Date-stamped : 17 Dec93 - 19:52
The Guardian 17 March 1993 - Wright retires after  New  Zealand's
win

 Ken Rutherford hit 53 not out in helping New Zealand to a  five-
wicket  victory  and  a  share  of  the  series in the third Test
against  Australia  in  Auckland  yesterday.  But  New  Zealand's
delight  was  tinged  with  sadness when John Wright, their left-
handed opening batsman, announced his retirement at 38.
 In his 82 Tests since 1978, Wright scored 5,334 runs at an aver-
age of 37.82. Only Sir Richard Hadlee, with 86, played more Tests
for New Zealand.
 ''I feel comfortable stopping now,'' said Wright, adding that he
would  retire from all first-class cricket to allow young players
to take his place. The national coach Warren Lees said: ''I  will
always remember him as a true, gutsy Kiwi.''
 New Zealand's victory - their first in a  home  Test  for  three
years - levelled the series 11 after Australia won the first Test
by an innings and 60 runs in Christchurch and drew the second  in
Wellington.
 New Zealand resumed their second innings on the final day  need-
ing only 33 runs to win with five wickets in hand, and Rutherford
and the wicketkeeper Tony Blain took 29 minutes to reach the tar-
get of 201, Blain finishing on 24 not out.

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