Rutherford more than justifies recall

Press, 7 March 1988, Page 24

Rutherford more than justifies recall

From

JOHN COFFEY

in Wellington Ken Rutherford will always regard his thirteenth cricket test for New Zealand, at Auckland last week, as an important milestone in his career, even though it ended for him with another frustrating and embarrassing failure. Innings of 29 not out and 0 were considered sufficient for him to retain his place against England at the Basin Reserve. He more than justified his recall by being 107 not out when New Zealand’s innings was closed on Saturday morning at 512 for six declared. [ Rutherford admitted later that he had not expected to be involved in the home section of' the international season. ! He had been dropped after yet another disastrous experience as an opening batsman in Australia and overlooked for the first match of the present series at Christchurch. "I gave myself little chance to get back in for this series,’’ said Rutherford. "I was really surprised to be named for the second test.” Instead, the Otago representative had been "hoping my "Shell Trophy runs were enough to keep me in contention for the tour to India." Rutherford, aged 22, has long contended that he is more suited to a middleorder role, after having suffered from a baptism of fire when going in first against the West Indians in the Caribbean three years ago. “I think my problems in Australia stemmed from being picked as an opener, a position I don’t like,” he said. “It all goes back to the West Indies — psychologically, opening and I simply don’t go together. No matter how I try to psyche myself up, there is always that lingering doubt.” Rutherford agreed the situation was made for him when he went out to bat on Friday afternoon, with New Zealand 287 for four. “It came at a good time. [The fielding side had been ; out there for a day and a ; half, and it was obviously a igood chance to get a few I runs. You hit some off the i middle of the bat early and it ! gives you the confidence to ( carry on. ; “The top-order guys had i laid it on very well for : myself, Braces (John Bracewell) and Smithy (lan Smith),’’ said Rutherford. By stumps on Friday Rutherford was 91 not out, and on Saturday morning he j and Bracewell extended their ; sixth-wicket partnership to ! 134 runs, a record for New Zealand against England. Bracewell was out when Rutherford was on 99, but a [crisp clip to third man from 1 David Capel’s bowling took Rutherford to 100 in 227 [minutes and 155 balls — [brisk progress in the context [of this series. [ Smith then came in to club [33 runs from 19 deliveries.

New Zealand’s total was its fifth-highest •at test level, bettered in this country only by the 537 registered against England at the same venue in 1983-84. Reflecting on having to resume so close to a century, Rutherford said, “I told myself to relax, to start my innings again, to push the ball around and look for singles.” He thanked the national selectors for retaining faith In him while he managed only two half-centuries — neither as an opener — and an average of 11.20 from his first 13 tests. Looking ahead, Rutherford feels that ’’in five or six years” he might have risen up the order as far as No. 3, but he has no wish to be tried as an opener again. What of his new title of allrounder, with greater emphasis on his medium-paced seam bowling? “When you haven't bowled competitively for a number of years it Is pretty difficult to do so in a test match. My main purpose is to bowl maidens, but I think my bowling will develop with practice, “I have tended to take a light-hearted attitude towards my own bowling, which hasn’t helped,” he said. Rutherford is the thirtyseventh New Zealander ito score a test century. His harrowing background makes his career average (16.55) lower than those of his three dozen fellows, another matter to be rectified.' Scoreboard: NEW ZEALAND ' First innings J. G. Wright c Fairbrother | b Capel. . . ■36 T. J. Franklin lbw b DeFreitas.' ; 14 R. H. Vance run out . . . 47 M. D. Crowe lbw b Gatting J 43 M. J. Greatbatch c DeFrei- ' tas b Emburey .... 68 K. R. Rutherford not out 107 J. G. Bracewell c Fairbrother b Capel. ... I 54 I. D. S. Smith not out . . 33 Extras (IblO) 10 Total (for 6 wkts dec.). . 512 Fall; 33. 79, 132, 287, 336, 470. Bowling. G. R. Dilley 11, 1, 36, 0; P. A. J. DeFreitas 50.1, 21, 110, 1; D. J. Capel 39, 7, 129, 2; J. M. Emburey 45.5, 10. 99, 1: E. E. Hemmings 45, 15, 107, 0; M. W. Gatting 6,1, 21. 1.