Richard Hadlee

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Richard Hadlee : biography

3 July 1951 –

However, after a successful rehabilitation, the next opportunity for Hadlee to claim the test wicket world record was against India in India in 1988. After touring India in 1976 Hadlee, plagued by stomach troubles, had decided never to play cricket there again, however the opportunity to make history was too strong a lure to pass up. He duly captured the record, and his 374th test wicket, in the first test of the series. In the second test a 10 wicket haul helped New Zealand to a rare test win in India, however the series was eventually lost 2–1.

In a home series against India in 1989/90, Hadlee become the first bowler in history to take 400 test wickets when he dismissed Sanjay Manjrekar in the second innings of the first test. Shortly after helping New Zealand to another test victory over Australia at Wellington by taking his 100th first class 5 wicket haul in an innings, Hadlee announced that he would be retiring after the upcoming tour to England.

Shortly before the second test of the England series at Lords the Queen’s Birthday Honours 1990 were announced and included Hadlee’s appointment as a Knight Bachelor for services to cricket. Hadlee was not invested with his knighthood until 4 October 1990 after the end of his final test match on 10 July 1990. (Lt.-Col. Sir Maharajkumar Dr. Vijayananda Gajapathi Raju (better known as the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram or Vizzy) is the only person to be knighted for services to cricket while an active test cricketer, in 1936. Unlike Hadlee however, Vizzy’s knighthood was recognised for his administrative efforts, not his services to cricket as a player.) Hadlee celebrated the achievement by scoring 86 in New Zealand’s first innings and winning the man of the match award. In the final test of the series, Hadlee ended his test career by taking 5 wickets in his final bowling performance, and taking a wicket with the final ball of his test career.

Achievements and records

Test Five-wicket Innings

  • List of international cricket five-wicket hauls by Richard Hadlee

Test Ten-wicket Matches

Test Ten-wicket Matches
Number Match Figures Match Against City/Country Venue Season
1 11/58 IND}} Wellington, New Zealand Basin Reserve 1976
2 10/100 ENG}} Wellington, New Zealand Basin Reserve 1978
3 11/102 WIN}} Dunedin, New Zealand Carisbrook 1980
4 10/102 SRI}} Colombo, Sri Lanka Colombo Cricket Club 1984
5 15/123 AUS}} Brisbane, Australia The Gabba 1985
6 11/155 AUS}} Perth, Australia WACA Ground 1985
7 10/140 ENG}} Nottingham, England Trent Bridge 1986
8 10/176 AUS}} Melbourne, Australia Melbourne Cricket Ground 1987
9 10/88 IND}} Mumbai, India Wankhede Stadium 1988

Sporting Awards

Hadlee has received many awards throughout his career, including:

  • Appointed MBE for services to New Zealand sport in 1981.
  • Awarded a Knighthood for services to cricket in 1990.
  • Winner of the Windsor Cup on 13 occasions, including 12 consecutive years, for the most meritorious bowling performance of the season.
  • New Zealand Sportsman of the Year 1980
  • Wisden Cricketer of the Year – 1982.
  • New Zealand Sportsman of the Year 1986
  • New Zealand Sportsperson of the last 25 years 1987 (shared with runner, John Walker)
  • New Zealand Sportsperson of the Decade 1987
  • Inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009
  • Awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Letters from Nottingham University.

He also came 12th Best Cricketer of all time in ESPN Legends Of Cricket.