Greatest New Zealand Test XI of all time

Every time New Zealand play, they don’t boast of a star-studded line-up. However, they always punch above their weights and exceed most of the expectations.

Over the years, New Zealand have produced some outstanding cricketers. Thus, here we look into the Greatest Test XI from New Zealand.

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Openers

Bert Sutcliffe

For a career that spanned about 18 years, Bert Scutlife played only 42 Tests. But the impact he had on New Zealand cricket was immense. After World War II delayed his debut, Sutcliffe played his first game in 1947 and made 58 on debut against England.

Sutcliffe was a batsman who could bat for long hours and make big scores. In just his third year in international cricket (in 1949), he was named one of the cricketers of the year by Wisden. In that year, he scored 423 runs (4 fifties and 1 hundred) in 4 Tests at an average of 60.43 in England.

His highest score of 230 (not out) came against India in 1955 at the Feroz Shah Kotla (Delhi). He was one of New Zealand’s best batsmen especially away from home as he averaged 42.04 overseas.

He finished his career in 1965 and had scored 2727 runs in 42 Tests at an average of 40.10.

Glenn Turner

Glenn Turner was one of the most aggressive New Zealand openers to have played the game. Turner had a solid technique which was mixed brilliantly with his attacking style of play.

In 1972, he struck two double tons in West Indies and scored 672 runs (at 96.00) in that series. In 1974, he scored twin tons (101 and 110 not out) against Australia in Christchurch to help New Zealand register their first-ever Test win over their Trans-Tasman rivals.

In 41 Tests, the right-handed batsman from Otago scored 2991 runs at an average of 44.64 with 7 hundreds.

Honourable Mention – John Wright

Middle Order

Stephen Fleming (captain)

Stephen Fleming is the most successful and one of the best captains to have played for New Zealand. He led the Test team for almost a decade (from 1997 to 2006) and had 28 wins (the most for any New Zealand captain) out of 80 games.

Also, he is also one of the best Kiwi batsmen of all time. He is the leading run-scorer in Test cricketer for his country. In 111 Tests, he has scored 7172 runs at an average of 40.06. He crossed the 7000-run mark in his final Test series becoming the first New Zealander to cross that mark. His best performances came at No. 3 where he scored 2977 runs at an average of 47.25 and 6 out of his 9 Test hundreds came at No. 3. Thus, he is the No. 3 in the list and also will captain the side.

Martin Crowe

Martin Crowe was the torch-bearer of New Zealand’s batting in the 1980s and 1990s. He was one of the most elegant batsmen of his time and he also had a rock-solid technique.

Crowe who made his Test debut in 1982, had a couple of tough years finding his feet in international cricket. In 1984, he scored his maiden Test century which helped him take off and the following years he displayed brilliant consistency. Crowe had the highest score of 299 (the only batsman to be dismissed on 299).Martin Crowe was the torch-bearer of New Zealand’s batting in the 1980s and 1990s. He was one of the most elegant batsmen of his time and he also had a rock-solid technique.

He played 77 Test matches and scored 5444 (most runs by a New Zealander when he retired) with 17 centuries.

Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson is perhaps one of the best New Zealand batsmen of the modern era. Not only New Zealand, he is ranked among the best batsman (across formats) in the world at the moment and is a part of the Fab 4 (which also consists of Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and Joe Root).

The current New Zealand skipper made his Test debut (at the age of 20) back in 2010 and made 131 in Ahmedabad on debut against a strong Indian line-up. And that innings has set-up his career. His consistency over the years has just improved and he is probably on-course to becoming one of New Zealand’s best batsmen of all time.

In the 63 Tests Williamson’s played so far, he’s scored 5214 runs at an average of 50.62. He has also scored 17 Test hundreds which is joint-most for a New Zealander.

Honourable Mentions – Nathan Astle, Ross Taylor

Wicket-keeper and all-rounders

Chris Cairns

After Sir Richard Hadlee, Chris Cairns was perhaps one of New Zealand’s most celebrated allrounders. On his day, he could run through the opposition’s batting line-up with his bowling and he could also counter-attack and take the game away from the opposition.

In 62 Tests, he amassed 3320 runs at an average of 33.53 and also picked up 218 wickets at an average of 29.40. He was only the second New Zealand player (and 6th overall) to achieve the double (3000 runs and 200 wickets).

Brendon McCullum (Wicket-keeper)

Even though he gave up the wicket-keeping gloves in the later stages of his career, Brendon McCullum is undoubtedly one of the best New Zealand wicket-keepers of all time. He was acrobatic, agile and brilliant behind the stumps.

With the bat, McCullum was brutal. He took the game away from the opposition with ease and his attacking instincts more often than not helped the Kiwis in setting up a big score. Also, he was a player who could bat anywhere in the batting order and still score runs. In his farewell Test, he smashed the fastest Test century (in 54 balls) against Australia at Christchurch.

He also became the first player to play 101 consecutive Test matches (from the debut). He scored 6453 runs (in 101 games) at an average of 38.64 and also hit 12 hundreds. He is also the only Kiwi batsman who has scored a triple century (302) in Test cricket.

Sir Richard Hadlee

Sir Richard Hadlee was probably the star of New Zealand’s line-up for almost 17 years. He always stood up when the going was tough (with both bat and ball). He is New Zealand’s best fast bowler, best allrounder and probably one of the best allrounders world cricket has ever seen.

Sir Richard Hadlee made his debut in 1973 and had a few sedate years. But once he adjusted to the demands of international cricket he made the world sit up and take notice of him. In his 17-year career, he played 86 Tests. He amassed 3124 runs (at 27.17) and took 431 wickets (at 22.3) in his Test career. When he retired, he was the leading wicket-taker in Tests until Kapil Dev overhauled his tally.

Also, an all-time New Zealand XI is incomplete with Sir Hadlee.

Bowlers

Daniel Vettori

Daniel Vettori was one of the most underrated players of his time. A canny left-arm off-spinner who can outsmart the batsmen with his accuracy is one of the eight players to have taken more than 300 wickets and scored more than 3000 runs in Tests cricket.

Vettori who made his Test debut as an 18-year old in 1997 played for 17 years and has been one of the key figures in New Zealand cricket. He had the ability to bowl long spells and keep things quiet from his end (when he didn’t get wickets). Vettori finished his career in 2014 and ended as New Zealand’s second-highest wicket-taker of all time (with 361 wickets).

Shane Bond

Shane Bond’s career was plagued with numerous injuries and that was probably what stopped him from becoming one of the best fast bowlers of all time. He could bowl fast and instilled fear in a lot of batsmen. He could run in all day and bowl at high speeds even in his final spell of the day. He could hit the 150kmph mark consistently.

In his 8-year career, Bond played a mere 18 Test matches which underline the number of injuries he suffered throughout his career. In those 18 Tests, he picked up 87 wickets at an average of 22.09. His strike-rate of 38.7 is the best by a New Zealand bowler.

Chris Martin

Chris Martin was a constant member of New Zealand’s Test side in the first decade of the 21st century. With Shane Bond’s frequent injury problems, Martin led the Kiwi bowling attack. He was the workhorse of the bowling attack as he could just run in, bowl long spells and give nothing away.

Having made his debut in 2000, Martin played for almost 13 years. He played 71 Tests and has picked up 233 wickets which is the third-highest for any New Zealand bowler.Chris Martin was a constant member of New Zealand’s Test side in the first decade of the 21st century. With Shane Bond’s frequent injury problems, Martin led the Kiwi bowling attack. He was the workhorse of the bowling attack as he could just run in, bowl long spells and give nothing away.

Honourable Mentions – Danny Morrison, Ewen Chatfield