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.

On 16 October 2003, Richardson was batting against India in Mohali[1] when he suffered a severe leg cramp after playing a sweep shot, forcing him onto the ground and yelling in agony. The spectacle and its replays amused the crowd and the players during the subsequent break in play.[2]

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).[3]

Richardson was a cricket commentator for SKY Sports from 2006 to 2020, and he has been a commentator for Spark Sport since 2020.[4] 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 was the sport presenter on The AM Show from February 2017 to December 2021.[5] He was also an afternoon talkback host with Leah Panapa on Today FM from March 2022 to March 2023.[6] Previously, he has been a breakfast radio announcer for The Sound and Radio Sport (with a radio-based show of The Crowd Goes Wild).[7]

Richardson has commented in the media in defense of Donald Trump, saying in July 2018, "people need to give [Trump] a shot".[8] He has been highly critical of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's decision to have a child in office.[9] He was criticised for saying previously that "being a mum is not a job".[10]

After the 2018 Budget, Richardson told his tenants live on air that their rent would be going up to compensate him for losses due to the Government's budget.[11]

• Mark Richardson at ESPNcricinfo