Priest delivers his last sermon (29 January 1999)

29 January 1999

Priest delivers his last sermon

The Christchurch Press

Mark Priest's days in Canterbury colours are numbered. He talks about his departure and career to Geoff Longley.

New Zealand's most enduring cricketer, Mark Priest, is likely to make his final one-day appearance tomorrow for Canterbury at his home ground, Jade Stadium, in the Shell Cup semi-final against Auckland.

Priest, at 37 the oldest cricketer playing at top level in this country, is "pretty sure" this season will be his last for the red and blacks. His remaining appearances at Canterbury's home ground are likely to be tomorrow's semi-final and a four-day match early next month.

A combination of factors has led to Priest probably drawing stumps this season on a memorable 15-season career, which began in 1984-85.

The likelihood of not playing for New Zealand again, advancing years, and the changing nature of the Canterbury team have shaped the decision.

Priest is different to most cricketers in New Zealand. He has proved there is life at provincial level beyond 30, while at the same time raising a family and having a full-time job.

He feels that because he began his first-class career later than most, in his mid-20s, he has kept playing for longer.

"A lot of guys come in at 18 or 19 and are ready to get out after 10 years, before they get to 30. But I have kept enjoying the game, and playing in a Canterbury team that's done so well has kept me going. Also, I suppose, I wanted to prove I was good enough to get back into the New Zealand team."

Priest praises the exceptional support of his wife.

"Shelly (Michelle) could have put her foot down and stopped me. She's the boss of the house, but has been very good about letting me keep playing."

The Priest family of Patrick, 10, Emily, 8, Lucy, 3, and Sophie, 10 months, will be happy to see more of Dad in coming summers. "It is difficult at times, but they just seem to adapt to me not being around for a few days."

Priest says juggling his job as a self-employed electrician with his cricket commitments was not easy.

"I had to go out on my own to be able to try to do both. But it's a bit of a worry if the work isn't coming in. Luckily, though, I've managed to make ends meet.

"I certainly haven't made any money out of playing the game, so I've had to have the job for support."

He did, however, notice this season that it was getting harder to get out of bed and go to work after a day's play, especially if the match had been a day-nighter.

Priest enjoyed playing in successful Canterbury sides when several players were at similar stages of their life.

"Up to last season, some of the guys were starting families, but the likes of Lee (Germon), Darrin (Murray), and Michael (Owens) have all retired, so it's changed the nature of the team a bit. Most are much younger now."

Priest admits that a gnawing desire to prove himself to the New Zealand selectors also motivated him to continue so long. The tragedy of Priest's career is that it will never be known how he would have fared at international level.

Priest, after touring England in 1990 with an experienced New Zealand team, appeared on the verge of becoming a permanent member of the Black Caps.

However, personality clashes, primarily with incoming captain Martin Crowe on the next tour to Pakistan, led to Priest being on the outer and placed in the "too hard to handle" basket.

Priest is a fiesty competitor, for which he makes no apologies, but believes the final judgment should be based on the quality of a player's performance.

Canterbury benefitted from Priest's absence from New Zealand teams as he consistently was among the leading wicket-takers during the 1990s.

The national selectors opted to blood Matthew Hart and Mark Haslam, who were unable to maintain permanent places. Only when Daniel Vettori was discovered was a front-line spin bowler found.

Priest may have gone the same way as Hart and Haslam, but it frustrates him that he never got a proper chance.

A belated recall last season to play Zimbabwe, when Vettori was injured, and for the tour to Sri Lanka last season offered some hope for Priest.

Again, however, he was left frustrated and disappointed in Sri Lanka. While conditions heavily favoured slow bowlers -- and three were taken on tour -- he was again surplus to requirements. "I thought things had changed a bit, but seemingly not."

This season, Priest has once more proven the worth of his experience, making his highest Shell Cup score, an unbeaten 98, and becoming the highest wicket-taker in cup history, his tally standing at 104.

This season he could become Canterbury's leading wicket-taker at first-class level, needing just eight more scalps to overtake Richard Hadlee.

It seems a pity that in New Zealand, which does not have quality cricketing talent to burn, people are left wondering "what if" about Priest's career.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)