Focusing on his strength key for Kitchen
THE season has started a little differently for hardhitting Otago batsman Anaru Kitchen this year.
He spent it watching — well, sort of.
The 34yearold has given away firstclass cricket to focus on his limitedovers career.
But he kept close tabs on Otago’s progress during its opening two Plunket Shield games.
‘‘I was on the website checking up on how the boys were going ball by ball,’’ he said.
‘‘It is a new experience and not very nice.’’
A qualified electrician, Kitchen has spent his winters on the tools and the warmer months on the cricket field.
But priorities have changed for the young dad. He was no longer prepared to miss out on so much family life and felt his game was best served by clipping a format.
‘‘For me it was about focusing on what my strengths are. I’ve always been a keen whiteball cricketer.
‘‘I debuted for New Zealand in T20s last year and that was good for the confidence. I’m focused on trying to get back into that squad and to do well for Otago.’’
Kitchen and his wife, Hannah, have two sons — Leo (4) and Remy (2).
The family lives in Auckland and Kitchen commutes to Dunedin.
Last year he was doing a lot more travelling and was away for longer.
‘‘You end up missing all the important stuff. So it was a decision my wife and I made about what was best for our family.’’
Otago made a disappointing start to its Ford Trophy oneday campaign with a 37run loss to Central Districts in Nelson on Wednesday.
Having restricted the home team to 269 for seven, the Volts were seemingly on track to record a win.
Kitchen (32) and Josh Finnie (63) added 64 for the fifth wicket. But Kitchen tried to clip a bouncer to third man but feathered an edge, and Finnie was out soon after when he played an ambitious scoop shot and was bowled.
The tail folded and the game was lost. Kitchen took a good chunk of the responsibility.
With Otago down on experience this season, Kitchen’s role is to bat deep and support the middle and lower order.
‘‘I feel more responsibility in being part of that senior batting group of [Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom]. A lot lies on our shoulders and it is really our job to look to create a learning environment for those younger guys to come out and back themselves.
‘‘That is exactly what Josh Finnie did with coming in and playing so well. But as a senior batting group we weren’t able to convert on our starts.’’
Otago’s top five scored from 21 to 35. If one of them had gone on to post 60 or 70, it would probably have been enough for a win.
They will get another opportunity tomorrow when the Volts play Northern Districts in Hamilton.
‘‘For us it is a matter of getting a good start and extending our partnerships really.
‘‘They’ve got an experienced bowling lineup but as a senior batting group we’ve got the experience as well. We just need to step up really.’’