Cricket: Richardson sets two-pronged challenge in swansong

Mark Richardson's retirement ensures the Auckland opening batsmen will be in the spotlight when they start their second-round match against Canterbury at Hagley Oval today.

When he announced his retirement last Friday, Richardson set himself one last double-barrelled challenge - to get the 41 he needed to reach 10,000 first-class runs and score a first century against Canterbury.

"Just the character of the individual, and how hard he has worked over his career, determines that he wants to go out on top," said Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell.

The statistical and emotional aspects of Richardson's retirement will deflect on to other openers as the national selectors look towards the home tests against Sri Lanka and Australia.

Canterbury's Michael Papps must feature prominently as they consider replacements for Richardson.

Injury cost him his chance to establish himself as Richardson's opening partner at international level.

At longer odds is Tim McIntosh, who this season transferred from Auckland to Christchurch and comes up against his former team-mates, particularly flatmate Tama Canning, for the first time.

"He will be facing Canning early on. Canning knows him, I think the quote was, 'like the back of his hand'," O'Donnell said.

"There are two ways it can go. Tim can get knocked over early or he can make a double hundred. Obviously, I know what my preference would be."

Papps and McIntosh failed in their only innings against Wellington last week and have something to prove on a batting-friendly Hagley Oval pitch.

In contrast, Canning contributed a century and eight wickets towards Auckland's big win over Northern Districts.

Auckland have been strengthened by the return of New Zealand representatives Kyle Mills and Andre Adams.

Canterbury regained only Craig McMillan after Nathan Astle and Brendon McCullum were deemed by New Zealand team management to be in need of rest.

McMillan will be expected to make a sizeable contribution, with his inclusion likely to be at the expense of Gary Stead.

* James Franklin returns to the Wellington side after recovering from a groin strain for the game against Otago.

The left-arm swing bowler spent last week in the gym strengthening his abdominal region on the orders of New Zealand Cricket.

Having missed the first round last week, he was relaxed yesterday and eager to resume work after being hammered by Australia when he had figures of none for 102 from 17 overs in the first innings and none for 18 from five in the second.

"The biggest thing I learned in Australia is the margin for error is so minimal," Franklin, 24, said. "If you are a little off line or they detect any sort of weakness they just climb into you."

Wellington will have 13 players to choose from today on a pitch that appears likely to favour batting.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was not considered for Wellington. He is resting until the Sri Lankan series, starting on Boxing Day.

- NZPA