Fulton getting used to significance of triple century

Peter Fulton: first New Zealand triple century scorer not to have an Otago connection

No-one will ever under-estimate Peter Fulton when he next strides to the wicket with bat in hand for Canterbury, or for whoever he is playing.

Fulton, 24, in only his 11th first-class match achieved the feat of scoring a triple century in a State Championship match against Auckland at Hagley Oval.

It was the definitive statement of his ability although is not without precedent when coming so early in a career.

Most recently Ken Rutherford scored his triple century when 21 years of age while Bill Carson, whose 290 was the record Fulton surpassed as the highest score for a maiden century, was 20 when he achieved his great score. He had his career cut short by the Second World War in which he died of wounds.

Fulton didn't feel too tired after his innings, it was broken with a night off when he was 188 not out, and said when the declaration came around lunchtime on day two, he felt a tiredness normally associated with having been on a long run.

By the end of the four days he was back to normal.

The innings came as some reward for opting for cricket over the rugby he had been playing as a 196cm tall fullback. The choice, one which faces so many young New Zealand sportsmen, was forced on him when he had the chance to play league cricket in England. He had two years with Lytham in the Liverpool League. Some knee problems also contributed.

"Both sports are similar in terms of team spirit involved in them. But I think in cricket you have a little bit more control over your own game and you are not so reliant on other people," he said.

Fulton made his debut in the last game of the summer of 2000/01, when the competition was well and truly gone from Canterbury's grasp. It was enough to leave him wanting more but not sufficient for him to get a true idea of what was involved.

"It was five or six games before I realised what was all about," he said.

Winning acceptance as a prospective player had not been easy because he played his club cricket in North Canterbury and it was unfashionable for country players to be pulled into the representative side.

Making his task easier was the fact that Michael Sharpe had become Canterbury coach after a period as Canterbury Country coach where he had seen Fulton develop.

That country cricket involved playing in New Zealand's second-class competition for the Hawke Cup, a competition notorious for producing some hard nuts who have been exposed to one-innings matches of a nature as tough, if not tougher on occasions, as first-class cricket.

"It's the highest level that a lot of those who are playing will ever reach, and they make it tough. There is a lot riding on it and there is more talk on the field than in first-class play.

"The biggest difference in Hawke Cup cricket is having to bat for such a long time and it makes you realise what is required when you step up," he said.

It was certainly a key asset in his own triple century innings.

Canterbury had not been going well although Fulton had been having some reasonable, if not earth-shattering, scores.

"In the Auckland game there was a lot of pressure on the whole team. The batsmen had not been performinng.

"I felt good when I got in. I was so determined to make the most of it.

"Before I got to the century, that was all I was focusing on. It is a big hurdle until you get one. Once I got there I was just enjoying it.

"Then I really wanted to get through to the end of the day and start again the next day. I knew if I could do that I could get a really big score."

He went to stumps on 188 not out.

The innings produced its own type of euphoria the further he went. Batting wasn't difficult.

"I didn't feel like I had to force myself to concentrate. I was not worried about dot balls or maidens."

As his innings mounted, team-mates began to take an interest in the milestones as they passed: Chris Harris' Canterbury record of 251 not out; the highest score by a New Zealander for his maiden century held by W N 'Bill' Carson with 290 runs, and then the seventh instance of a New Zealander scoring a triple century - the first by anyone who didn't have an Otago connection.

"It was strange to see myself on that [triple centuries] list. Now the season has finished I can think about it a little more."

The reaction after the match had been "amazing". He has been getting letters and calls of congratulations from people who he thought wouldn't have taken an interest in cricket and that had been most satisfying.

Fulton, who has an Arts degree majoring in education and sociology, said he didn't think the triple century would create any pressure for him in the future. The opposite was the case.

"I've done it. It gives me some confidence for my place in the side."

The immediate benefit has been a place in the New Zealand Cricket Academy this year. He had been disappointed to miss out last year.

It will be the first time he has had some specific coaching. He hasn't had a lot of technical coaching before, more the benefit of an enthusiastic headmaster Peter Prosser at Waihi School and Sharpe later on in his career.

"I couldn't really play a forward defensive shot. I was more of a bowler until just after the third form."

Winning a place in the Canterbury team, he never played age-group cricket for Canterbury, although he was once included in the Under-19 side when another player was injured, had exposed him to international players and their methods of preparation and performance.

"The biggest thing about playing for Canterbury is being in the nets with the New Zealand players when they are back. Batting with them and watching them, and asking them questions has been great because they have been happy to pass on their knowledge.

"I had a different route to the side. I have had to work every year and I took the view that I had to improve five per cent each year so my improvement has been quite gradual."

When he was chosen for Canterbury he was the first Christ's College player for several years, which in Christchurch's, and Christ's College's, proud association with cricket was a long time.

The school teams had suffered from the problem afflicting the game in New Zealand, the drop-out rate of players when their schooling is completed. But that just made Fulton's success all the more satisfying for him.

He gives the impression that there is still much more he wants to do, and that has to be healthy for Canterbury in the short term and who knows where it might all end for him?