Mark Richardson Retires!!

[Andy Mellon]

Just read this story on the BBC! He's only 33 and he's retiring!?! And from all cricket! This is very strange indeed.

Often batsman can keep playing until around 40 years old (e.g. Gooch) unless they pick up a nasty injury (e.g. Atherton). It just seems odd that Richardson - who only got his first international cap in 2000 - should stop playing so early. The BBC suggests its because he didn't perform against the Aussies. However, his international batting average is 44.77 and he played pretty well against England. He may not be the prettiest batsman to watcg, but he got results.

I just wonder if there's another reason which had precipitated his retirement.

He plays his last first class game against Auckland next week

[Beny]

Well he's raced everybody now... There's nothing left for him.

[flanflinger]

Perhaps he bored himself...

[Zainub]

Oh God, retirements make me so emotional.....

Anyway, I thought he was very decent bloke, some one who took his career very seriously, and knew how to play well withing his limitation. Not pretty but effective, good for NZ, held their batting together nicely.

All the best to him for his future. I'll miss his races though...

[flanflinger]

I'll miss the races, and also his insights on the BBC. He seem's to be a genuinly intelligent, self-deprictaiting and quite funny bloke.. However, he was possibly the dullest batsmen I have ever had the misery to watch, I won't miss his batting....

[Beny]

Originally Posted by flanflinger 27750

Perhaps he bored himself...

Originally Posted by flanflinger 27786

I'll miss the races, and also his insights on the BBC. He seem's to be a genuinly intelligent, self-deprictaiting and quite funny bloke.. However, he was possibly the dullest batsmen I have ever had the misery to watch, I won't miss his batting....

LOL FF. I quite enjoyed watching him bat. He had a very good technique and a good openers brain. He was'nt the 'run-a-ball' sort of batsmen we are used to these days but well worth watching. NZ will be a lot weaker for his resignation.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Beny

NZ will be a lot weaker for his resignation.

I think his retirement might mean Fleming opening with Sinclair - and Hamish Marshall coming in the middle order. But I might be wrong, there must be some one pushing for selection in the NZ state competetion. May be some one will tell us.

And before I forget, for all those who said they'll miss his races, it's not all over. The latest spirit of the snails race will be competed between 34 year old Lehmann and Pakistan's skipper Inzamam-ul-haq at the end of the Pak-Aus series, the pre-race build up has already seen our coach Woolmer predicting Inzi will win. I'm looking forward to that, I reckon it should be a really close contest, would back Inzi to win though. The one thing we will still miss though are those costumes Richardson use to wear.....

[vvvrulz]

Well aside from all his antics, he was a pretty good cricketer we musn't forget. NZ have some pretty big shoes to fill now, when he was at his best, he would see out the new ball and allow the middle order to do their stuff. Average 45 odd which is no slouch, especially considering NZ's recent form slump.

[*Ben*]

Through the press Mark has said he dousnt Think he has the mental caipibility to be a top class batter in international cricket and he had been thinking about retiring from all cricket for a year now. To answer the question about who will open Micheal Papps is a reguarded as a test opener now but dislocated his shoulder before the aussie tour, Sinclair I think waz only seen as a temporary opener because its not his prefferd position, but another young batter called Jamie Howe from Central Districts has recently put his nam up with 3 consecutive hundreds (out of 4 possible innings) in the state sheild. I would also like to add to all those people who are awaiting the return of shane bond, he played for his club side in chrishchurch last week, he bowld 7 overs(his exact figures i dont know) but he amazingly scored 104 n.o off 94 balls, so he aint no slouch with the bat either.

[Zainub]

Nice to know Bond got a few runs. Papps impressed me against SA, didn't look bad at all. I'm looking forward to see who gets the final nod, should be interesting.