Richardson - 'I know my role in the team'
Freddie Auld talks to Mark Richardson on his role in the team, his switch from a spinner and tailender to opening batsman, and the current series against England
02-Jun-2004
Mark Richardson is a determined cricketer. Having started out as a left-arm spinner and No. 11 batsman, a severe attack of the yips cost him his confidence, and his place in the Auckland side. However, after a concentrated effort to improve his batting, he is now an important part of the current New Zealand Test side, and boasts a Test average of just over 48. Freddie Auld spoke to him during the New Zealanders' tour match at Grace Road:
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How did it feel to score 93 and 101 in the Lord's Test?
It was great, but losing the match was disappointing. I felt I have should have scored more runs, although looking back, to get those scores first-up at Lord's was a great feeling. My lbw decision in the first innings was a bit tough to take, but I guess that's part of the game. It's better to be given out in the nineties rather than the thirties.
It was great, but losing the match was disappointing. I felt I have should have scored more runs, although looking back, to get those scores first-up at Lord's was a great feeling. My lbw decision in the first innings was a bit tough to take, but I guess that's part of the game. It's better to be given out in the nineties rather than the thirties.
How did you rate Andrew Strauss's innings?
Strauss was great. Anyone who can go out on debut and beat their nerves must be a pretty tough player. I thought his innings showed great fluency, style and composure. It was a wonderful effort and he was cruelly robbed of getting his second hundred. He was looking solid at the crease and we knew that it would only be an out-of-character error which would get him out.
Strauss was great. Anyone who can go out on debut and beat their nerves must be a pretty tough player. I thought his innings showed great fluency, style and composure. It was a wonderful effort and he was cruelly robbed of getting his second hundred. He was looking solid at the crease and we knew that it would only be an out-of-character error which would get him out.
How did you rate England's performance as a whole?
They're a very good side. Their bowling was exceptional. Simon Jones bowled superbly, but with no luck, Steve Harmison again showed he will take lots of wickets in the future, and Andrew Flintoff was his usual tidy self. We now need to play gutsy cricket to get back in the series. We have to realise that we haven't got the pace to blast them out, so we need to play intelligently and put them under pressure.
They're a very good side. Their bowling was exceptional. Simon Jones bowled superbly, but with no luck, Steve Harmison again showed he will take lots of wickets in the future, and Andrew Flintoff was his usual tidy self. We now need to play gutsy cricket to get back in the series. We have to realise that we haven't got the pace to blast them out, so we need to play intelligently and put them under pressure.
Where did you feel it went wrong in the first Test?
We just couldn't get ahead. Whenever we had a chance to, we lost wickets in groups and stumbled. We didn't use the reverse-swing as well as England, and we just didn't have enough in us in that game.
We just couldn't get ahead. Whenever we had a chance to, we lost wickets in groups and stumbled. We didn't use the reverse-swing as well as England, and we just didn't have enough in us in that game.
What did you make of Nasser Hussain's retirement?
Hats off to him. A lot's been going through his mind, but he's a street fighter. He showed that with his career record, and also after the run-out [of Strauss] to go on and win the match. There was no better way to leave the game.
Hats off to him. A lot's been going through his mind, but he's a street fighter. He showed that with his career record, and also after the run-out [of Strauss] to go on and win the match. There was no better way to leave the game.
You started off as a left-arm spinner. How did the change to opening batsman come about?
You're either a cricketer or you're not. When I started to struggle with spin, there was only one other option. I started to take my batting very seriously and just let it develop. I'm a cricketer and wanted to carry on being one, so I was determined to improve on my average ability with the bat.
You're either a cricketer or you're not. When I started to struggle with spin, there was only one other option. I started to take my batting very seriously and just let it develop. I'm a cricketer and wanted to carry on being one, so I was determined to improve on my average ability with the bat.
What happened to you when you got the yips?
I lost all confidence. It got to the stage where I was scared to bowl the ball in case it was a bad one. Instead of accelerating in my action, I was decelerating like a golfer not sure about a putt. I started bowling spin at school and had immediate success. I went to the academy and played with the Under-19s as a spinner, and I bowled spin for three years with Auckland. But then in 1992 I started to lose it. I really struggled and came under lots of pressure. I disintegrated and then lost my place.
I lost all confidence. It got to the stage where I was scared to bowl the ball in case it was a bad one. Instead of accelerating in my action, I was decelerating like a golfer not sure about a putt. I started bowling spin at school and had immediate success. I went to the academy and played with the Under-19s as a spinner, and I bowled spin for three years with Auckland. But then in 1992 I started to lose it. I really struggled and came under lots of pressure. I disintegrated and then lost my place.
How did you improve your batting?
It wasn't so much coaching or spending lots of time in the nets, it was just me thinking about it myself. I went away and played for my club side, starting at No. 9 and 10 where I helped to avoid the follow-on a few times when the pressure was on. I decided to take that into normal situations and the better I became. I then batted at No. 4 for Otago and got on a New Zealand A tour of England four years ago. At the time, they were struggling at the top of the order, and I took my opportunity well.
It wasn't so much coaching or spending lots of time in the nets, it was just me thinking about it myself. I went away and played for my club side, starting at No. 9 and 10 where I helped to avoid the follow-on a few times when the pressure was on. I decided to take that into normal situations and the better I became. I then batted at No. 4 for Otago and got on a New Zealand A tour of England four years ago. At the time, they were struggling at the top of the order, and I took my opportunity well.
When did you feel that your batting was good enough to succeed at Test level?
I don't know. I was quite mature when I made my debut, which helped. I'm very much a manufactured player rather than a natural player, but I was still nervous on my first tour, which luckily was against Zimbabwe. I got 99 in my second Test and then got a decent score against South Africa which helped to prove to myself I could cut it.
I don't know. I was quite mature when I made my debut, which helped. I'm very much a manufactured player rather than a natural player, but I was still nervous on my first tour, which luckily was against Zimbabwe. I got 99 in my second Test and then got a decent score against South Africa which helped to prove to myself I could cut it.
Is it fair to say you know your limitations as a batsman and stick to them?
I'm not going to change my game. I'm not an Adam Gilchrist or a Matthew Hayden, I look to occupy the crease and limit the risks, play in low-risk areas. That requires discipline and a big mental effort, but I think my age helps. When I first batted I was much more carefree and scored a lot faster. But as my career progressed and I gave up bowling, I realised it was runs or nothing, and although I was more negative in my approach, I was more consistent.
I'm not going to change my game. I'm not an Adam Gilchrist or a Matthew Hayden, I look to occupy the crease and limit the risks, play in low-risk areas. That requires discipline and a big mental effort, but I think my age helps. When I first batted I was much more carefree and scored a lot faster. But as my career progressed and I gave up bowling, I realised it was runs or nothing, and although I was more negative in my approach, I was more consistent.
It has been suggested that you take criticism quite personally - is that something you have had to deal with?
No-one likes being criticised, but I use it to motivate me. I take to heart what the papers say, but if I have a bad run and they get into me, I like to perform on the pitch and shove it up them. If they call me soft or that I give my wicket away too cheaply then I use that to motivate me. Most players are sensitive to the criticism, but you have to use it in a positive way. The media has to say and write about something, so you either let it go over your head or use it to spur you on.
No-one likes being criticised, but I use it to motivate me. I take to heart what the papers say, but if I have a bad run and they get into me, I like to perform on the pitch and shove it up them. If they call me soft or that I give my wicket away too cheaply then I use that to motivate me. Most players are sensitive to the criticism, but you have to use it in a positive way. The media has to say and write about something, so you either let it go over your head or use it to spur you on.
Do you get any stick from your team-mates for being slow?
I'm lucky that the current team scores at a good rate, and that my style is more than tolerated. It's complimentary to the team and I know my role and place in it. We're not all the same style. People need to accept that even though there were great cricketers in the past, not everyone will play in the same style as them. I'm a slow and methodical player, and there's a place in the team for someone like that.
I'm lucky that the current team scores at a good rate, and that my style is more than tolerated. It's complimentary to the team and I know my role and place in it. We're not all the same style. People need to accept that even though there were great cricketers in the past, not everyone will play in the same style as them. I'm a slow and methodical player, and there's a place in the team for someone like that.
Have you had much advice on your batting?
John Bracewell, the New Zealand coach, has been very helpful. I had a rough series against South Africa and I needed help and advice, but I feel that the best coaches are the people around you who you play with. You can get a lot of information by just talking to them and being around them. We are a very driven outfit. We want to get better and be noted in years to come as the best New Zealand team of our era. We strive to be better than teams before us. It's a good environment to be in.
John Bracewell, the New Zealand coach, has been very helpful. I had a rough series against South Africa and I needed help and advice, but I feel that the best coaches are the people around you who you play with. You can get a lot of information by just talking to them and being around them. We are a very driven outfit. We want to get better and be noted in years to come as the best New Zealand team of our era. We strive to be better than teams before us. It's a good environment to be in.
It's a strange statistic that you average around 48, but have only scored four centuries - how do you explain that?
I would like more kudos by getting more hundreds, but it's more important to score runs for the team and form partnerships. It's more important whether the team win than what's in the 100 column.
I would like more kudos by getting more hundreds, but it's more important to score runs for the team and form partnerships. It's more important whether the team win than what's in the 100 column.
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Would you like to add to your four one-dayers?
Not really, no. I'm just not very good. Not just with the bat, but I struggled in the field as well in terms of agility and athleticism. It doesn't suit my style. If my technique became better and I was asked then of course I'd say yes, but I've got no ambitions in one-day cricket - the fact that I'm not picked doesn't bother me at all.
Not really, no. I'm just not very good. Not just with the bat, but I struggled in the field as well in terms of agility and athleticism. It doesn't suit my style. If my technique became better and I was asked then of course I'd say yes, but I've got no ambitions in one-day cricket - the fact that I'm not picked doesn't bother me at all.
Would you agree that this is the best New Zealand side to tour?
We're a good side, but I don't think we've played to our maximum on this tour yet. If we don't have success here, we will somewhere down the road. We are definitely on the up, and in five to ten years I'm sure we will be producing consistent results.
We're a good side, but I don't think we've played to our maximum on this tour yet. If we don't have success here, we will somewhere down the road. We are definitely on the up, and in five to ten years I'm sure we will be producing consistent results.
How are you finding the England tour so far?
It's a good tour to be on. It's nice that we travel around on a bus, and aren't at airports all the time. You can get out of the hotel room and do lots of things, and there's plenty of shopping for the wives and girlfriends.
It's a good tour to be on. It's nice that we travel around on a bus, and aren't at airports all the time. You can get out of the hotel room and do lots of things, and there's plenty of shopping for the wives and girlfriends.
Would you like to play county cricket?
I'm getting on a bit [he's 33 next week]. There are other important things in my life and I would have to sum it up. If it would be improving my life then I could, but I need plenty of time off from the game. I put a lot of mental work into my cricket and it might not be a good move to play more. I like to get away from the game. I do a lot of surfing and other things which help my personal development.
I'm getting on a bit [he's 33 next week]. There are other important things in my life and I would have to sum it up. If it would be improving my life then I could, but I need plenty of time off from the game. I put a lot of mental work into my cricket and it might not be a good move to play more. I like to get away from the game. I do a lot of surfing and other things which help my personal development.
What are your future aims?
I'm not motivated by runs or stats, I just concern myself on how I bat and that the team wins.
I'm not motivated by runs or stats, I just concern myself on how I bat and that the team wins.