Twose wants major role (4 January 1999)

4 January 1999

Twose wants major role

The Christchurch Press

Despite the slowness of his test innings, a revitalised Roger Twose has consolidated his claims for a place in the New Zealand one-day cricket team to be named on Wednesday.

Twose again showed his ability to play an innings required of the occasion as he compiled a painstaking but telling 87 in the second test against India at Hamilton.

His occupation of the crease for almost 61/2 hours provided the glue for the Black Caps innings on Saturday.

The 30-year-old former English professional, a veteran of 160 first-class games, drew on his vast experience to anchor one end.

His innings lasted 275 balls and followed a dismal start by New Zealand, when it lost two wickets for no runs.

Twose said after the long innings he wanted to return to the international arena in both versions of the game.

He believed his innings was the best of the 14 he has played at test level.

At one-day level, Twose's 25 appearances for the Black Caps have returned him 650 runs at an average of 27.08. He has scored four half centuries.

It is this sort of versatility which will bring him into the selectors' minds when they finalise their one-day side. Because of the absence of the injured Nathan Astle, two openers are being sought.

While there are stroke-makers aplenty around, a player who can accumulate and rotate the strike in the top order is valuable.

Twose's performance justified his call-up by the selectors ahead of several frontline contenders, including Canterbury all-rounder Chris Harris.

Twose said he was conscious of commentators' calls for Harris's inclusion and he had watched Harris score a one-day hundred for Canterbury against Central Districts the night before the test started.

"I knew the pressure was on."

Twose, who made his first-class debut for Warwickshire against Australia 10 years ago, decided to put his lot with New Zealand when overlooked for England honours early in the 1990s.

Twose said Saturday's innings had been draining, especially because he wore a full protective chest vest in the sticky Hamilton heat.

Twose, in showman style, accentuated the effort by crawling on hands and knees to the post-day press conference before cadging a cigarette.

"I felt pretty vacant and drained. My mind was wandering a bit.

"It wasn't pretty but effective, I suppose, and we got the job done."

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