Doug Marillier made his international debut in this match and
played a valuable part, opening the batting with Alistair
Campbell and contributing 27 to a partnership of 83. He talks to
John Ward after the match.
JW: Doug, can you outline the circumstances that led to your
selection for this match?
DM: What actually happened was that I went overseas; the ZCU
sent me to the Australian Academy for two and a half weeks, which
did an awful lot for my confidence and helped me a lot in terms
of actually playing the game. But because I was overseas I missed
the first couple of warm-up games against New Zealand, so I
hadn't done anything when the time came to select the side for
the longer games. When I did get back, I played four games; I
hit two hundreds and three twenties. One century was in the
final of the Lilthurbridge Cup, which is the Country Districts
league; in two club games I scored twenty-odd, and in a warm-up
game against New Zealand for the Academy on Monday I made 117, so
that's why I got picked for the side. I didn't actually think I
was going to get a game today; I thought they might play their
usual team and if the guys didn't do well today I thought I might
get the cut tomorrow. I was terribly happy to get the nod today.
JW: When did you actually get the news that you would be playing
today?
DM: I heard I was in the squad when Denis Streak phoned me on
Tuesday in Kwekwe. In the team today, I heard bits and pieces;
lots of people were saying they had spoken to So-and-so and I
would definitely play, but I didn' t want to count my chickens in
case I would be disappointed. I only found out for definite last
night, six o'clock, when we had a team meeting and they announced
the side.
JW: Did you find it a relief to be batting first, or would you
rather have waited until later?
DM: Well, I don't know! Now I've done it, I'm relieved to have
done it! Having played against them at Country Club, I know I am
capable of playing this level of cricket, but playing for the
Academy side and then playing for the national team was pretty
much a dream come true. The pressure was much more than for the
game we played on Monday. This morning I was doubting a little
bit, but I'm glad they actually had confidence in me and picked
me for the side. I was happy I batted first. I was a bit
nervous about the running; I'm not a particularly good runner
between wickets . . .
JW: Neither is Alistair Campbell!
DM: But I think we got on quite well considering. And also
fielding - the worst thing I would possibly do was drop a catch
but luckily not one came to me!
JW: And nice having as your first ball one you could put away
fro runs straight away!
DM: Yes, definitely! I'll tell you what, to get bat on ball to
the first ball you get in international cricket, I couldn't have
asked for anything else. I was expecting the first ball, because
I'd played against them before and they were obviously pulling
finger a lot more this time than they were on Monday, I figured
they might just let one loose, head-hunter type thing to start
with. But I don't mind them bowling half-volleys on leg stump!
JW: Any other shots that you remember with particular pleasure?
DM: Yes, one cover drive and one leg glance. Nothing
spectacular; I only got 27.
JW: An excellent opening partnership, though.
DM: Yes; I was a bit lucky, I think, to start with, but it's one
of those things. I'm just happy I got a bit of luck in this
one-day game, because if I'd got out early my confidence would
have gone through the floor. I got dropped a couple of times; I
hit the ball pretty hard so I wasn't surprised to get dropped,
but if they're easy at this level they don' t drop them. But
hey! Hopefully I've done enough to keep myself in the squad for
some time, and hopefully I can better what I've done today.
That' s how confidence goes.
JW: Did you have much of a chat with Alistair while you were
batting with him?
DM: I didn't chat an awful lot with him; we didn't speak much
but we obviously mentioned the things we had to do. I really did
enjoy batting with him because he built my confidence because
he's a really positive player. Other times you bat with guys who
tend to pick out your weak points but Alistair picks out your
good points, and that gave me the confidence to go through. I
did enjoy batting with him, and I would like to get used to
batting with him, I suppose!
JW: How did you come to get out?
DM: I got a long hop from the off-spinner [Sulzberger], and I
spliced it straight down the throat of the man at square leg. A
soft dismissal, really, when I'd done all the hard work. I'm
usually good against the offies and then today what happened -
yuch, I don't know! Better things to come!
JW: When you went back to the dressing room, were you able to
relax with a good feeling in your stomach and watch the others
pile on the runs?
DM: No - I was still a bit nervous when I came out. Your nerves
in your first big game are probably your biggest ever. I was
more disgusted with myself than anything else because I'd got out
to a long hop. It was the worst ball I'd faced the whole game!
JW: They'll know what to bowl you next time!
DM: Yes, exactly! Long hops!
JW: Did you have much work to do in the field?
DM: I had a fair amount of ground fielding to do, but no catches
came my way. I had one or two dives, but it's just a different
standard. I was usually fielding relatively close to Guy
Whittall who helped me an awful lot. I'm still learning the
game, obviously, and the difference between national team and
club level is a huge jump. Just in the fielding side I'm
learning lots and lots.
JW: What do you feel was the cause of New Zealand's downfall
with the bat?
DM: They had two batters who got themselves in and then got
themselves out. That's what lost them the game, I think: Roger
Twose was going like a train, looking really good, but a soft
dismissal - hit the ball straight back to Paul Strang. A lot of
pressure created, and the other batter was Spearman. He got
himself in and got himself out. They needed one of those guys to
go through in order to make it. It was quite a big task.