Black Caps wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Parore admits he's made enough errors of judgment in his career to last him a lifetime. He hopes that now, after almost a decade playing for New Zealand, he has learnt from his mistakes and is maturing.

``I can't keep making excuses about the impetuosity of youth nowadays. I'm almost 28 and should know better.

``I think I've learnt usually the hard way from my mistakes and don't want to make them again,'' said Parore, who carries the nickname Maverick.

Parore is not just something of a ``loner''. His cocksure attitude has contributed to his being involved in a succession of incidents, including:

Speaking out against New Zealand team management on his return home injured from the West Indies tour in 1995-96 for which he was severely censured;

Being rejected for selection by his Auckland association in 1996-97 for his attitude. A reconciliation was eventually reached;

Various misdemeanours and clashes with officialdom, resulting in fines when playing for New Zealand overseas.

It's a record Parore concedes as poor.

``Some of my troubles have been my own doing, but not everything. Unfortunately, because of the public profile the game has, everything is pretty much out in the media, but sometimes not all the facts. I find everyone has an opinion of you before you're even introduced.''

Parore said his run-in with Auckland administrators had not affected his relationship with the Auckland players. ``That was a misnomer, the problem I had was with management, not the players.''

Parore says he now tries to keep a lower media profile and hopes he has entered a more stable phase of his life.

``When I was younger, I suppose I wanted some limelight, but I don't need it now. I'd rather just keep to myself.''

Keeping to himself has meant Parore often has his head buried in a swag of legal books on tours, having just completed the third year of a four-year law degree, backing up a marketing degree.

Parore is already doing some work for the Auckland Crown prosecutor's office. ``I want to be a barrister involved in litigation work, I don't mind speaking on my feet,'' says Parore, something that opposition batsmen can testify to with the odd word from behind the stumps.

He finds his law studies an outlet for the pressure of constant cricket and the touring life. ``The other guys and I have joked that while they have played 10,000 hands of euchre, I'll have a law degree. But I find it's been good having something else to concentrate on, rather than just focusing on cricket all the time.''

Parore wants to play through to next year's World Cup and tour of England, while an end-of-season tour to the West Indies in 2000 also sounds appealing.

It appears Parore has always been a confident character. New Zealand Cricket's operations manager John Reid remembers his first encounter with 10-year-old Parore at a coaching clinic. ``Adam shook hands and said 'G'day Reido', which was pretty forward for a kid of that age!''

Parore was first selected as wicketkeeper-batsman in the New Zealand team as a precocious youngster in 1990. He later assumed the gloves on the retirement of Ian Smith. He was moved aside as wicketkeeper when Lee Germon was installed by coach Glenn Turner, but when Germon himself was dropped mid-season in 1997, Parore returned behind the stumps.

He says coach Steve Rixon, himself a former wicketkeeper-batsman, has given him invaluable advice.

``He's made me an infinitely better keeper. He's worked on a number of subtle things that has helped my game. I think I'm more consistent now.''

One aspect of his game Parore knows he has to improve on is his running between wickets. Parore concedes that too often he has been involved in a higher than usual number of run outs and that this has proved costly for the team.

``I've been told to be more careful in future and I'll be working on that. We can't afford to waste wickets with run outs.''

Parore is awaiting the forthcoming test series against India and South Africa with anticipation. ``I've usually played pretty well against both teams. I don't mind the fast bowlers,'' says Parore.

He says being small and able to play off the back foot was to his advantage in handling the speedsters. He is comfortable batting at No. 6 in tests and No. 5 in the one-day arena.

``Those positions are probably best for me,'' says Parore who has batted in most positions between No. 3 and No. 9.

Parore hopes frisky wickets will be prepared for the Indian series.

``If you look at the strength of the two sides, their batting strength is phenomenal, so why prepare good batting decks? They just smash you around.

``Although they have some good seamers like Srinath, I think our experience in our conditions would ensure we come out ahead over all.''