Richard Collinge
CountryNew Zealand
FullnameRichard Owen Collinge
Birth date2 April 1946 (age 80)
Birth placeWellington, New Zealand
BattingRight-handed
BowlingLeft-arm medium-fast
RoleBowler
Internationaltrue
Internationalspan1965–1978
Testdebutdate22 January
Testdebutyear1965
TestdebutagainstPakistan
Testcap102
Lasttestdate24 August
Lasttestyear1978
LasttestagainstEngland
Odidebutdate11 February
Odidebutyear1973
OdidebutagainstPakistan
Odicap2
Lastodidate17 July
Lastodiyear1978
LastodiagainstEngland
Club 1Central Districts
Year 11963/64–1969/70
Club 2Wellington
Year 21967/68–1974/75
Club 3Northern Districts
Year 31975/76–1977/78
Columns4
Column 1Test
Matches 135
Runs 1533
Bat avg 114.40
100s/50s 10/2
Top score 168*
Deliveries 17,689
Wickets 1116
Bowl avg 129.25
Fivefor 13
Tenfor 10
Best bowling 16/63
Catches/stumpings 110/–
Column 2ODI
Matches 215
Runs 234
Bat avg 25.66
100s/50s 20/0
Top score 29
Deliveries 2859
Wickets 218
Bowl avg 226.61
Fivefor 21
Tenfor 20
Best bowling 25/23
Catches/stumpings 21/–
Column 3FC
Matches 3163
Runs 31,848
Bat avg 314.43
100s/50s 30/4
Top score 368*
Deliveries 331,388
Wickets 3524
Bowl avg 324.41
Fivefor 322
Tenfor 34
Best bowling 38/64
Catches/stumpings 357/–
Column 4LA
Matches 437
Runs 4116
Bat avg 49.66
100s/50s 40/0
Top score 438*
Deliveries 42,038
Wickets 452
Bowl avg 420.15
Fivefor 42
Tenfor 40

Richard Owen Collinge (born 2 April 1946) is a former New Zealand cricketer, who played 35 Tests and 15 ODIs. He was a New Zealand Cricket Almanack Player of the Year in 1971.

Domestic career

He played domestic cricket for three different sides. He made his first class debut for Central Districts in 1963/64 and played for them until 1969/70 before moving to Wellington from 1967/68 to 1974/75 and finally Northern Districts till 1977/78. In 163 first class matches he took 524 wickets, with a best of 8-64, at an average of 24.41.

International career

A tall, strongly-built man, Collinge bowled left arm fast medium, ending his long run with both arms stretching upwards before delivering the ball.[1] He pitched the ball up and relied on late movement. He was a good foil for the often wild express pace of the young Richard Hadlee and was instrumental in helping Hadlee bring New Zealand's first Test victory over England in 1977-8, with figures of 3-42 and 3-45.[2] The fast inswinger with which he bowled Geoff Boycott at Wellington began England's collapse to 64 all out and brought the crowd to fever pitch.[citation needed]

He made his Test debut in 1965 and played his last match at Lord's in 1978.[3] [4] His best Test and One Day International bowling figures were both against India in 1975–76, with 6 for 63 and 5 for 23 respectively. At the time of his retirement, he was New Zealand's greatest wicket-taker, with 116 wickets at 29.25 each, despite missing many matches during his 13-year test career.[citation needed]

He could also be a useful batsman. At Auckland in 1972–73, Collinge scored 68 not out for New Zealand against Pakistan; this was the highest score ever made by a number 11 in a Test match at the time. That innings also formed part of the record last-wicket stand in Tests: 151 put on with Brian Hastings in 155 minutes.[5]

A monograph titled Following in the Footsteps of 'Davo' written by Bill Francis was published in 2024.

Notes

  1. ^ Kieza, Grantlee. FAST and FURIOUS: A celebration of Cricket's pace bowlers, 1st ed, Lester-Townsend Publishing Pty Ltd. 1990. ISBN 0-949853-41-0 (Australia)
  2. ^ Wisden 1979, p. 917.
  3. ^ Lynch, Stephen (19 January 2004). "The worst bowling average, and mystery injuries". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2007-01-16.
  4. ^ "New Zealand v Pakistan in 1972/73". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2007-01-16.
  5. ^ Wisden 1974, p. 942.