Grandhomme is a superior swing bowler - it means Mitchell joins a select club of those dumped after a ton.
Daryl Mitchell on his way to a century against Pakistan at Hagley Oval. Photo / Photosport
The most famous case is that of Rodney Redmond, who scored 107 and 56 in his only test in 1973. Like Mitchell, he scored those runs in a home test against Pakistan and like Mitchell, he was dropped in a subsequent tour to England.
Unlike Redmond, it is inconceivable that the highly regarded Mitchell will not get another chance - perhaps as early as next week at Edgbaston.
While such a scenario is rare in New Zealand, where the talent pool for batsmen capable of scoring test centuries has traditionally been shallow, there have been famous cases of high-profile players being axed after scoring big, with Australians being particularly brutal.
Jason Gillespie was dropped after scoring 201 not out as a night watchman against Bangladesh, while Shaun Marsh was dumped after scoring 182 against the West Indies in 2015.
Kevin Pietersen scored a bruising 149 against a great South African attack in 2012 but was given a pink slip when it emerged he had sent some "edgy" texts about his coach and captain to the opposition. He was later "reintegrated" into the fold.
Perhaps the funniest occasion of runs not being enough was when noted bore/boor Geoff Boycott was dropped for being too selfish after scoring an unbeaten 246 against a water-weak Indian attack on his home ground of Headingley. The most influential journalist of the day, Ian Wooldridge, wrote that the innings "could not be excused by his nearest and dearest relations".
Rodney Redmond scored a century in his only test - also a home clash against Pakistan. Photo / NZ Herald
Boycott was recalled later in that 1967 series and played his final test in 1982.
Maybe the unluckiest is Karun Nair. The Indian batsman scored 303 not out against England but was then left out for the next test, making way for the returning Ajinkya Rahane. He would play just three more tests, unsuccessfully, before being dropped seemingly for good in 2017.
Mitchell's career has been the epitome of stop-start. He has played four tests, only two of them in succession.
He was dropped after scoring 73 against England on debut, after scoring 42 against the West Indies, and after his maiden test century. The only time he kept his place was after scoring nine against the West Indies in last summer's first test at Hamilton.
The message seems to be simple: scoring runs can be harmful to your health.
