Name:

Lowry, Thomas C

Nickname:

Tom

Date of Birth:

17 Feb 1898

Gender:

Men

Place of Birth:

Fernhill, Hawke's Bay,

Date Died:

20 Jul 1976

Career:

Test: 1930 - 1931
First Class: 1919 - 1933

Teams:

Somerset (Regional)
New Zealand (Country)

1931: New Zealand practice at Lords

Tom Lowry: First captain of New Zealand

Tom Lowry was born into a wealthy landed family in the Hawkes Bay area where his father farmed and raised champion horses.

Lowry was a technically correct right handed batsman. He was educated at Heretaunga School, Hastings, from 1908 to 1911, then attended Christ's College, Canterbury. Physically large – he stood over six feet tall – he captained the college's First XV cricket team. He went to England at the age of 23 where he played cricket for both Cambridge University and Somerset.

Lowry was picked for the New Zealand cricket team for the tour of Australia in 1925/6 though no Tests were played.

Lowry captained New Zealand in their first test, in 1930 against England. He led New Zealand on their tours of England in 1927 and 1931 and managed the third tour, in 1937. He played 7 Tests, scoring 223 runs with a highest score of 80.

Lowry retired from first-class cricket in 1933 after a 19 year career. He played 198 first-class matches, scoring 9,421 runs at an average of 31.19, with 18 centuries and a highest score of 181. He also took 49 wickets at a cost of 24.85 runs each.

After retirement, Lowry became a leading bloodstock breeder at the family owned Okawa Stud in Hawke’s Bay. He was also a national selector and president of New Zealand Cricket.

Lowry died at Hastings Memorial Hospital on 20 July 1976.