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Mark Richardson (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Mark Hunter Richardson (born 11 June 1971) is a former New Zealand
cricket
er. He was a left-handed opening batsman. He represented New Zealand
in 38 Tests from 2000 to 2004. During his cricketing career he played for Auckland
, Buckinghamshire
and Otago
. His nickname, "Rigor", is short for Rigor mortis
, given to him on account that he moved like a dead man. He was also known as "snail man" due to his slow running. Although his team mates called him this in playful tones, he told 3 News
he had had a "guts full" of it.
Richardson began his career as a left-arm spinner, batting at number 10. As his bowling ability declined, he worked on developing his batting, to the point where he was selected as an opening batsman for New Zealand, at age 29. His dour (he described the range of shots he played as "the straight drive, the forward defensive and 27 variations on the leave") approach to batting provided vital stability to New Zealand's batting order, at a time when they were notorious for collapses.
Richardson scored 2776 Test runs at an average of 44.77, including four centuries and 19 fifties. His sole Test wicket came in a match against Pakistan
in 2001, dismissing Mohammad Yousuf, then known as Yousuf Youhana, caught and bowled for 203.
In addition to his slow running, Richardson was also noted for developing (in conjunction with the Beige Brigade
) a tradition to challenge the slowest runner of the opposing side to a running race at the conclusion of each tour. In his first race he beat Australia's
Darren Lehmann
. He has since raced Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria
, South Africa
's Neil McKenzie
and England's Ashley Giles
, only beating Kaneria. The Beige Brigade also supplied Richardson with a long-sleeved and hooded running suit in the New Zealand teams 1980s beige and brown colours.
Richardson was the fieldsman who caught Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne
on 99, the closest the Australian came to a century in test cricket.
He retired from all forms of cricket in December 2004, saying he could not sustain the intensity needed to compete at international level. He noted that he finished with "a Test bowling average that is better than Sir Richard Hadlee's (22.29), and a 50-50 record in the end-of-series running race." He scored 9,994 first-class runs during his career, which he noted was "only different from Donald Bradman's Test batting average by a decimal point" (Bradman finished his career with an average of 99.94).
Richardson also played for Dunedin Metropolitan in the Hawke Cup
.
Richardson is a currently a cricket commentator for SKY Sports
. He also co-hosts Prime
show, The Crowd Goes Wild
, with Andrew Mulligan
, and is a presenter for Radio Sport
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. He was a left-handed opening batsman. He represented New Zealand
New Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
in 38 Tests from 2000 to 2004. During his cricketing career he played for Auckland
Auckland Aces
The Auckland domestic cricket team represent the Auckland region and are one of six New Zealand domestic first class cricket teams. Governed by the Auckland Cricket Association they are the most successful side having won 26 Plunket Shield titles, eight Domestic One Day Championships and the HRV...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire County Cricket Club
Buckinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Buckinghamshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy. The Minor Counties play...
and Otago
Otago Volts
The Otago Volts are a first class cricket team representing the Otago Cricket Association, one of six major associations that make up New Zealand Cricket....
. His nickname, "Rigor", is short for Rigor mortis
Rigor mortis
Rigor mortis is one of the recognizable signs of death that is caused by a chemical change in the muscles after death, causing the limbs of the corpse to become stiff and difficult to move or manipulate...
, given to him on account that he moved like a dead man. He was also known as "snail man" due to his slow running. Although his team mates called him this in playful tones, he told 3 News
3 News
3 News is the television, internet and radio news service of New Zealand's TV3. Its flagship bulletin, which airs every evening at 6:00pm, is anchored by Hilary Barry and Mike McRoberts. Carolyn Robinson and Simon Shepherd are weekend and substitute anchors...
he had had a "guts full" of it.
Richardson began his career as a left-arm spinner, batting at number 10. As his bowling ability declined, he worked on developing his batting, to the point where he was selected as an opening batsman for New Zealand, at age 29. His dour (he described the range of shots he played as "the straight drive, the forward defensive and 27 variations on the leave") approach to batting provided vital stability to New Zealand's batting order, at a time when they were notorious for collapses.
Richardson scored 2776 Test runs at an average of 44.77, including four centuries and 19 fifties. His sole Test wicket came in a match against Pakistan
Pakistani cricket team
The Pakistan cricket team is the national cricket team of Pakistan. Pakistan, represented by the Pakistan Cricket Board , is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and thus participates in , and cricket matches....
in 2001, dismissing Mohammad Yousuf, then known as Yousuf Youhana, caught and bowled for 203.
In addition to his slow running, Richardson was also noted for developing (in conjunction with the Beige Brigade
Beige Brigade
The Beige Brigade is a group of colourful and passionate New Zealand sport fans who identify themselves by wearing beige colours. A version of this uniform was worn by the New Zealand limited overs cricket team during the 1980s .The Beige Brigade began in 1999...
) a tradition to challenge the slowest runner of the opposing side to a running race at the conclusion of each tour. In his first race he beat Australia's
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
Darren Lehmann
Darren Lehmann
Darren Scott Lehmann is a former Australian cricketer, who made his ODI debut in 1996 and Test debut in 1998. He was on the fringes of national selection for the entirety of the 1990s, and only became a regular in the ODI team in 2001 and Test team in late 2002, before being dropped in early 2005...
. He has since raced Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria
Danish Kaneria
Danish Prabha Shanker Kaneria is a Pakistani cricketer . Danish Kaneria has continued the tradition of great Pakistani leg spin bowlers and possesses a very well disguised googly...
, South Africa
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
's Neil McKenzie
Neil McKenzie
Neil Douglas McKenzie is a South African cricketer. He is a right-handed opening batsman who plays for South Africa, making his first appearance in 2000. Strong on the leg side, he is also a very good player of spin...
and England's Ashley Giles
Ashley Giles
Ashley Fraser Giles MBE is a retired English cricketer. Giles played the entirety of his 14-year first-class career at Warwickshire County Cricket Club where he is now employed as Director of Cricket...
, only beating Kaneria. The Beige Brigade also supplied Richardson with a long-sleeved and hooded running suit in the New Zealand teams 1980s beige and brown colours.
Richardson was the fieldsman who caught Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne
Shane Warne
Shane Keith Warne is a former Australian international cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century, the only specialist bowler selected in the quintet...
on 99, the closest the Australian came to a century in test cricket.
He retired from all forms of cricket in December 2004, saying he could not sustain the intensity needed to compete at international level. He noted that he finished with "a Test bowling average that is better than Sir Richard Hadlee's (22.29), and a 50-50 record in the end-of-series running race." He scored 9,994 first-class runs during his career, which he noted was "only different from Donald Bradman's Test batting average by a decimal point" (Bradman finished his career with an average of 99.94).
Richardson also played for Dunedin Metropolitan in the Hawke Cup
Hawke Cup
The Hawke Cup is a cricket competition for New Zealand's District Associations. Apart from 1910/11, 1912/13 and 2000/01 the competition has always been on a challenge basis. In order to win the Hawke Cup the challenger must beat the holder on their home ground...
.
Richardson is a currently a cricket commentator for SKY Sports
SKY Network Television
Sky Network Television Limited , , is a New Zealand pay television service. On 30 June 2011, Sky had 829,421 subscribers, which comprises:*808,617 digital subscribers*20,840 other subscribers...
. He also co-hosts Prime
Prime Television New Zealand
Prime is the seventh national free-to-air television station in New Zealand. The station airs a mixed group of programmes, largely imported from Australia, the UK and the United States, as well as free-to-air rugby union, cricket and rugby league matches....
show, The Crowd Goes Wild
The Crowd Goes Wild
The Crowd Goes Wild is a half-hour sports show broadcast on New Zealand nationwide television channel Prime TV. The show premiered on Monday 26 June 2006....
, with Andrew Mulligan
Andrew Mulligan
Andrew Mulligan is a New Zealand television presenter. He co-hosts on Sky Television's PRIME TV channel at 6:30pm weekdays, The Crowd Goes Wild, with former New Zealand test cricketer Mark Richardson...
, and is a presenter for Radio Sport
Radio Sport
Radio Sport is a New Zealand sports radio network and the talkback sister network of Newstalk ZB. It has commentary rights for most cricket matches, international and domestic rugby union games, some NRL rugby league games, trans-Tasman basketball and New Zealand tennis tournaments. The network...
.