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

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