Nerves can get the better of a player when it comes to facing their first ball of First Class cricket. Firebirds batsman, Stewart Rhodes, as able to settle his and went on to make a ton on debut last week, which he promptly followed up with a half century in the latest round of the Plunket Shield.
Rhodes has spent the last two seasons in the Wellington club cricket scene, playing for Onslow before being selected for Wellington A en route to his selection for the Firebirds.
He is formerly from New South Wales, playing the majority of his cricket in Sydney. He scored 142* on debut against the Volts in the forth round of the Plunket Shield and made 53 in the opening innings against the Stags.
He said it’s great to be part of the Wellington team. “I had a chat with Anthony Stuart about coming to play over here and was fortunate to be selected for Wellington A. We trained a lot with the Firebirds and to get into the top team is quite special.”
The 23 year old has been an opening batsman for the majority of his cricket career, but for the Firebirds he’s batting down the order. “I’ll bat wherever I can,” he said. He’s also quite handy with the ball, bowling right arm medium.
He’s enjoying being part of the side and loves living in Wellington. He’s hoping he can stay in the team for as long as possible. “Wellington’s great. Everything is so central in the city and the boys are a good bunch,” he concluded.
