Sulzberger keen to put experience to use

Among the more interesting points of what is already shaping as a fascinating summer of cricket will be the advance Central Districts all-rounder Glen Sulzberger can make.

One of the leading performers on the New Zealand 'A' tour of England during the winter, Sulzberger proved himself ready to handle a heavier workload, especially at the bowling crease, than has previously been the case in his career.

His off-spinners produced 28 wickets at a cost of 16.35 in England, nearly twice as many wickets as the next bowler on the tour.

It was a significant career move for the player first selected as a batsman for Central Districts (CD), who in his youth was a medium-pace bowler.

But a back injury halted any aspirations he had in that area and he reverted to concentrating on his batting. He made his first-class debut as a left-hand opening batsman in the summer of 1995/96.

Before the start of last summer he could best be described as a developing first-class player. He'd scored 917 runs at 27.78 and had taken 20 wickets at a costly 41.30.

However, he showed he was emerging from the "developmental chrysalis" by scoring 628 runs at a respectable average of 48.30. And with the 248 runs he scored in England he goes into the new summer having nearly doubled his haul of first-class runs and showing an average of 31.45.

His bowling, drastically under-utilised in the past, has shown by far the greater improvement. He has more than doubled his first-class wicket haul and now has 48 wickets at the eminently more respectable 26.75.

Not surprisingly, Sulzberger is looking to learn the lessons of the 'A' tour and to apply himself as he never has before.

"The bowling side was a great improvement on the tour. I had opportunities I have not had in the past.

"It has given me a lot of confidence and I have been getting good players out with a reasonable amount of success.

"But the main thing I learnt on the tour was about managing my time, especially when on tour," he said.

Sulzberger wasn't complaining about the lack of bowling he has had with CD in the past.

"CD's had two spinners, and I was selected as a batsman primarily. I've never been bitter about it and have given the others support.

"But the potential is there as an avenue for progressing my career.

"This season I want more of the sort of consistency I managed in England in my season with CD.

"I've had a couple of disappointing seasons in Shell Cup and I want to rectify that and I want to get the right balance to my game. It is a hectic schedule and there is a lot to think about," he said.

CD's lack of performance in the Shell Cup has been one of the on-going problems for a side which clearly has the potential but which has struggled to realise it. With youth on its side, and some young players starting to emerge, Sulzberger feels the good times may not be too far away.

The lack of New Zealand players coming in and out of the team would mean there would not be too much of a disruption this summer.

"Having Michael Mason back will make a huge difference while Lance Hamilton was away with the New Zealand 'A' side. There are guys in the side who are still trying to prove a few things and there is a definite focus to go about things in a good way this year," he said.

In the hunt for the best form for himself he is looking to be more specific in what he is doing at practice. He's looking to maintain his level of improvement in his batting while working more with his bowling option.

Complementing that is his career move towards event and player management. He is one of the organisers of CD teammate Mark Douglas' benefit year.

Whatever else, Sulzberger's emergence as a spin bowler of definite promise on the first-class scene is helping to improve what was the barest of cupboards in New Zealand's cricket repertoire. And with his ability with the bat, he could be en route to carving a more than useful place for himself in the national scheme of things.

Glen Sulzberger in cricket:

Mat    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave 100  50     W    R    Ave
First-class   37   61   4  1793  159   31.45   5   6    51 1434  28.11
One-day       37   35   4   889   71   28.67   -   6    16  796  49.75