Its Friday and its time to say hats off to another legendary ball puppeteer from the world of cricket. The first win on home soil/away soil, first home series win, first series win away from home becomes unforgettable and becomes more of a sentiment for the people of that country.
The legend we are talking has been a part of all such memories, as a matter of fact, these victories for New Zealand would have been incomplete without the herculean efforts of kiwi great Sir Richard Hadlee.
Sir Richard Hadlee :
Words seem short to praise the legendary New Zealand bowling icon Sir Richard Hadlee. The world acknowledges his feats as one of the greatest exponents of bowling with the new ball. The "Original Sultan-of-Swing" was the finest of fast bowlers of his time.
Richard Hadlee made his Test & ODI debut for New Zealand against Pakistan in February, 1973. Hadlee couldn't demonstrate the traits of a legend in making for the first three years of his career. It was against India in 1976 when Hadlee firmly announced his arrival in the international arena with 11 wickets in a game and single-handedly won the game for New Zealand. Sir Richard firmly cemented his place in the New Zealand squad when he steered his team to a historic first win over England by scalping 6 for 26 in the second innings that lead to England being bowled out for a meagre 64 chasing a target of 137.
1979-1980 witnessed Hadlee shining bright as he plundered another 11 wickets in a game against the then giants of the game-West Indies. Hadlee maiden test century in the second test against West Indies drew the match for the kiwis as they won the series 1-0. The victory was the beginning of a 12 year unbeaten record for New Zealand in test match series at home. In 1980's Queen's Birthday Honors his valorous efforts were honored and he was appointed as the Member of the Order of British Empire (MBE).
Sir Richard Hadlee was awarded with the coveted New Zealand Cricketer of the Year award in 1980 and Wisden Cricketer of the Year award in 1982.
Despite Hadlee's match figures of 0 for 89 in the first test against England didn't prove productive in New Zealand's first test victory on English soil, he still managed to top the batting and bowling averages for the kiwis in the series. In the return series in New Zealand in 1984, Hadlee's 8 wickets in the match and his quickfire 99 in New Zealand's only innings saw the Men-In-Black complete a remarkable three day innings victory over England.
1985-1986 saw a Hadlee transform from the finest pace bowler to a living legend. In New Zealand's tour to Australia, Hadlee's bowling was an exhibition of sheer pace, accuracy and conventional swing as he captured 9 for 52, his career best in Australia's first innings. His batting score of 54 and 6 more wickets in the second innings were the highlights of the match as New Zealand crushed Australia by an innings. His 7 wickets in the a losing cause in the second test of the series and 11 wickets in a winning cause for the kiwis in the third test gave his team their first series win on Australian soil.
Hadlee's fiery pace and accuracy were once responsible for England's wicketkeeper Bruce French getting hospitalised, as he hit him with a deadly bouncer.
Hadlee continued spelling his magic in 1986 as he took 10 wickets and scored 68 in New Zealand's first innings of the second test against England as New Zealand scripted first series win over England on English soil.
In 1987 and 1988, Hadlee suffered an injury that made people believe that he is as mortal as any other human. Seeing Hadlee hobble up to the stage on crutches prompted Australian commentator Richie Benaud to later say that he thought Hadlee "would never play cricket again."
In 1988, after a prosperous recovery, Hadlee broke the then world record of most wickets in test cricket against India. His 374th wicket in the first test of the series followed by a 10 wicket haul in the second test gave New Zealand a rare test win in India.
Sir Richard became the first bowler in the history of cricket to take 400 test wickets as he dismissed Sanjay Manjrekar in the second innings of the first test. Hadlee announced his retirement after the upcoming tour to England on the day when he completed 100th first class 5 wicket haul in an innings.
Hadlee was honored as a Knight Bachelor (for services to cricket) at the Queen's Birthday honours at Lords in 1990. Sir Richard Hadlee ended his test career by a 5-wicket haul that included a wicket with the final ball of his test career.
Hadlee's stats of 431 wickets in 86 Test matches with 36 five-wicket haul in an innings and 9 ten-wickets haul in a match at an average of 22.29, 158 wickets in 115 ODIs at an average just under 22, 1490 wickets in 342 First-Class matches with staggering 102 five-wicket haul in an innings and 18 ten-wickets haul in a match and another 454 wickets in 318 List-A career matches with 8 five-wicket haul in an innings authenticates his Wisden rating of "Second Greatest Test Bowler" of all time after Sydney Francis Barnes. His 15 fifties and 2 hundreds at test-level proves his batting efficiency.
Sir Richard Hadlee was rated as the finest fast bowler of his time despite the contemporary presence of the game's greatest names that include Dennis Lillee, Imran Khan, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Kapil Dev and Wasim Akram. On 3rd April, 2009 Sir Richard Hadlee was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall-of-Fame.
Awards and Recognition :
- 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.
I salute the legend who, even 23 years after his retirement, continues to inspire the budding generations of cricket.
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