Jamie How stepped up to the full New Zealand side in 2004-05 after some solid performances for Central Districts - 704, 682 and 592 runs in the three seasons from 2002-03. A well-organised opener, more of an accumulator than a dasher, How has a penchant for big scores: after taking a while to find his first-class feet, he scored 163 not out and 158 in consecutive innings in March 2003, against Northern Districts and Canterbury, and started the following season with 169 against Otago. Picked for his one-day debut against Sri Lanka at Queenstown on New Year's Eve, 2005, How ensured his celebrations would go well with a sparky 58, including eight fours and a six, as New Zealand won easily. His first encounter with West Indies resulted in 66 of an opening stand of 136 with Nathan Astle, but his other four one-day innings brought him only 17 runs. He played all three Tests against West Indies, and one in South Africa in May 2006 as a late replacement for the injured Peter Fulton. The rampant Dale Steyn removed him cheaply in both innings in that Test at Johannesburg. He retained his national contract for 2007-08 and found one-day form with scores of 90 and 76 on the South Africa tour before making 88 and 74 from consecutive innings against Bangladesh. A brilliant century followed against England in Napier to suggest his breakthrough as an international batsman although his Test performances remain inconsistent. He stood in as captain at the start of the England tour when Daniel Vettori was at the IPL, and led Central Districts to victory in the HRV Cup, New Zealand's domestic Twenty20 tournament, in 2009-10.
Steven Lynch