Cricketers reaching their maiden test centuries have exhibited all
sorts of outpouring of emotion and relief when they finally brought up
the milestone.
Exuberant leaps into the air, kissing of the
national crest on the helmet, extended hugs with team mates, belligerent
waving of the bat at opposing fans, and on some occasions in the
general direction of the media box.
Not so New Zealand's Peter Fulton, who on Friday in the
series-deciding third test against England simply raised his arms, took
his helmet off, spoke briefly to batting partner Kane Williamson then
proceeded to set about building on the score.
"A mixture of excitement and relief is a good way of putting
it," a downbeat Fulton told reporters at the conclusion of the first day
at Eden Park when his unbeaten 124 had helped his side to a impressive
250 for one.
"If I'm being honest I probably wondered at the start of this season if I'd get another chance to try and get a test hundred.
"(So) I've just tried ...to enjoy my cricket and be nice and
positive and take it as it comes and not get too caught up in what's
happened in the past and disappointments I've had along the way."
Disappointments have dogged Fulton's career.
As a top-order batsmen in his previous incarnations in the
test side, Fulton had scored 314 runs in 16 innings at an average of
20.93 and a high score of 75.
However, he had been discarded in 2009 and played first class
cricket, revamping his mental approach to the game and transitioning
into a highly effective opener for Canterbury.
It was that transition that helped him come back into the
focus for new coach Mike Hesson, who selected him for the test tour of
South Africa earlier this year.
Fulton was forced home with a knee injury prior to the 2-0
series drubbing at the hands of the Proteas but recalled by Hesson for
the series against England.
"Once you've been in and out of the team a few times you get
to that stage where you might have had your last chance," Fulton said of
his desire to get back into the international fold.
"I think I knew I was good enough, but at the back of my mind
was always that thing of 'if I don't get another chance, I'm not going
to be able to prove that I am good enough.
"Thankfully that wasn't the case."
The right hander, nicknamed "Two-Metre Peter" despite standing
just 1.98 metres tall (6-foot-6), scored 55 in the first innings in the
first test in Dunedin and 45 in the second innings of the second test
in Wellington.
Fulton, however, admonished himself in Wellington for failing
to push on, and told reporters on Friday that ensuring he got a big
score was on his mind from about the point he entered the 30s.
"After the last game I'd got a couple of starts but not been
able to go on and get a big score so that was at the back of my mind.
Once I got to 30 or 40 I had to try and get a really big score and make
it count.
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