Famous Cricketers No 79 - Richard Hadlee

Bowling O M R W BB Ave 5i 10m Test matches (6b) 127 18 } 884 23 5-121 38.43 1 - (8b) 75.2 2 Other matches (8b) 34.3 1 163 8 5-47 20.37 1 - Tour (6b) 127 18 } 1047 31 5-47 33.77 2 - (8b) 109.5 3 Career (6b) 482.1 90 } 4830 185 7-23 26.10 5 1 (8b) 839.7 99 1976/77 The face of New Zealand cricket was transformed when a vociferous crowd at Eden Park got right behind Hadlee with chants of “Had-lee, Had-lee” as he charged in at the Australian batsmen. Figures of 28-2-147-2 do not make impressive reading but as Wisden records “… Hadlee’s figures were grossly misleading” and he had five chances missed off his bowling. On the second day he gave Gary Gilmour a torrid time and Wisden said: “Richard Hadlee bowled extremely well with the new ball, beating Gilmour repeatedly.” Hadlee (44 and 81) also defied the Australian bowlers with the bat. On the first day he “defended ably against a hostile Lillee” ( Wisden ) while ‘Jock’ Edwards (51) provided the fireworks. However, it was Hadlee’s “spectacular counter-attack” ( Wisden ) in the second innings that aroused the 18,000 crowd into a state of wild excitement. Coming in with the New Zealand innings in tatters at 31 for 5, and facing Dennis Lillee at top pace on a lively wicket, Hadlee hit one six – “he on-drove Lillee magnificently” ( Wisden ) – and ten fours in a stay of 146 minutes. With Mark Burgess (38) he shared a stand of 105 for the sixth wicket in just 117 minutes and saved New Zealand from total despair. This was New Zealand’s highest sixth-wicket stand in Tests against Australia and was not exceeded until Ken Rutherford (65) and Jeremy Coney (101*) added 109 at the Basin Reserve in 1985/86. However, despite such heroics Australia went on to record an emphatic victory with Lillee taking 11 for 123 in the match. During the season Hadlee experienced a disappointing time with the ball but made a big advance with his batting. Innings of 53 against Central Districts and 44 against Wellington were scored when others had failed and runs were badly needed. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 51. Canterbury v Otago, Christchurch, December 17, 18, (19) (Match drawn) c B.J.McKechnie b P.J.Petherick 20 322-8 13 1 37 2 S.J.McCullum b 275 P.R.Facoory c M.L.Ryan did not bat - 126-4 52. Canterbury v Northern Districts, Whangarei, December 26, 27, 28 (Match drawn) c M.J.E.Wright b R.O.Collinge 32 329-9d 21.2 2 73 1 R.W.Fulton b 273-9d did not bat - 232-4d 4.1 1 11 0 28-1 53. Canterbury v Auckland, Auckland, December 30, 31, January 1 (Match drawn) not out 29 350-5d 15 1 61 0 299-5 c J.M.McIntyre b L.W.Stott 6 236-9d 6 0 33 1 J.D.Riley c L.J.Forde 164-7 1 54. Canterbury v Central Districts, Christchurch, January 3, 4, 5 (Canterbury won by ten wickets) c sub (P.J.Holland) b D.R.O’Sullivan 53 177 14 1 43 2 D.H.Payton c D.R.Hadlee 154 1 R.W.Ormiston c N.M.Parker did not bat - 94-0 11 5 21 3 G.N.Edwards lbw 116 R.W.Ormiston c M.L.Ryan D.J.Kay b 55. Canterbury v Wellington, Christchurch, January 7, 8, 9 (Wellington won by eight wickets) b S.B.Cater 44 109 16.2 0 59 2 B.W.Cederwall b 217 E.J.Chatfield b b E.J.Chatfield 1 247 9 2 29 1 R.J.Kean c B.E.Congdon 142-2 56. NEW ZEALAND v AUSTRALIA, Christchurch, February 18, 19, 20, 22, 23 (Match drawn) c R.W.Marsh b K.J.O’Keeffe 3 357 29 1 155 3 I.C.Davis c G.P.Howarth 552 1 G.J.Cosier b G.S.Chappell c G.M.Turner 20