Cricket: Wickets man keeps resolve

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Robbie Hart does not attempt to hide his frustration and disappointment at being tossed on the wicketkeeping scrapheap.

But rather than sit and mope, the Northern Districts keeper/captain is determined to put his hand back up and show those who matter he is worthy of higher honours.

"I'm going to make sure I catch all the catches and make all the stumpings and get myself looked at by the selectors," said Hart, on the eve of his fourth campaign at the helm of a fairly settled ND side.

He still struggles to understand the reasons behind his fall from favour, having been pushed down the pecking order by Adam Parore, Chris Nevin, Martyn Croy and Gareth Hopkins.

New Zealand selection panel convener Ross Dykes, in his earlier days as Auckland selector (after keeping wickets for Auckland for some seasons), always maintained that keeping skills should be the prime requisite. Batting, he said, should be secondary.

Hart hopes Dykes and his fellow selectors sometime might return to that thinking.

"I only missed two opportunities in Shell Cup and Trophy matches last season but the selectors were there," said Hart as he prepares to lead ND into their Cup opener against Central Districts at Mt Maunganui's Blake Park at noon today.

To prepare for the new season Hart took leave from his job as a lawyer 21/2 months ago, and has been working on his agility under fitness trainer Jason Weadon.

"I am absolutely determined. I have just turned 25 so I have plenty of top-class cricket left in me."

While he has the opportunity to display his wares, his older brother, Matt, a former international, is out of the frame - perhaps for the season.

What began as a wrist injury which left him with a cold left hand, became more complicated when he fronted for an operation and what was expected to be a one-day hospital stay. That became four as blood clots developed and he was forced on to a drip.

According to his fiancee, recently retired badminton international Sheree Jefferson - the couple announced their engagement last week - Matt was hoping to be out of hospital last night and be at the cricket today.

His place in the ND side has been claimed by the promising Bruce Martin, who follows Hart and Daniel Vettori into the side as their left-arm spinner. Given the balance of the Northern side, Martin seems certain to make his debut today.