Date-stamped : 24 Jun97 - 14:19
9 May 1997

Record-holder Anderson Declares Innings Closed

by Geoff Longley

Canterbury cricketer Trudy Anderson, who forged a formidable
opening batting partnership with Debbie Hockley at provincial and
club level, has retired from the sport.

Anderson, 37, departs after being a cornerstone of the
phenomenally successful Canterbury team for the last decade.

Anderson leaves after a highly successful last season where she
recaptured her New Zealand place; was the provincial batswoman of
the year; and was the leading run-getter at first grade level
with 897 runs at 59.80.

Anderson closes her career just months from the World Cup in
India joining fellow recent national team members, Sarah
Illingworth and Kirsty Flavell, on the sideline."ŅIt's time for
me to move on with other stages of my life. I wanted to go out
with a roar rather than a whimper and I feel I did that last
season," Anderson said.

Anderson said a mystery foot injury since before Christmas which
has prevented her running and training properly contributed to
her decision.

Anderson was a controversial omission from the New Zealand team
that toured England last year, but her form won her a place in
the side for the Shell Rosebowl in the last season against
Australia.

Shunted around the batting order, with the selectors preferring
to use Aucklander Shelley Fruin to partner Hockley, Anderson
struggled with scores of 0 (batting No. 4), 0 (No. 7) 33 (at 3),
13 (at 6) and 5 (at 5).

"In some ways perhaps I wasn't there psychologically. I wasn't
really expecting to get back in."

Anderson said she enjoyed her time opening with Hockley in recent
seasons. "With the amount of time we often batted together we
just seemed to develop that sort of understanding when you knew
what each other was doing when it came to running between the
wickets."

Anderson began her first-class career with Auckland in 1979-80
then played for Central Districts for four years, the last three
as captain.

Such was the strength of the opening stand established between
Anderson and Hockley, Anderson is second only to Hockley in the
number of runs scored at limited-over level for Canterbury, 1060
at 48.18. Her highest score, 102 against North Harbour, is one of
two centuries while she also scored five half centuries from 34
innings. She shares the first wicket Canterbury one-day record of
203, appropriately with Hockley. At the last tournament for
Canterbury, Anderson scored 163 runs at 50.4, a strike rate of
58.4, with her unbeaten 98 against Auckland, the tournament's
highest score.

At first-class level, Anderson scored 652 runs at 22.48 from 31
innings. Her highest score of 151 against Wellington in 1994-95
is the highest score against Wellington by a Canterbury player.
The opening stand with Hockley that day reaped 254.

For New Zealand, Anderson was the player of the series against
Australia in 1995. She made her one-day debut against the
Australians in 1993 scoring 49 at the Gabba while her highest
one-day score is 82 against Australia at Wanganui (1995).

Hockley paid tribute to club coach at Lancaster Park Garry
MacDonald for "helping me with with confidence and technical
aspects of my game and Greg Hills (the Canterbury first XI coach)
who has always portrayed an honest and positive coaching style".

Anderson, a qualified level two coach, is considering coaching
cricket, possibly being with the Canterbury under-23 side.


Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz)

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