Cricket: Horne blasts a reminder for selectors

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Matt Horne was in no mood to celebrate his record-breaking deeds at Eden Park yesterday.

An hour after he and Aaron Barnes had posted a record fifth wicket unbroken partnership of 347 in Auckland's second innings of 381 for four against Northern Districts, Horne was receiving medical attention.

"I was feeling queasy all day. I felt flat and had periods where I had no energy," said Horne, before retiring to the dressing room and later being checked by a doctor.

The Northern players wished he had called it a day much earlier.

Resuming on 53, 33-year-old Horne went on to score 209 not out and take his match tally to 317. He is the first player to score a century and a double century in the same match with the double in the second innings.

It was his second double hundred. Both have been scored on Eden Park's outer oval - one for, and one against, Auckland. His highest score remains the 241 he scored for Otago six seasons ago.

Ironically, his older brother Phil, had 209 as his highest score for Auckland. That was also scored against ND at Eden Park.

Horne is the first player to score a century in both innings for Auckland since Graham Gedye scored 104 and 100 against Central Districts 40 years ago.

Barnes hit his second century in scoring a career-high 134 not out.

Yet, when they came together at 34 for four, few would have given them hope of posting such numbers.

When they were called in, they had amassed the second highest partnership for Auckland - for any wicket. Only the 445 (for the third wicket) scored by Paul Whitelaw and Bill Carson against Otago in Dunedin in 1936-37 remained.

"I had no idea about records," said Horne who hadn't scored even a half-century in State Championship play this summer. "The whole focus was to see what we could make of it."

He chose an opportune time to do it with New Zealand selectors Richard Hadlee and Ross Dykes watching from the boundary.

Along with John Bracewell and Brian McKechnie, they must select a New Zealand A team to play three "tests" and three one-day internationals against Sri Lanka next month. Horne handed them a timely reminder.

He has 24 first class centuries, more than any other current player in New Zealand.

"I'm available for all cricket," Horne said. "But really, I haven't thought that far ahead. It has been a difficult season with many bowler-friendly wickets.

"I still have aspirations to play at the highest level but I realise my last 10 tests have been pretty slim. I put that down to confidence - the school of hard knocks and being not required.

"It had been a grim season. I was beginning to wonder. An innings like this obviously helps."

Statistics

Highest fifth wicket partnerships in or for New Zealand.

347: M. Horne & A. Barnes, Auckland v ND, Auckland, 2003-04

341: G. Larsen & E. McSweeney, Wellington v CD, Levin, 1987-88

319: K. Rutherford & E. Gray, NZ v DB Close's Xl, Scarborough, 1986

290: C. Harris & G. Stead, Canterbury v CD, Blenheim, 1996-97

266: B. Sutcliffe & W. Haig, Otago v Auckland, Dunedin, 1949-50

Batsmen to score a century and a double century in a match in or for New Zealand:

Bert Sutcliffe, 243 & 100no, NZ v Essex, Southend, 1949

Greg Chappell, 247no & 133, Australia v NZ, Wellington, 1973-74

Matt Horne, 118 and 209no, Auckland v ND, Auckland, 2003-04