Sir Richard Hadlee

A single-minded perfectionist

The son of New Zealand Test captain Walter Hadlee, his greatness lay in a classical action, unerring accuracy and devastating late movement first at pace and later in his career at fast-medium. Hadlee inspired New Zealand to their first victories against Australia and England and was feted in England where he helped engineer Nottinghamshire's first county championship for 52 years and completed the fabled 1,000 run-100 wicket double.

A single-minded perfectionist he overcame a physical and mental breakdown to be at his incomparable best in 1985-86 when his match figures of 15-123 in Brisbane led to New Zealand's first series win in Australia. He took 33 wickets at 12.15 in the three-match series. A consummate professional he was the first bowler in history to take 400 Test wickets. It was largely through his efforts that New Zealand had success against all other countries between 1979 and 1984.

'I had four key words that went through my mind when I was bowling, one was rhythm, the other was off stump, the other one was desire and the other one Lillee.' Richard Hadlee

'Richard Hadlee was a master at his ability to probe batsmen's weaknesses, that really was the thing that separated him...' Brian Murgatroyd

The Stats

Richard Hadlee pioneered a close approach to the wicket by bowling ‘stump to stump’ and reaped the reward of increased wicket tallies. In contrast, his batting depended not on a carefully developed technique, but on a superb eye and natural timing. He swung the bat generously and regularly chanced aerial shots. Such was his power, that aerial hits always represented a reasonable risk.

Did you know?

In the period in which Richard Hadlee played Test cricket, New Zealand played 14 matches without him, not winning a single game. When he did play his 86 Tests, New Zealand won more than a quarter (22).