Dazzling debut 'just doing my job' says Rutherford

New Zealand's Hamish Rutherford played down his achievement in posting the seventh highest debut in Test history, saying he was just doing his job for the Black Caps.
Dazzling debut 'just doing my job' says Rutherford

New Zealand's Hamish Rutherfordplayed down his achievement in posting the seventh highest debut in Testhistory today, saying he was just doing his job for the Black Caps.

The 23-year-old scored 171 against England in the opening Testat his home ground in Dunedin to put the unfancied New Zealanders in acommanding position against the second-ranked team in Test cricket.

"It won't sink in until I get home and have a wee lie down,"the quietly-spoken batsman said.

"There was a lot of relief, I suppose. Obviously it's veryspecial to do it here in front of my home fans and family and friends."

Rutherford, the son of former Black Caps captain Ken, saidhe deliberately kept his celebrations muted after becoming only the ninth NewZealander to score a century on debut, briefly raising his bat to mark themilestone.

"You're picked to do a job and your job is to scoreruns, so at the end of the day that's what you're picked to do," he said,admitting he was still kicking himself after losing his wicket just afterlunch.

Rutherford conceded he might imbibe in a "cheeky"glass of milk after his stunning effort but put his achievement down to soundadvice from his mentor, former Black Cap Craig Cumming, and batting on his homeground.

His composed innings contrasted with his father's first Testin 1985, when Rutherford senior made a pair against the West Indies inPort-of-Spain, Trinidad.

His father, who was only 19 at the time and facing the mightyWest Indies pace attack in their heyday on home turf, went on to play 56 Testsand captain New Zealand from 1992-95.

Rutherford did not believe his debut innings would finallystop him from being referred to as Ken Rutherford's boy. "I don't know ifthat'll quite happen just yet, we'll see what happens," he said.

In the meantime, he said he would stick to a simple formulafor Test match batting.

"You just duck and weave and... try and hit as many as youcan in between," he said. The approach saw Rutherford score 22 fours andthree sixes during 340 minutes at the crease.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com