171 debut for New Zealand batsman Hamish Rutherford: I was just doing my job

Dunedin, New Zealand: New Zealand’s Hamish Rutherford played down his achievement in posting the seventh-highest debut in Test history on Friday, saying he was just doing his job for the Black Caps.

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

The Black Caps were 402 for seven when rain halted play late in the day, with Brendon McCullum unbeaten on 44 and Bruce Martin 17 not out.

While a James Anderson-inspired England improved after a batting performance that Ian Botham said was one of the worst he had ever witnessed, the Black Caps face the frustrating prospect the weather will save the tourists’ blushes.

“It won’t sink in until I get home and have a wee lie down,” the quietly-spoken Rutherford said.

“There was a lot of relief, I suppose. Obviously it’s very special to do it here in front of my home fans and family and friends.”

Rutherford, the son of former Black Caps captain Ken, said he deliberately kept his celebrations muted after becoming only the ninth New Zealander to score a century on debut, briefly raising his bat to mark the milestone.

“You’re picked to do a job and your job is to score runs, 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 after lunch.

Rutherford conceded he might imbibe in a “cheeky” glass of milk after his stunning effort but put his achievement down to sound advice from his mentor, former Black Cap Craig Cumming, and batting on his home ground.

His composed innings contrasted with his father’s first Test in 1985, when Rutherford senior made a pair against the West Indies in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

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

Rutherford did not believe his debut innings would finally stop him from being referred to as Ken Rutherford’s boy.

“I don’t know if that’ll quite happen just yet, we’ll see what happens,” he said.

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

“You just duck and weave and... try and hit as many as you can in between,” he said.

lead.

With the entire first day washed out, Friday’s interruption cost another 32 overs, leaving the Black Caps racing against time to use their advantage to rack up a rare win over the world’s second-ranked Test team.

Starting the day at 131 without loss, the New Zealanders piled on the pain for England as Rutherford nervelessly added 94 to his overnight total of 77, including a 158-run opening partnership with Peter Fulton (55).

On the way, he became only the ninth New Zealander to reach a century on debut, recording the best first-up score since South African Jacques Rudolph’s 222 against Bangladesh in 2003.

It was the seventh highest debut in 136 years of Test cricket, bettered among New Zealanders only by Mathew Sinclair’s 214 against the West Indies in Wellington in 1999.

He finally departed after 340 minutes, when Anderson took the new ball and Rutherford mistimed his response, popping his first dab at it up to a grateful Chris Woakes.

Rutherford’s departure led to a wobble in New Zealand’s middle order, as Anderson exploited the new ball to dismiss Ross Taylor for 31 and Dean Brownlie for 27, with Stuart Broad also chipping in to clean bowl BJ Watling for a duck.

Anderson ended the day with figures of four for 108, with Broad taking two for 89, while Steve Finn (none for 102) and Monty Panesar (one for 83) both proved expensive in an attack sorely missing injured spinner Graeme Swann.

Black Caps captain McCullum, who relinquished his opening spot to come in down the order, went on the attack in the final session with Tim Southee, who scored a quickfire 25 off 29 balls before Broad broke their 44-run partnership.