Cricket: 'Novice' Richardson at work on honing test skills

By RICHARD BOOCK

Mark Richardson is not exactly holding his breath when it comes to the question of expanding his international cricket career.

The 29-year-old left-hander made the test opener's job his own during a remarkable tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa, ending the latter as his team's most successful batsman.

One of the country's late bloomers in terms of a test career, he was forced to score nine first-class centuries before the national selectors invited him on board, and may have to perform similar deeds to break into the national one-day side.

The New Zealand management team, with coach David Trist prominent, believe Richardson has more of a future in the longer game, and have apparently questioned his ability to field well enough or bat urgently enough for limited-overs cricket.

With this in mind, they have asked him to concentrate on his test development rather any one-dayer aspirations, and the Otago player has been only too happy to comply.

"I'm available for everything but I don't think I'm within cooee of breaking into the national one-day side," he said from Dunedin yesterday.

"I'm not a great fieldsman, I guess I don't really offer a bowling option, and I know they're wanting a different sort of batsman at the top of the one-day order.

"I don't fit into the template."

For all that, Richardson has scored three Shell Cup centuries, more than anyone who has not been asked to play for the New Zealand one-day side, and has an average of 35.68 from 62 games.

Although New Zealand are apparently hellbent on discovering two openers of equal aggression, Richardson has shown the ability to pace an innings through the 50 overs, allowing his partner to play a more attacking role.

He said he was looking forward to playing a prominent part in Otago's one-day campaign over the summer, but was giving all his attention at the moment to the looming test match against Zimbabwe, which starts in Wellington on Boxing Day.

"I'm a relative novice in terms of international cricket," he said. "I've tasted some success but I'm still trying to crunch my game up and get a bit tighter, and that's what I'm concentrating on right now.

"The way I see it, I'm thrilled to have made the test side at 29, and it's my responsibility now to work hard on my method, and to become tighter and more solid."

Richardson, who scored 99 in the second test against Zimbabwe in September, has played five tests for an average of 43.75 (including three 50s), and emerged from the challenging tour of South Africa with a series average of 46.40.

He said his immediate goal was to score a test century and establish his place in the Black Caps, but was also mindful of scoring heavily for Otago to hold off potential challenges from rival players.

"I feel under massive pressure to retain my place for the Pakistan series," he said. "When there's guys like Gary Stead and Matthew Bell hitting their straps in domestic cricket, you've got to perform to stay in contention.

"I know people might feel my position is secure but, let's face it, the selectors will want the best possible team."