Rance revels in late reprieve
It’s fair to say Seth Rance’s mind was in a dark place yesterday morning.
That was till his phone rang at 8.30am, two hours before the scheduled Black Caps squad announcement for the one-day international cricket tri-series in Ireland, and selector Gavin Larsen’s name flashed up. Rance was in.
‘‘Still, even now I’m not really sure how to react. It’s obviously been a dream of mine since you start playing cricket at a young age, to play for New Zealand,’’ Rance said.
‘‘I wasn’t holding out too much hope yesterday and I was a little bit taken aback to get the call.’’
Taken aback might be putting it mildly, for the 29-year-old from Greytown in Wairarapa, soon to take wife Suzannah and 18-monthold son Lachie on the long flight to rejoin Furness in the UK’S North Lancashire League.
It was common knowledge in cricket circles yesterday that Canterbury’s Ed Nuttall had made the cut for Ireland and Rance - one of the country’s premier limited overs bowlers for the Central Stags - had missed out.
That was till scan results on Nuttall’s troublesome back meant bad news for the youngster, but a deserved bonus for Rance who would have been unlucky to be overlooked. Not considered were six frontline pace bowlers on Indian Premier League duty, while his Stags team-mates Doug Bracewell and Ben Wheeler were also on the injured list.
‘‘After a couple of seasons of being one of the top white ball bowlers in the country it was getting to that stage of now or never. If I wasn’t going to make it then, I don’t think I ever was. I’m pleased that, in a way, good things come to those who wait.’’
In February, Rance spoke of his frustration at not being noticed by the national selectors. Last summer he topped the Ford Trophy 50-over wicket-taking charts with 19 at 13.78, and this season led the way in the Twenty20 Super Smash with 15 wickets.
His career numbers are compelling. In 33 list-a games, Rance has 57 wickets at 22 and an economy rate of 4.99, and in T20 50 wickets at 21 and economy rate of 7.63.
Rance made his first-class debut in March 2009 but played just 25 matches in all, with shoulder and ankle injuries wiping out two seasons. He tried a move to Wellington with the Johnsonville club but was soon back in Stags country.
He finally hit his straps in his late-20s, gaining a yard of pace. His late inswinger causes most batsmen problems and his yorker makes him viable at the death.
‘‘About three years ago we were at a crossroads with what I needed to do to get my career going and push for higher honours.
‘‘I decided it was the time to really start running in harder. I
got on the Stags’ contract list so I was able to go to the gym every day and get fitter and stronger. That was really what I needed to push myself to that next level.’’
He spoke with Larsen after the one-day competition and was told he needed to perform in Plunket Shield cricket, too. In his last two first-class games he took 12 wickets, including 6-31 with the pink ball against Northern Districts under lights in Hamilton.
Rance is scheduled to fly out with his family next weekend and get some games for Furness before joining his new Black Caps teammates for their opening ODI in Dublin on May 14.
‘‘It’s a huge opportunity to put my hand up again. Look at the conditions you’re likely to find over there, and what better opportunity could you ask for as a bowler, against Ireland and Bangladesh in Ireland in May.’’