BY TERRY MADDAFORD
In New Delhi
Ryan Archibald is set to become New Zealand’s most capped sporting international.
When he ran out with the Black Sticks for their fourth round game against Argentina early this morning, the 29-year-old Aucklander, regarded by many as the best to pick up a hockey stick in New Zealand, equalled the record 238 caps held by now-retired women’s stalwart Suzie Muirhead (nee Pearce).
When, as expected, Archibald plays New Zealand’s final pool match against Germany early tomorrow morning he will take his tally to a record 239.
Stephen Fleming played 280 One Day Internationals between 1994-2007 and Daniel Vettori is up to 254 after Saturday’s 2929th ODI at Eden Park but many would say tests are cricket’s real internationals. Again, Fleming leads with 111 -- 14 more than Vettori. Both well short of Archibald.
In other sports the leaders do not come close.
Irene van Dyk has played 103 netball internationals for the Silver Ferns and another 72 for her native South Africa.
Sean Fitzpatrick is the most capped All Black with 92. Current captain Richie McCaw is on 76 -- one behind team-mate Mils Muliaina.
Steve Sumner played more than 100 games for the All Whites but not all were full internationals with many against club or lesser sides.
There is a certain irony in Archibald claiming the record.
When he arrived here for the World Cup, he trailed team-mate and good friend Phil Burrows by one on the international list. But when Burrows, the Black Sticks captain, was ruled out through injury for the third game against Korea, Archibald caught him. Now, with Burrows unlikely to play another game here after an MRI scan on Saturday revealed deep bruising in his calf following an incident against the Dutch when a player’s knee caught him painfully in the lower leg, Archibald is set to claim the record.
It has been a stellar career for the unassuming but talented midfielder who followed his father Jeff (a member of the 1976 gold medal winning Olympic team) and a player also rated among the very best to play for his country on to the international scene.
Ryan Archibald played his first game for New Zealand against Malaysia in Whangarei 12 years ago. His 100th was against Canada in Napier and his 200th against the United States at North Harbour in that epic Olympic qualifier in which the Black Sticks beat Argentina to claim their spot at the Beijing Olympics.
Now, with the record in sight, Archibald is not thinking about quitting.
“I would like to go on to the London Olympics,” said Archibald who was named man of the match against Korea and picked up $800 for his efforts. “I’m still enjoying it as much as I did 10 years ago.. I feel my form has been pretty good but that has been helped by playing in a team which has been doing well.
“I certainly didn’t think that qualifying for the three big tournaments this year were beyond us. I’m looking forward to the Champions Trophy as it will be only the second I have played in.”
Archibald has scored “about 50 goals” but says most came earlier rather than later in his international career. Little surprise in that as these days he is seen more as the midfield general than a strike forward.
He is enjoying his first trip to India after which he will return to his “other home” in Holland where he will finish his fourth season with top Dutch club Rotterdam after which, depending on long-time girlfriend Kim Noakes’ work commitments, he will return home and hopefully return to the Auckland workforce in a “good corporate role.”
And play more hockey.
ENDS
