Sir Richard John Hadlee KBE (born July 3, 1951), New Zealand cricketer (known as the Black Caps), and universally regarded as their best-ever. A bowling "all-rounder", in an 86-Test career he took 431 wickets (at the time a record) at the excellent average of 22.29, and made 3124 test runs at 27.16, including 2 centuries and 16 fifties.

Hadlee was a right-arm pace bowler. Initially extremely quick, as the years progressed he gained accuracy, movement off the wicket and in the air, and a reputation that probably gained him quite a few wickets on its own. His economical action was notable for his close approach to the wicket at the bowler's end (to the point where he occasionally knocked the bails off in his approach), a line which meant he was able to trap many batsmen leg before wicket.

His middle-order batting was usually aggressive and enterprising, and, oddly enough, left-handed.

Hadlee was, unusually, knighted for services to cricket before his playing career had finished. He is currently the chairman of the New Zealand board of selectors.

Bowlers who have taken 400 Test wickets
Shane Warne (AUS) | Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) | Courtney Walsh (WI) | Glenn McGrath (AUS) Kapil Dev (IND) | Richard Hadlee (NZ) | Anil Kumble (IND) | Wasim Akram (PAK) | Curtly Ambrose (WI)

Bowlers who have taken 5 wickets in a Test innings 25 times or more
Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) | Richard Hadlee (NZ) | Anil Kumble (IND) Shane Warne (AUS) | Ian Botham (ENG) | Wasim Akram (PAK) | Glenn McGrath (AUS)

External Links

• Cricinfo Player Profile : Richard John Hadlee (http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/PLAYERS/NZ/H/HADLEE_RJ_05001407/)