Franklin determined to live up to billing

It's said whom the God's would destroy they first call promising. By that morbid rule Wellington all rounder James Franklin should be permanently attended by his own Greek chorus, wailing pitifully and predicting divine comeuppance.

Because Franklin, 20, emerged from the under-19 World Cup in South Africa two years ago with a reputation as a player of unleavened promise - as a tall, sturdy bowler of stimulating pace and a top-order batsman of mature technique and settled temperament.

There were many who were willing, some determined, to step forward and to predict a long, varied and celebrated career for the young man with the almost regal handle - James Edward Charles - more modestly Jim Franklin of Wellington College, Wellington Collegians and Wellington.

As his bevy of admirers increased and their well-meaning testimony to his qualities as a man and a cricketer became more strident, so that image of glowing promise became, for Franklin, a perpetual, unbidden accompaniment to his career.

The chorus became most resonant and most disconcerting to the modest youngster when, after the New Zealand A team's tour to India, Sir Richard Hadlee singled out Franklin for almost shimmering praise, calling him a better developed player than himself at the same age.

Sir Richard's comments beat Franklin home from India and had been widely reported by the time he rejoined his Wellington teammates who, in a predictable effort to suppress the young man's ego, presented him with his press clippings and christened him Paddles.

"It was quite outstanding to hear that said about myself by someone of the importance of Sir Richard," Franklin said. "I copped quite a bit of flak from some people but it was pretty generous of a guy of that character to say that.

"It's been encouraging to hear those kind of things but you can't take too much out of them. After all, I've just turned 20 and it's performances that count."

Such praise, such high expectations, could certainly harm the equanimity of a young player who was not well-grounded and mindful of his own strengths and limitations. A quiet, modest and clear-thinking young man with strong family support and firm but measured ambitions, Franklin appreciated the kind words but was not swayed by them.

So there is no cause yet for the Gods to strike down Franklin for any act of hubris of for any failure to meet his promise. The young man realises much is expected of him but remains determined to meet his own expectations first, in accordance with his own schedule.

He made his first first-class appearance for Wellington two seasons ago and enjoyed his first full Trophy season last year. He has since played for New Zealand A and spent valuable time at the New Zealand Academy. His main aim for this season is therefore to establish himself in the Wellington side and to begin to lift his batting average, lower his bowling average and gain the respect of teammates and opponents.

"This season I want to establish myself in the first-class arena and show where I'm at," Franklin said. "I'm an all-rounder and I just want to be able to bowl top-orders out and score runs against topline attacks.

"I've got my own specific personal goals for the season," he says, leaning back and touching his chest to indicate these are internal goals and should not be shared. "In general terms, I just want to improve my performance, improve my averages and help Wellington have a good season.

"By the end of the season I hope to be able to say I've established myself through good performances with the bat and the ball."

A discussion of any length with Franklin reveals a young man steeped in cricket. Father Russell, a Wellington doctor, played for Hutt Valley B as a young man but could not go further in a game in which he retains a clinical interest. Mother Monica, whom Franklin says is "still learning the game", is a constant and unswerving supporter.

But Franklin seems to have been born with his own deep and natural love for the game. It is cricket which stirs his earliest memories, which seems to have been the largest part of his young life.

He draws a poignant picture of his infant self, four years old and mildly precocious, living in Kinross Street in the affluent Wellington suburb of Kelburn, in the shadow of the Botanic Gardens and less than 20 metres from Anderson Park - the home ground of Wellington Collegians.

The toddler, Franklin, is probably remembered by many who watched club games in the past 15 years as an almost permanent resident at Anderson Park when Collegians played at home. He would be there on Saturday afternoons and, later, at Tuesday and Thursday trainings, eagerly chasing and returning balls hit to the corners of the ground by his heroes Graham Burnett, Robert Vance, Grant Cederwall, Matthew Roche, Lincoln Doull.

And he would spend hours with those players doing his best to give them throw downs and in return, and in a remarkable display of their patience with a star-struck child, being given throw downs and an unlimited supply of helpful advice.

As he grew, he played but couldn't get home quickly enough from his junior matches on Saturday mornings to wolf down lunch and gallop the few metres to Anderson Park. There, he would amuse himself as an eager messenger till matches ended when he would insinuate himself into the Collegians dressing room and later, fortified by lemonade and potato chips, would hover at the shoulders of his heroes to glean nuggets from their conversations.

By the age of 15 he had made his senior debut.

"It was my passion, my joy to spend time with those guys but to be honest I don't know how they put up with me," Franklin said. "They were incredibly patient and they were so good to me it was just amazing. I remember Graham Burnett, in particular, spending ages throwing balls to me.

"I guess you could say I was born a Collegians man and I'll die one. Whatever happens, I can't imagine playing anywhere else."

It was from Vance, then a Collegians opening batsman and now their coach, that Franklin learned a the temperament and attitudes of a first class player.

"He was a revealation," Franklin said. "He was so mentally tough and he doesn't back down from the opposition. That's what I try to bring to my game. From a boy of four or five when I used to watch him bat to now, as a 20 year old man who can still sit and talk things through with him, he's had a huge influence on me."

Among the qualities he has learned, the most precious may be patience. Franklin is in no hurry to advance his career and, though opportunity may beckon siren-like at times, he will attempt to go forward at his own pace towards his dream of eventually representing New Zealand.

"You have to do things progressively," he said. "You should gain experience at every level you can rather than jump in at the deep end. Everything depends on what you gain from every level at which you play.

"I've just got to take my time. I'm in no hurry. I just want to get experience at first-class level but that's all dependent on myself. If opportunities arise dependent on my performance I'm not going to decline. If the form is there, you're sticking your hand up and the selectors can't deny you for too long. But I realise that's dependent on me and that's what this season is about."