Stead exceeds dreams (10 March 1999)

10 March 1999

Stead exceeds dreams

John Coffey

Gary Stead will achieve a cricketing distinction which so narrowly eluded his father, David, when he makes his test debut against South Africa at Jade Stadium.

As a youngster Stead dreamed of emulating his father's deeds for Canterbury. Yesterday he exceeded them by being elevated into the New Zealand playing XI to replace Stephen Fleming.

On Monday Stead had been included in a 13-man squad while Fleming had the latest in a frustrating sequence of fitness tests.

When Fleming ruled himself out yesterday coach Steve Rixon confirmed that Stead would bat at No. 5 in the second test, which will start tomorrow.

"He's a pretty cool, calm, collected kid whose been waiting for his opportunity," said Rixon. "I think he'll go from strength to strength.

"I know he will be an outstanding provincial cricketer as long as his backside points to the ground but he's now going to move up a step. He looked very confident against the South Africans at Lincoln and I'm sure he'll do a good job out here for us," he said.

Fleming also endorsed Stead's selection, saying he provided an example for promising young players by performing well over several seasons.

"He's a very gutsy batsman, someone who has a good technique and is not afraid to get in behind the line of the ball, take a few on the body, and grind it out.

"He's not a shot maker, he's not a big guy, so he tends to make use of the pace of the ball and, with good timing, nudge it around for ones and twos," said Fleming.

Stead, 27, had to look no further than his father for his own role model. David Stead is still Canterbury's fifth most capped representative, with 77 appearances between 1969 and 1986, is ninth in the batting aggregates (3169 runs), and 10th among wicket-takers (167).

"My biggest influence was my father. Ever since I can remember walking I was down here at Lancaster Park, as it was then, watching him and thinking I wanted to be like dad and play first-class cricket for Canterbury," he said.

Stead yesterday handled Fleming's withdrawal, a team meeting, net practice, and media duties with the composure which has characterised his middle-order batting for Canterbury.

As a young representative Gary Stead followed his father by bowling leg-spin (though David Stead batted left-handed). Faced with few opportunities to develop that skill in dominant Canterbury teams, Stead concentrated on improving his batting.

"I wouldn't say I had a classical technique or anything like that. I rely on a lot of determination and grit, so you could say I admire someone like Steve Waugh and the way he plays," said Stead.

That he will first pull on the black cap at his home ground has made the occasion all the more memorable -- "It's very special, very dear to my heart," he said of Jade Stadium. "I just can't wait for the experience."

At the season's start Stead was omitted from the Conference cricket series, an indication he was far from the forefront of the national selectors' thoughts.

The turning point was his match-winning innings as more illustrious Canterbury team-mates failed around him in the Shell Cup final, which was played in front of convener Ross Dykes and co-selector Rick Pickard.

Tomorrow it will be David Stead who goes along to Jade Stadium to watch son Gary play on what has long been their family's field of dreams.

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