New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson had to wait five years for his maiden first-class century after debuting as a 16-year-old in 2007. His wait for a Test ton was much shorter.
The 22-year-old lefty reached his first Test hundred at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday, just two weeks after scoring nine runs in his Test debut in Chittagong, smashing 13 fours and a pair of sixes to register 116 in the first innings of his second career match.
‘It’s obviously a good feeling to score a hundred for your country. It took me a lot longer playing first class; I was a lot younger obviously, so I guess I’ve learnt my trade and I guess I’m just starting to kick on and grow, so to get it this early is a pretty satisfying feeling,’ Anderson said at a press briefing after close on day three.
‘To happen this early on in my career has put me in a good headspace; it feels like you deserve to be here and it feels like you belong. Going ahead to the next games and the next innings as well I’ve just got to make sure that I get back to where I normally go and just start again. I can’t get too ahead of myself.’
The all-rounder, who also has a wicket in the match, dominated the crucial fifth-wicket partnership with Kane Williamson (62), scoring 105 of the 140 the pair put on together to rescue New Zealand from 127-4. By the time Anderson was caught tamely by Sohag Gazi at extra cover off Al-Amin Hossain, the Black Caps had already overhauled Bangladesh’s first innings total of 282.
‘Once we started playing a few more shots the field started moving around and it just felt like we started getting more on top as the game went on, so then momentum shifted and once we spent more time in the middle we carried on from there and then got in a better position,’ he said of their partnership.
‘I guess it’s good to have the position we’re in.’
‘[Williamson’s] obviously an amazing player and he helps you through every over and talks you through what you need to do. It’s nice batting with someone I bat with back home quite often.
‘I guess I’m somebody who gets a little bit carried away when I start hitting the ball. I like to keep going, so he knows me well enough that he just has to mention a couple of things and rein me back in and then I can go about my business again.’
Anderson also credited the New Zealand A team’s tour of India in August and September, during which he hit just his second first-class century, for his ability to handle Bangladeshi batting conditions.
‘[It helped] massively. Coming over here, it’s a lot hotter than what we’re used to back home, so having a warm-up in India was perfect.
‘It was very hot in [Visakhapatnam] when I got that hundred, so to come here, even though it’s very humid, it wasn’t quite as hot today. It put me in good stead for today knowing I good get through a decent amount of time [in the heat].’
The left-arm pacer was also asked if was ready to take his place as the next Kiwi pace-bowling all-rounder, following the like of Richard Hadlee and Chris Cairns.
‘Well it’s obviously [only] my second game. Chris Cairns was always an idol of mine when I was growing up. I’ve probably based my game around what he always did. You’d always play in the backyard and want to be Chris Cairns; you’d want to whack the ball and bowl and get everyone out.
‘With injuries I’ve had to sort of postpone [my Test career] for a long time, but now I’ve started to mature in my body and get into a rhythm of playing.
‘I want to put my hand up and be that all-rounder in the side, so if I can just do my job and get runs and take wickets where I can, then I’m happy to be in the side.’
-With New Age input
