Cricket: Fans seeing double

James (left) and Hamish Marshall split the takings from the State Shield final in 2003. Only mum can split their identities. Picture / Fotopress

By the numbers. That's the tip for separating identical twins Hamish and James Marshall, 26, who are close to appearing together in the Black Caps.

Apart from mum Kate, everyone including dad Drew admit to ID dilemmas.

James joined his brother in the squad for the one-dayers, where players wear numbered clothing. But should the Marshalls don the whites of test cricket together then a large audience is in for a tough time. Even their comrades admit to defeat.

Former ND captain Robbie Hart made his first Marshall mistake while feeding the opposition some runs during a four day match early in their careers.

"The oil was that Hamish was the bowler, but I got mixed up and asked James to bowl," said Hart.

"They didn't realise - I don't think James had bowled before. But in the last few years I've been right - 90 per cent of the time."

ND scorer Bill Andersson claims that off the field, one wears a watch, the other a bracelet.

"I can't tell you which, it's a trade secret. If I told you, they'd start swapping," said Andersson.

Some handy hints for this identity parade: Hamish is a point specialist while James works nearby in the covers and also fields at slip.

James' batting stance is a touch lower. Their ND coach Bruce Blair says there are recognisable technical differences. He can even pick a slight facial difference "really close up."

But before you all start relaxing, there are hurdles. At last sighting, they even used the same brand of bat with white handles.

"They're identical in every way, their tastes are so similar," said Kate Marshall, when asked why they don't use different coloured handles to help the rest of us out.

She has always been able to tell them apart, but their father Drew is less certain.

"That's a man thing ... I've just had a motherly instinct but I think other people will only be able to tell by their numbers," she said from the family's Warkworth home.

"When I watch them talking midwicket, their stances are exactly the same - the way they cross the leg and hold their bat.

"I can tell them apart because I've got binoculars, and perhaps there's a slight difference in their running action. Perhaps."

There is more. She can split their famously frizzy hair.

"I guess I know because I trim their hair and one will be due for a haircut because I haven't been able to get him in a corner and give it a bit of a clip ... "

The Marshalls are quietly glowing with pride about both twins being in the Black Caps squad. That pride stretches to the support the twins give each other, the backing from siblings Willie and Susannah, and from the extended family.

"We like to keep in the background but we are thrilled," said Kate.

She and Drew Marshall follow their sons all around the country. Of late, that has meant switching between the Black Caps and Northern Districts, who James has captained.

"Just because they are twins doesn't mean as a parent you don't have a balancing act," said Kate, referring to Hamish's growing status in the Black Caps.

"Sometimes recently, you've been thrilled for Hamish, but you have to keep your feet on the ground and keep being positive for James."