New Zealand is the first team that comes to mind as an under-achiever in cricket. Seven times, the team has reached the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup and lost six times, the most losses such a team has ever experienced. To date, New Zealand has won only one piece of ICC silverware, the ICC Champions Trophy in 2000. It remains the case that New Zealand is one of the world's most dominant cricketing nations, despite not winning any World Cups. Throughout history, this country has produced some of the most brilliant cricketers, many of whom were considered among the all-time greats. This article will highlight the top 10 New Zealand cricketers of all time.
1. Richard Hadlee
Richard Hadlee, being one of the best all-rounders and bowlers to ever bless a cricket pitch, has accomplished a lot in his 17-year career. In ODIs, Paddles won 158 wickets, including 5 Five forms, 5/25 against Sri Lanka at the 1983 World Cup, which was his best time in ODIs. Hadlee ended her cricket career on a massive scale by completing a five-walk run in her last match, a Test against England at Edgbaston, where she also took a wicket from her last delivery. In ODIs, Hadlee scored 1,751 runs, including forty half-centuries, with a 64ball 79 against England in 1983 in Adelaide being her best ODI result.
2. Daniel Vettori
Daniel Vettori, one of the greatest off-roaders the sport has ever seen, has grown to become one of the greats in the sport during his 18-year international career that began in 1997. Known for his slow left turn, Vettori made it a nightmare even for the most powerful batsmen Vettori was also a pretty useful hitter who could hit crucial runs of middle and lower order. The former RCB and DD player is New Zealand's eighth highest run-scorer in test cricket with 4,523 runs averaging 30.15 and 23 half-centuries 6 centuries. In ODI, Vettori scored 2,253 runs, including only half-centuries-four, with 83 being his highest ODI score against Australia in Christchurch.
3. Stephen Fleming
New Zealand's top hitter ranks third on this list. After impressing on his test debut, Fleming became one of New Zealand's most important cogs. Fleming led New Zealand to its only ICC silver medal at the ICC Champions Trophy in 2000 and led the Kiwis until he retired from ODI Cricket after the 2007 World Cup. He is New Zealand's most successful captain and is widely regarded as one of the greatest captains of all time. Left-handed is New Zealand's top run-scorer in tests and ODI, with 7172 tests at 40.06 and 8037 ODI at 32.40.
4. Martin Crowe
Martin Crowe is one of the most inventive players in cricket history, from his beautiful batting to his captaincy. Crowe scored 5444 runs in Tests at an average of 45.36, including 18 half-centuries and 17 centuries, with his match-saving performance of 299 against Sri Lanka at Wellington being his greatest score in the format. He finished his ODI career with a total of 4704 runs at an average of 38.55, 34 half-centuries, and 4 centuries.
5. Brendon McCullum
Brendon McCullum is a very aggressive batter with a flair for sixes, made his debut in 2002 before becoming a mainstay for the squad and one of the finest keeper-batsman of his time. McCullum completed his Test career with 6453 runs, which ranks second in New Zealand history. McCullum scored 31 half-centuries and 12 centuries at an average of 38.64, with his best Test score of 302 against India in Wellington. His best T20I score is 123 against Bangladesh in the 2012 ICC World T20.
6. Glenn Turner
Glenn Turner, one of New Zealand's most prolific batters of all time, was also one of the greatest and most consistent batsmen throughout his playing days. Turner's international career was also rather good, with 2991 Test runs from 41 Tests at an average of 44.64, 14 half-centuries, and 7 centuries to his record, with 259 being his highest score. Turner's greatest ODI score of 171 not out is the longest ODI innings in terms of balls faced.
7. Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson, one of the top batters today, has done more than enough to establish himself as one of New Zealand's greatest cricketers of all time. After hitting 131 on his Test debut against India, he established his position in the national squad. In the years afterward, Williamson has established himself as one of the sport's top batters and New Zealand's star. Williamson has 1125 runs in T20Is at an average of 36.29 with 7 half-centuries. Williamson has established himself to be a capable part-time bowler on several occasions, taking 29 Test wickets and 33 ODI wickets.
8. Ross Taylor
Ross Taylor has positioned himself as one of New Zealand's finest players of all time, as well as one of the best hitters in the world, during the course of his 11-year career. Taylor has been one of New Zealand's talismanic personalities in the squad since his debut in 2006. Taylor is New Zealand's third-highest run-getter in both Tests and One-Day Internationals, with 6030 Test runs at an average of 47.10 and 6144 ODI runs at 43.57. Taylor has the most centuries by a New Zealand batsman in ODIs (17), and he is also the 16th most overall. The former New Zealand captain has also played 73 T20Is, amassing 1256 runs and hitting five half-centuries.
9. Chris Cairns
With his explosive middle-order batting and astute fast bowling, Cairns established himself as one of the game's best all-rounders during the 1990s. Cairns retired from Test cricket in 2004 with 3322 runs, 22 half-centuries, and 5 centuries, his highest score in Test cricket being 158 from 172 balls against South Africa. Cairns captured 218 wickets with the ball, including 13 five-wicket hauls, the third-highest of any New Zealand bowler. Cairns resigned from One-Day Internationals in 2006 with 4950 runs, including 26 half-centuries and four centuries, three of which came against India.
10. Shane Bond
Shane Bond developed himself as among the most lethal fast bowlers of the early 2000s following a stellar first ODI series in which he took 21 wickets in nine matches. Shane Bond finished his Test career with 87 wickets from 18 matches at an average of 22.09, with his best bowling statistics of 6/51 against Zimbabwe in 2005. Bond, on the other hand, thrived in one-day internationals, taking 147 wickets from 82 appearances at an amazing average of 20.88. He also played 20 T20s, taking 25 wickets at an average of 21.72 and an economy rate of 7.
