Mark Richardson: Time to open up on batting

Daniel Flynn. Photo / Getty Images

When Daniel Flynn takes guard in Wellington, he will become yet another player the New Zealand selectors hope will make a go of the opening batting role in test cricket for New Zealand - yet another player promoted from the middle order in the hope they can carry their older ball skills to the new ball.

Quite a few of the players used have actually experienced success but not consistently enough to warrant continuing in the role. So what does make for a good test match opening batsman?

You have to want to be an opening batsman.

Not want it because it could be the fastest way into the Black Caps team but really want it because going in first is what you really want to do.

If not, it will be your fastest way out of the Black Caps team.

I wanted to open the batting for Otago a long time before the Black Caps had a vacancy in the role. It was not because I had a desire to face the fast bowlers and hard new ball; it was because opening the batting gave you some certainty in an uncertain game.

You knew who you would be facing and, more often than not, when you would be facing. Psychologically, the benefits of that were huge when it came to my mental state as I began my innings. Some players like a sit down for a while to think about the job at hand and don't mind waiting to bat - but that just sent me crazy.

The situation kept changing in front of me. Maintaining my best mental state, not knowing when I was in, was impossible.

Why am I focusing on the mental side of batting? Well, because as far as I'm concerned, technically the things that will serve you well at the test level remain the same regardless of where you bat.

Strategy doesn't change much either. Openers need not be dour, defensively-oriented players - think Greenidge, Hayden, Langer, Gayle, Sehwag - they just have to attack the right way.

Hayden and Langer took teams apart but did it in a clinical and risk-free manner with both really only utilising a couple of shots.

Your initial margin for error does change, however, because of the new ball and its propensity to swing and bounce a little more. That means a good opener can attack in a similar way as a middle order player - but needs to defend just a little more selectively.

If the ball is missing the stumps, and you aren't looking to score, don't offer the bat at it. This is the area that New Zealand batsman really struggle with in defence. People always talk of protecting one's stumps when really one must protect the outside edge.

Finally (but of vital importance) is the fact an opener needs good balance at the crease. Good balance allows one to wait longer and play the second line. The second line is the line once the ball has swung.

Going hard and early at the ball is the biggest mistake an opener can make.