Mark Richardson (cricketer)

An innings-by-innings breakdown of Richardson's Test match batting career, showing runs scored (red bars) and the average of the last ten innings (blue line).

Richardson began his career as a left-arm spinner, batting at number 10. As his bowling ability declined, he worked on developing his batting, to the point where he was selected as an opening batsman for New Zealand, at age 29. His dour approach to batting - he described the range of shots he played as "the straight drive, the forward defensive and 27 variations on the leave" - provided vital stability to New Zealand's batting order at a time when they were notorious for collapses.

Richardson scored 2776 Test runs at an average of 44.77, including four centuries and 19 fifties. His sole Test wicket came in a match against Pakistan in 2001, dismissing Mohammad Yousuf, then known as Yousuf Youhana, caught and bowled for 203.

He was not known for his capable fielding in the one day game. In addition to his slow running, Richardson was also noted for developing (in conjunction with the Beige Brigade) a tradition to challenge the slowest runner of the opposing side to a running race at the conclusion of each tour. In his first race he beat Australia's Darren Lehmann. He has since raced Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, South Africa's Neil McKenzie and England's Ashley Giles, only beating Kaneria. The Beige Brigade also supplied Richardson with a long-sleeved and hooded running suit in the New Zealand teams 1980s beige and brown colours.

He retired from all forms of cricket in December 2004, saying he could not sustain the intensity needed to compete at international level. He noted that he finished with "a Test bowling average that is better than Sir Richard Hadlee's (22.29), and a 50-50 record in the end-of-series running race." He scored 9,994 first-class runs during his career, remarked that the tally was "only different from Donald Bradman's Test batting average by a decimal point" (Bradman finished his career with an average of 99.94).[1]

Richardson has been a cricket commentator for SKY Sports since 2006. He co-hosted Prime show The Crowd Goes Wild with Andrew Mulligan from February 2006 to December 2016. He has hosted The Block NZ since 2012, and is currently the sport presenter on The AM Show. Previously, he has been a breakfast radio announcer for The Sound and Radio Sport (with a radio-based show of The Crowd Goes Wild).[2]

He publicly supported Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's decision to have a child in office.[3]

• Mark Richardson at ESPNcricinfo