Editorial: Straight bat behind New Zealand cricket

Opinion

In 1983, during the final year of his presidency of the New Zealand Cricket Council, Walter Hadlee was at Headingly as New Zealand recorded its first test victory on English soil. If there were tears in his eyes as the winning run was scored it would have been wholly excusable. This was the culmination not only of his many years as a player, captain, selector and manager of New Zealand teams, and as a national administrator, but as the patriach of a cricketing dynasty, the likes of which this country might never see again.

No other figure contributed more to the rise of New Zealand cricket than Hadlee, who died in Christchurch yesterday, aged 91. The 1949 team, which he led astutely in a drawn test series in England, was the first to suggest this country could be more than an add-on to tours of Australia. His role in developing a core of younger players was, arguably, more significant than his own 11-test career as an enterprising batsman.

Leading English writer John Woodcock noted Hadlee played cricket "in the sporting manner usually associated with his country". A similar Corinthian spirit was to characterise his time as an administrator. Occasionally there was conflict, as when Glenn Turner sought to instil a greater degree of professionalism into the local game. But his stature and strength of character were major pluses in steering cricket through a turbulent era.

Unsurprisingly, given Hadlee's adept nurturing of talent, three of his sons also played for New Zealand. Sir Richard, the most notable, was the on-field complement to his father's administrative cajoling. The pair were key ingredients in New Zealand cricket's rise to previously unscaled heights. Like Hadlee, New Zealanders drew huge pleasure and satisfaction from that success.