Mark Richardson

Videos: Mark Richardson

Mark Richardson Biography

Mark Richardson’s most popular YouTube video is of a hilarious injury. His dour approach to batting does not do justice to his middle-name, Hunter. In fact, his Test strike rate was 38, he admitted to his batting skills being limited to “the straight drive, the forward defensive and 27 variations on the leave”, and he was nicknamed ‘Snail’ and ‘Rigor’ (for mortis).

Richardson also had his idiosyncrasies, including challenging the slowest runner of the opposition to a sprint (where he participated in a full-sleeved, hooded beige-and-brown running suit), and often losing. He retired with 9,994 First-Class runs and proudly announced: “If you stick a decimal point in the middle of those figures it’s the same as Sir Don Bradman's Test average.”

But there was more to Richardson than that. For example, his 2,776 Test runs came at an average of 44.77, going past fifty 23 times in 65 innings (but converting only 4 of them to hundreds). Only 12 times did he get out for a single-digit score, 2 of which came in his last 3 innings.

Richardson’s average is reasonably high for a New Zealander: he averages more than Glenn Turner, Stephen Fleming, and Nathan Astle, and a mere 0.59 less than Martin Crowe. He failed in Australia, but made up for that with averages of 47 in the subcontinent, 62 in England, and 46 in South Africa.

Astonishingly, Richardson started off as a left-arm spinner and tail-ender before rising through the batting line-up and losing his bowling ability completely.

He failed in the first innings of his career, but scored 6 fifties in his next 10, including a 99. The first hundred came against Pakistan at home; and on a flat pitch at Mohali he grinded the Indians spinners with a 9-hour 145.

But despite all that, his finest innings came on a Wellington green-top against India in 2002-03. After India were bowled out for 161, Richardson batted for almost 7 hours for his 89, securing an 86-run lead and eventually a 10-wicket win.

On the other hand, when Steve Waugh set New Zealand 284 from 57 overs at The Gabba, Richardson launched an unexpectedly furious onslaught; his 57 came from 69 balls out of a team score of 89 during his stay.

Richardson scored 93 and 101 at Lord’s in 2004. Surprisingly, he was gone for good 4 Tests after an impressive England tour. His last Test came against Australia that summer, where he challenged and beat Darren Lehmann to the traditional race — just before he announced retirement from all forms of the sport.

Richardson later became a commentator for Sky Sports, a radio announcer, and a television anchor.

Abhishek Mukherjee

Mark Richardson Batting & Fielding Averages

Career

Avg

100s

50s

Test

ODIs

T20s

World Cup

Mark Richardson Bowling Averages

Career	M	B	R	W	Avg	EC	SR	5WI	10WM	BBI	BBM
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T20s	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
World Cup	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--		--