Mark Richardson (cricketer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hastings, New Zealand
 Richardson in 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mark Hunter Richardson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 11 June 1971 Hastings, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Rigor[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Slow left arm orthodox | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Batsman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test debut (cap 210) | 12 September 2000 v Zimbabwe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 30 November 2004 v Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 125) | 11 January 2002 v Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 19 January 2002 v South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI shirt no. | 35 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989/90–1991/92 | Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992/93–2000/01 | Otago | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Buckinghamshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001/02–2004/05 | Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: Cricinfo, 29 April 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Hunter Richardson (born 11 June 1971) is a former New Zealand cricketer. He was a left-handed opening batsman. He represented New Zealand in 38 Test matches between 2000 and 2004. During his cricketing career he played for Auckland, Buckinghamshire and Otago as well as for Dunedin Metropolitan in the Hawke Cup.
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 approach to batting – he described the range of shots he played as "the straight drive, the forward defensive and 27 variations on the leave" – provided vital stability to New Zealand's batting order at a time when they were notorious for collapses.[citation needed]
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.
His nickname Rigor is short for Rigor Mortis and was given to him in 1996 by Shane Bond because Bond thought he moved with the speed and agility of a dead man.[1] 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.
On 16 October 2003, Richardson was batting against India in Mohali[2] when he suffered a severe leg cramp after playing a sweep shot, forcing him onto the ground and yelling in agony. The spectacle and its replays amused the crowd and the players during the subsequent break in play.[3]
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, remarked that the tally was "only different from Donald Bradman's Test batting average by a decimal point" (Bradman finished his career with an average of 99.94).[4]
