Name:

Hadlee, Walter A

Nickname:

Wally

Date of Birth:

04 Jun 1915

Gender:

Male

Place of Birth:

Christchurch

Career:

Test: 1937 - 1951
First Class: 1933 - 1952

Teams:

New Zealand (Country)

1949 2nd Test: Compton saves blushes against New Zealand (Lords)

Walter Hadlee: Grand Old Man of NZ Cricket

Walter Hadlee was born on 4th June 1915 at Lincoln, Christchurch. He was a tall, bespectacled right handed batsman. He had an attractive array of strokes, including a fluid off drive. He was also a brilliant fielder. 

He made the 1937 team for England and was the captain of the 1949 team despite having missed overseas war service in World War II because of his poor eyesight. The 1949 tour to England that Hadlee led was highly successful - NZ drew all four Tests and got through the entire tour with only a single surprise defeat to Oxford University. 

Hadlee played 11 Tests scoring 543 runs at an average of 30.17 He made his only Test century (116), against England at Christchurch in 1947. In first-class cricket 1935-51, he scored 7523 runs, averaging 40.44, with 14 centuries.

After retiring, Hadlee served NZ cricket in many capacities including as the Chairman of the Board of Control. He is the father of five sons, including three - Barry, Dayne, Richard - who represented NZ at cricket.

Hadlee received an MBE and was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.

Hadlee died on September 29, 2006 at Windermere Home, Christchurch aged 91.

Source: CricketCrowd Staff Reporter