Middle order suits

Press, 21 February 1986, Page 32

Middle order suits

Ken Rutherford’s future as a New Zealand test cricketer would be as a middle-order batsman, if the 20-year-old Otago . player had his way.

Rutherford’s preference has nothing to do with the savage baptism he experienced on New Zealand’s tour of the West Indies last year. In his seven test innings there, Rutherford managed nine runs, batting at the top of the order five times.

Predictably, Rutherford missed the tour to Australia before Christmas but has bounced back into the New Zealand team after an excellent Shell series for his province.

“I was very determined to regain my place in the side,” he said yesterday. “I hoped that if anyone was dropped I’d be the next alternative.”

He gave himself a “25 to 30 per cent” chance of being selected for the first test of the return series against Australia, starting today. “I thought they’d stick to the winning side from Australia, but obviously I’m delighted.” Rutherford will bat at No. 5 for New Zealand, despite scoring heavily for Otago in the Shell Trophy series as an opener — 639 runs at 53.25. The change of position is unlikely to present any fresh problems for Rutherford, indeed he welcomes the chance to come to the crease later in the innings. “I’ve always thought my game is better suited to the middle order. When I first went into the Otago team I was thrust in as an opener and now everyone thinks Fve always been an opener. I’ll play anywhere in the first five or six,” he said. Rutherford believes his long-term future lies away from the top order and providing he performs satisfactorily against Australia, he is sure of a place in the New Zealand team for the tour to England later this year.