Cricket: Papps keeps feet on ground

By RICHARD BOOCK

Michael Papps has some very good reasons for wanting to get among the runs during the third and final test against South Africa.

One of the discoveries of the summer for the New Zealand team, Papps took his chances so well during the one-day series that he was immediately included in the test side, and began his account with a half-century on debut.

Unlike some of New Zealand's past internationals, who never played in a test-winning side during their entire career, the 24-year opening batsman tasted success in only his second outing, and is already hankering for more.

Papps, the form batsman of New Zealand's domestic season, was in a prolific mood during the State Shield and Championship competitions and, after a couple of misses since his test debut in Hamilton, is anxious to end on a high note.

He's also aware that another compelling performance would make him an automatic choice for the upcoming tour of England, and further establish his opening combination with the evergreen Mark Richardson.

"I got 50-odd in the first game and that was good," he said. "But I've had a really good summer and I just want to finish it off in style.

"It would be great to make a genuine contribution towards a series win."

He said the message for today's series-finale at the Basin Reserve was to keep things normal, and to not get caught up too much with the emotion of the situation.

"We're just hoping to play as we normally do - do the little things well, concentrate hard and not really change much, and hopefully we'll get a similar result.

"I think it's important to just go out there and play our natural game, and the result should look after itself."

Papps said he had loved his experience at the top level this summer, and suggested he had come into the side at a good time, given the quality of his team-mates, the overall efficiency of the team, and the immediate results gained.

"Everyone played well in the one-dayers and they've been going from strength to strength in the test series as well.

"So it's a great time to be involved."