David Stead — more than an ‘average’ all-rounder

Press, 2 December 1978, Page 10

David Stead — more than an ‘average’ all-rounder

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JOHN COFFEY

David Stead, the Riccarton and Canterbury allrounder, describes himself as “Just an average cricketer,” but few representative players have achieved such proficiency in so many diverse skills in a sport that is largely the preserve of the specialist.

The Hamilton Trophy, awarded to the most adept slips fieldsman in Canterbury (with other conditions relating to dress and general demeanour on the field), has virtually become Stead’s personal property since his return to the provincial first XI in 1975-76.

Stead has no special training programme to explain his expertise in the most vital of all fielding positions. “It is really a matter of

concentrating on every ball,” he said. “While the bowler is going back to his mark I usually walk around until he turns, the;, more concentration

until- the ball is delivered." Now 31 years of age, Stead made his first-class debut with the New Zealand under-23 side in 1968-69. A season earlier he had scored centuries for Riccarton against Sydenham and St Albans, and promotion to the Canterbury team seemed inevitable. Few young players have made a more auspicious start. Stead’s second appearance, and his first as an opener, was against the Australian tourists led by Sam Trimble. The lefthander, though, displayed no hint of having to adjust to a higher level of cricket and his memorable innings of 93 enabled Canterbury to lead by 37 runs in a game that was eventually drawn. “From a personal point of view, my main memories are of the great crowd support and the pleasure gained from the opening partnership be-

tween Peter Coman and myself. We had not balled together before and it,was especially satisfying to get such a good start,” he said. Together they accumulated 93 runs in just 100 minutes before Coman — who had been out-paced by Stead on the second mornin” — was out for 45. There was a threat that Canterbury’s batting would be completely shattered when three more wickets fell for just three runs. Stead’s maturity was very evident in the face of such a crisis and his refusal to concede the ascendancy to his opponents was complemented by the steadying influence of his new partner, Victor Pollard. Another 76 runs were added in even time, only 18 of them to Pollard, before Stead was dismissed tantalisingly short of what would have been a thoroughly deserved century. Predictions that Stead would become a permanent figure in Canterbury team photographs for years to come were not substantiated by fact. In the next five summers he was to make, only two more appearances in interdistrict cricket.

“I had one particularly good season, and did well enough for the B team, while I was on the outer, but I still did not make it back. I had to work harder and managed to have a

reasonable run in club matches leading up to my return in 1975-76,” Stead said.

His talents as a legspinner were also being given more rein by his club. An opening bowler while at Rangiora High School. Stead was later in the habit of “throwin,, up a few' leggies” at net practice when warming up for a stint of medium-paced bowling and he was encouraged by the then Canterbury selector, Mac Anderson, to swap seam for spin on a full-time basis.

Modern cricket playing conditions and tactics have not been kind to the batsmen further down the list, nor to those whose spin is from leg. But ,Stead is philosophical in seeking to meet the requirements of his changed circumstances.

Cricket is in an era when most leg-spinners are regarded with suspicion by their captains. In all probability Stead would have set something of a record when his bow'ling spell against Wellington in a Shell Trophy fixture last season extended for almost four and a half hours.

Stead probed away for 36 overs and he and Steve Boock delivered 80 of the 94 overs in Wellington’s second innings between them. Cricket can have its injustices and it did on that day, for both were of equal value in assisting Canterbury to victory by four wickets, yet Stead’s 2/92 paled alongside Boock’s analysis of 7/57.

“That was probably my best bowling effort for Canterbury, and the match practice was a great help. But I felt it next day. - ’ Stead said. At club level he claimed a hat-trick against Burnside-West in 1974-75 and his best figures were 7/38 at EastShirley's expense two years ago.

His one regret in cricket is not so much that New Zealand selection has never come his way — a number of experienced observers regarded his chances of touring India and Pakistan in 1976-77 brightly, and he might have been included had more emphasis been placed on spin — but that he could have been fitter physically in his younger days.

Cricket and family commitments persuaded Stead to give up rugby after eight seasons in the Belfast first XV and a few games for Canterbury B. His winter pursuit provided some parallels with his summer achievements: he was ever consistent at full-back or first fiveeighths, and his accurate goal-kicking was another bonus to his team-mates. Stead has no intentions of also bowing from the cricketing stage. The sport has long held the attention of his family—his father was a cricketer, his sister. Janice, has gained national honours—and he hopes to play as long as he can. If not a master of his various cricketing trades, then Stead is considerably above his own rating of average.