Sir Richard John Hadlee MBE, nicknamed "Paddles" for his large feet, (born July 3, 1951), New Zealand cricketer (national team known as the Black Caps), and universally regarded as their best-ever. A bowling "all-rounder", in an 86-Test career he took 431 wickets (at the time the world record), and was the first bowler to pass 400 wickets, with an excellent average of 22.29, and made 3124 Test runs at 27.16, including two centuries and 16 fifties.
For Nottinghamshire, on often overgrassed Trent Bridge pitches, his bowling was often quite deadly, and he gained some analyses that are remarkable in an era of covered pitches, notably his eight for 22 against Surrey in 1984. He represented Nottinghamshire between 1978 and 1987, but played only three full seasons due to injuries and Test calls. However, his bowling figures for those three seasons were quite remarkable:
- 1981: 4252 balls, 231 maidens, 1564 runs, 105 wickets for 14.89 each.
- 1984: 4634 balls, 248 maidens, 1645 runs, 117 wickets for 14.05 each.
- 1987: 3408 balls, 186 maidens, 1154 runs, 97 wickets for 11.89 each (the lowest average since 1969).
Hadlee was a right-arm pace bowler. Initially extremely fast, as the years progressed he gained accuracy, movement off the wicket and in the air, and a reputation that probably gained him quite a few wickets on its own. Perhaps his most potent delivery was the often unplayable outswinger, which became his main weapon in the latter stages of his career. His economical action was notable for his close approach to the wicket at the bowler's end (to the point where he occasionally knocked the bails off in his approach), a line which meant he was able to trap many batsmen leg before wicket.
His middle-order batting was usually aggressive and enterprising, and, oddly enough, left-handed. Though he often failed badly against top bowlers, he was extremely effective at punishing lesser attacks, so much so that for Nottinghamshire in 1984 and 1987 he averaged over 50 (only W.G. Grace and George Hirst have come comparably close to heading both batting and bowling averages in a season).
Because of seasonal differences, Hadlee also played provincial cricket in New Zealand, representing Canterbury. In recognition of his achievements, the south stand of Jade Stadium is named the Hadlee stand, and New Zealand and Australia regularly compete in one-day matches for the Chappell-Hadlee trophy.
Hadlee was, unusually, knighted in 1990 for services to cricket before his playing career had finished. He is currently the chairman of the New Zealand board of selectors.
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