Cricket: Martin close to notching up 200

Chris Martin. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

New Zealand pace bowler Chris Martin knocked off two milestones last week and he is keen to make it a trifecta when the second cricket test against Pakistan starts at the Basin Reserve tomorrow.

The 36-year-old veteran of 60 tests brought up his 100th test run in the crushing 10-wicket first test defeat at Hamilton, a feat which brought arguably the biggest cheer on a forgettable third and ultimately final day for the home crowd.

He took almost twice as long as the previous slowest player to reach 100 runs in test cricket, former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath, who reached the mark in his 32nd test.

Martin's batting exploits, or lack thereof, have already become the stuff of folklore in New Zealand cricket - he averages a meagre 2.47 - but just a few hours before receiving the standing ovation for his batting, a much more noteworthy achievement passed virtually unnoticed.

When Martin cleaned up Pakistan's innings by taking the final wicket, that of Tanvir Ahmed, it was his 500th first-class scalp, achieved in his 162nd match.

He knew the mark was looming because Auckland coach Paul Strang has a milestone board in the team's changing rooms and Martin had spotted it during the recent domestic T20 competition.

"It's a nice one to achieve, not many New Zealand players in recent times have got to 500 wickets, although I know the alltime list is surprisingly long," Martin said.

"I guess I've hung in there, I don't tend to miss too many games through injury or not being selected so there haven't been many that I've had to sit and watch from the sidelines."

Martin is now looking to cap the week with his 200th test wicket, which would see him become just the fourth New Zealander to achieve such a feat.

He sits on 193 wickets having taken three for 86 in the first test, robbed of a chance to edge closer in Pakistan's second innings by New Zealand's inept batting display in their second dig.

But on a Basin Reserve wicket that is generally kind to the seam and swing bowlers, he has high hopes of pushing the barrier in Wellington.

"I haven't prepared to get there in this test but I know if I bowl well there will be plenty of opportunities to take wickets there," he said.

"It's a nice goal to have but I don't think I will bowl any differently to try and achieve it."

The former Canterbury bowler who now plays for Auckland was coy about whether this test would be his last shot at 200 as he takes a wait-and-see approach to another season at the highest level. His body is holding up well and he recently shortened his run by a couple of metres.

"There are a lot of lifestyle issues that you have to discuss with your wife.

"It would be nice to be able to have a little bit more set up for life after cricket before embarking on another season, it would make things much easier, so we'll just see how the rest of the season goes."

Auckland's promotion to the lucrative Champions League T20 tournament is also a little carrot for him, though the T20 era and the extraordinary money to be made from the Indian Premier League has come a little too late for him.

"There are some amazing opportunities for some of the guys. If only I'd been born in a different era."

NZ'S TOP TEST WICKET TAKERS
(wickets, matches, average)

Richard Hadlee... 431 (86, 22.29)

Daniel Vettori... 340 (104, 34.02)

Chris Cairns... 218 (62, 29.40)

Chris Martin... 193 (60, 34.94)

Danny Morrison... 160 (48, 34.68)

NZPA