Sir Richard Hadlee book tour in Gisborne tomorrow

STAR-STRUCK: British actress Rona Anderson demonstrates her cricket ability in front of members of the 1949 New Zealand team during their tour of England. From left are Martin Donnelly (kneeling), Gisborne’s Geoff Rabone (back), Walter Hadlee (kneeling), Frank Mooney (wicket-keeping), Harry Cave, Merv Wallace and John Reid. Picture from unknown source

DESPITE his many crickets feats, records and victories all over the world, Sir Richard Hadlee says his greatest achievement doesn’t involve him taking wickets.

Sir Richard will be in Gisborne tomorrow to speak about The Skipper’s Diary, the book he has compiled over the past four years, which is based on the meticulous diary of his late father, Walter Hadlee, the captain of the 1949 New Zealand team to England.

“This is, in fact, my greatest achievement in bringing this story back to life,” said Sir Richard.

That is a huge statement considering he is regarded by many experts as the greatest exponent of bowling with the new ball, having taken 431 test wickets at an average of 22.29, with 36 five-wicket bags in tests and 10 wickets in a test match nine times in an international career spanning 1973 to 1990.

Cricket fans might have already seen a Sky Television version of The Skipper’s Diary about the famous Forty-Niners side, who lost only one game out of 32 and drew all four (three-day) tests with England.

It was the tour that first gave New Zealand cricket respectability on the world stage.

Sixty-eight years later, Bert Sutcliffe, Martin Donnelly and John Reid (the only surviving player of the ’49 tour) remain among the greatest cricketers produced by this country.

Geoff “Bones” RaboneAnother player in the side was Geoff “Bones” Rabone, who played for Poverty Bay for several years after World War 2 and captained his country.

Rabone’s name is on the honours boards in the Harry Barker Reserve pavilion for scoring two centuries for the Bay.

“Geoff was selected as an allrounder on the tour,’’ Sir Richard told The Herald.

“What am I selected to do?” Rabone asked Walter Hadlee.

“You are selected to score 1000 runs and capture 50 or more wickets.”

“But I only score at a rate of 20 runs an hour,” Rabone pointed out.

Walter replied: “Then you will have to bat for 50 hours on the tour to achieve your batting target.”

Rabone reached the targets set by his captain, who was as thorough and meticulous as son Richard was to become.

Rabone claimed 50 wickets at 35.70, including two five-wicket bags, and took 24 catches, many of them in the slips.

“He had a very successful tour and was rated by Walter for his all-round ability and contribution,” said Sir Richard.

Rabone’s century, against Nottinghamshire, was scored on the fifth anniversary of the day he was shot down over France. Two of his Lancaster bomber crew members were killed.

Hidden by French civiliansPilot Rabone was hidden by French civilians until he was liberated by advancing British soldiers.

He captained New Zealand in South Africa in 1954 when he scored his only test century.

Rabone also played for the infamous 1955 New Zealand side who were dismissed by England for 26 at Eden Park. It remains the lowest score in test history.

Rabone was the second-highest scorer that day, with seven. He died in Auckland in 2006, aged 84.

Sir Richard, with such a stellar career for Canterbury, Tasmania, Nottinghamshire and New Zealand, admits having little recollection of his experiences in Gisborne while playing for Canterbury against Northern Districts.

“That would have been in the late 1970s or early 80s.

“It was definitely a very good batting pitch. It was tough on bowlers but I don’t know what I did.”

For the record, he played Shell Trophy matches at Harry Barker Reserve in 1976 (a win to Canterbury) and 1987 (a draw). He took 5-44 in the first innings of the 1987 game.