Cricket: Guptill leads way at Seddon Park

Martin Guptill. Photo: Gerard O'Brien
Martin Guptill. Photo: Gerard O'Brien

The New Zealand batsman with the best record at Seddon Park is Kane Williamson, right?

Wrong. So it must be Ross Taylor, the other half of New Zealand's celebrated No 3-4 batting punch. Wrong again.

The batsmen with the best test record in Hamilton is opener Martin Guptill.

Okay, it's a relatively small sample of five games, and his numbers do include 189 against Bangladesh five years ago, but set alongside three other half centuries.

Even so, compared with his overall test average from 37 tests, it's a stark difference.

Indeed, throw in Guptill's ODI record at the ground - 42.25 average, superior to his overall 41.16 - and it seems the Auckland opener fancies Seddon Park.

His century against Bangladesh there in the World Cup helped get New Zealand past a potentially sticky challenge - chasing 289 and getting there with seven balls to spare - and maintain their unbeaten run en route to making the final in Melbourne.

It also served the purpose of preparing him for his stonking cup record score of 237 not out against the West Indies in Wellington a few days later, the second highest of all ODI innings, behind only India's Rohit Sharma's 264 against Sri Lanka last year.

Guptill's closest rival in the Seddon Park stakes is captain Brendon McCullum, whose overall average of 38.73 leaps to 49.46 from his eight matches in Hamilton.

Taylor is marginally up at Hamilton compared to his overall 45.99, and he's scored three centuries on the ground, against England, Australia and the West Indies.

In terms of hundreds, it has been his most productive ground. Of his 13 tons, he's got two at each of Napier's McLean Park and the Basin Reserve.

Of the quartet - opener Tom Latham plays his first test in Hamilton today and ditto No 6 Mitchell Santner, who will play only his third test - Williamson has the weakest record, albeit only from three tests.

But as he's in prime form, don't be surprised if his average of 40.33, nine less than his overall mark, eases up by the end of this test.

Batting numbers at Seddon Park:

Martin Guptill
Overall: 37 tests, 30.6
In Hamilton: 5 tests, 50.33

Ross Taylor
Overall: 68 tests, 45.99
In Hamilton: 7 tests, 46.69

Brendon McCullum
Overall: 98 tests, 38.73
In Hamilton: 8 tests, 49.46

Kane Williamson
Overall: 45 tests, 49.16
In Hamilton: 3 tests, 40.33

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