'Our ethos is to win the wars, not just the battles'
The Wisden Wednesday Interview with New Zealand's Michael Papps
Nagraj Gollapudi
27-Apr-2004
After a prolific 2003-04 season with Canterbury, Michael Papps was selected for New Zealand's one-day series against South Africa to solve the long-running search for an opening batsman to partner Stephen Fleming. Papps immediately impressed, and was then picked to play in the Test series that followed. He was later rewarded with a contract, as well as a place on the forthcoming England tour:
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What were your aims at the beginning of this season?
To play consistently good cricket for Canterbury. I felt that if I managed to do that, my chance could come at international level. It has certainly always been a goal of mine to play for New Zealand. I hoped I would get picked if I produced the numbers at domestic level, and that proved to be the case. Now I am determined to make the most of it.
To play consistently good cricket for Canterbury. I felt that if I managed to do that, my chance could come at international level. It has certainly always been a goal of mine to play for New Zealand. I hoped I would get picked if I produced the numbers at domestic level, and that proved to be the case. Now I am determined to make the most of it.
So how did you rate your performance in the one-day series against South Africa?
There are many areas I would like to improve in my game, but I think I started reasonably well. I would describe it as a start to move forward from.
There are many areas I would like to improve in my game, but I think I started reasonably well. I would describe it as a start to move forward from.
Based on your form in the one-dayers, were you confident you would be called up to the Test team?
New Zealand are developing a real depth and strength in both forms of the game, so I wouldn't say that I was over-confident at the time. However, I realised there was a vacancy at the top of the order, and I knew that by scoring runs I'd push my case.
New Zealand are developing a real depth and strength in both forms of the game, so I wouldn't say that I was over-confident at the time. However, I realised there was a vacancy at the top of the order, and I knew that by scoring runs I'd push my case.
Not long after your Test call-up, you helped to justify your selection with a prolific 92 in the final one-dayer against South Africa at Napier ...
Yeah, it was just great to contribute. Given that we had already won the series, it might have been easy to become complacent, but this team's ethos is to win the wars, not just the battles.
Yeah, it was just great to contribute. Given that we had already won the series, it might have been easy to become complacent, but this team's ethos is to win the wars, not just the battles.
New Zealand are developing a real depth and strength in both forms of the game
You have talked about maintaining your concentration for longer periods of time in the middle. Do you think you have managed to do that?
I think I am getting better with each experience. At this level you need to be totally focused on the next ball, and to do that you need to put all the external distractions, like the crowd and the magnitude of the occasion, out of your mind. The more times you are faced with these challenges, the easier this part of the game should become.
I think I am getting better with each experience. At this level you need to be totally focused on the next ball, and to do that you need to put all the external distractions, like the crowd and the magnitude of the occasion, out of your mind. The more times you are faced with these challenges, the easier this part of the game should become.
One of the things you did to spend more time in the middle was to drop down the order, but now you have to provide the momentum to the innings at the top. How did you tackle that?
I try to stay positive. If you miss a couple of scoring opportunities either through finding the fielders or tight bowling, it's easy to start second-guessing yourself. I try to put the last ball out of my mind pretty quickly and think about my scoring options for the next one. I also know in the back of my mind that we have great strikers of the ball coming in after me, so I try not to get to carried away worrying about the scoring rate.
I try to stay positive. If you miss a couple of scoring opportunities either through finding the fielders or tight bowling, it's easy to start second-guessing yourself. I try to put the last ball out of my mind pretty quickly and think about my scoring options for the next one. I also know in the back of my mind that we have great strikers of the ball coming in after me, so I try not to get to carried away worrying about the scoring rate.
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Did you always want to be an opener?
I like the challenge of opening the innings and always have. You have the whole of your team's innings ahead of you and an opportunity to set the tone. You look to be positive, but, at the same time, you have to be aware of what shots to play. My best areas are square of the wicket. I need to learn to be more productive down the ground, because at this level the bowling is tighter.
I like the challenge of opening the innings and always have. You have the whole of your team's innings ahead of you and an opportunity to set the tone. You look to be positive, but, at the same time, you have to be aware of what shots to play. My best areas are square of the wicket. I need to learn to be more productive down the ground, because at this level the bowling is tighter.
You have made a big difference at the top of the order since you came in the side. How does it feel to bat with Stephen Fleming?
It's great to bat with someone like Flem. He's been one of our most consistent performers over the years. Clearly it makes my job easier when he's playing well. You tend to feed off his confidence at the wicket, and that helped me, especially when I first came into the team.
It's great to bat with someone like Flem. He's been one of our most consistent performers over the years. Clearly it makes my job easier when he's playing well. You tend to feed off his confidence at the wicket, and that helped me, especially when I first came into the team.