Hockey: Archibald secures the highest honour

Ryan Archibald is set to become New Zealand's most-capped sporting international.

When he ran out with the Black Sticks for their fourth-round game against Argentina early this morning, the 29-year-old Aucklander, regarded by many as the best to pick up a hockey stick in New Zealand, equalled the record 238 caps held by now-retired women's stalwart Suzie Muirhead (nee Pearce).

When, as expected, Archibald plays New Zealand's final pool match against Germany early tomorrow morning, he will take his tally to a record 239.

Stephen Fleming played 280 One Day Internationals between 1994-2007 and Daniel Vettori is up to 254 after Saturday's ODI at Eden Park, but many would say tests are cricket's real internationals.

Again, Fleming leads with 111 - 14 more than Vettori and both well short of Archibald.

In other sports the leaders don't come close. Irene van Dyk has played 103 netball internationals for the Silver Ferns and 72 for her native South Africa.

Sean Fitzpatrick is the most capped All Black with 92. Current captain Richie McCaw is on 76 - one behind Mils Muliaina.

Steve Sumner played more than 100 games for the All Whites, but not all full internationals, with many against club or lesser sides.

When Archibald arrived in Delhi for the World Cup, he trailed teammate and good friend Phil Burrows by one on the international list. But when Burrows, the Black Sticks captain, was ruled out through injury for the third game against Korea, Archibald caught him.

Burrows is unlikely to play another game here after an MRI scan on Saturday revealed deep bruising in his calf following an incident against the Dutch when a player's knee caught him painfully in the lower leg.

It's been a stellar career for the unassuming, talented midfielder who followed father Jeff (a member of the 1976 gold medal-winning Olympic team) on to the international scene.

Ryan Archibald played his first game for New Zealand against Malaysia in Whangarei 12 years ago. His 100th was against Canada in Napier and his 200th against the United States at North Harbour in that epic Olympic qualifier in which the Black Sticks beat Argentina to claim their spot at the Beijing Games.

And with the record in sight, he is not thinking about quitting.

"I'd like to go on to the London Olympics," said Archibald, who was named man of the match against Korea. "I'm still enjoying it as much as I did 10 years ago. I feel my form has been pretty good but that's been helped by playing in a team which has been doing well."

Archibald has scored "about 50 goals", but says most came earlier rather than later in his international career. Little surprise in that, as these days he is seen more as the midfield general than a strike forward.

He is enjoying his first trip to India after which he will return to his "other home" in Holland, where he will finish his fourth season with top Dutch club Rotterdam. After that, he hopes to return to the Auckland workforce in a "good corporate role".

And, hopefully, play more hockey.

A lengthy career:

* DOB: September 1, 1980.

* Born: Auckland.

* School: Auckland Grammar.

* International debut: 1997 v Malaysia.

* International caps: 238.