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Barry Sinclair

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Barry Sinclair

MNZM
Sinclair in 2016
Personal information
Full name
Barry Whitley Sinclair
Born(1936-10-23)23 October 1936
Wellington, New Zealand
Died10 July 2022(2022-07-10) (aged 85)
Height5 ft 3 in (160 cm)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 94)23 February 1963 v England
Last Test7 March 1968 v India
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1955/56–1970/71Wellington
Career statistics
Competition Test FC LA
Matches 21 118 5
Runs scored 1,148 6,114 118
Batting average 29.43 32.87 29.50
100s/50s 3/3 6/38 0/0
Top score 138 148 48
Balls bowled 60 245 0
Wickets 2 2
Bowling average 16.00 43.00
5 wickets in innings 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 0
Best bowling 2/32 2/32
Catches/stumpings 8/– 45/– 0/–
Source: Cricinfo, 1 April 2017

Barry Whitley Sinclair MNZM (23 October 1936 – 10 July 2022) was a New Zealand cricketer. He played 21 Test matches for New Zealand national team as a specialist batsman from 1962–63 to 1967–68, and captained the team from 1966 to 1968.

Early life

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Sinclair was born in Wellington on 23 October 1936.[1] He attended Rongotai College in his hometown.[2] He was first selected to play for Wellington when he was eighteen.[3]

Domestic career

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Sinclair played for Wellington from 1955–56 to 1970–71.[2] His first century came against Northern Districts in 1963–64, when he made 102 not out, out of a team total of 138 for 5, to take Wellington to a five-wicket victory almost single-handedly.[4] His highest first-class score was 148, captaining Wellington against the Australians in 1966–67, out of a total of 365 for 7 on the first day.[5]

International career

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Sinclair scored three of his six first-class centuries in Tests, though never played in a winning Test side. He captained New Zealand in three Tests (the Second and Third Tests against England in 1965–66, and the First Test against India in 1967–68) and also in the four-match series against the visiting Australian team in 1966–67 and on the brief tour to Australia in 1967–68. He retired from international cricket in 1968 to concentrate on work.[2]

Sinclair's highest Test score was 138 against South Africa in Auckland in 1963–64, made in 345 minutes out of a team total of only 263.[6] It was the only century by either side in the three-Test series; at the time, it was the highest Test score ever attained by a New Zealander in New Zealand.[7] He took two Test wickets in ten overs, both against Pakistan in Lahore in 1964–65, after scoring 130 in the first innings.[8]

Sinclair's short stature was sometimes exploited by pace bowlers. However, he learned how to handle short-pitched deliveries. He was a neat, tidy batsman notable for his cutting and on-drives.[2] Christopher Martin-Jenkins described him thus: "Fair-haired and one of the smallest cricketers ever to appear [for] New Zealand, Barry Sinclair was a sound and often fluent right-handed batsman with an indomitable spirit and an excellent field at cover."[9]

Later life

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Sinclair was made the inaugural patron of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association in 2010.[10] Five years later, he was voted a Legend of Wellington Sport.[2] In the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours, Sinclair was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to cricket.[11]

Sinclair died on 10 July 2022 aged 85.[1][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Barry Sinclair profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos". ESPN Cricinfo. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Romanos, Joseph (3 March 2016). "Barry Sinclair cricket biography launched". Stuff. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Cricket: Former New Zealand test captain Barry Sinclair dies aged 85". The New Zealand Herald. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  4. ^ Northern Districts v Wellington, 1963–64. Cricketarchive.com. Retrieved on 27 May 2018.
  5. ^ Wellington v Australians, 1966–67. Cricketarchive.com. Retrieved on 27 May 2018.
  6. ^ "3rd Test, Auckland, March 13 – 17, 1964, South Africa tour of New Zealand". Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  7. ^ Wisden 1965, p. 841.
  8. ^ "2nd Test, Lahore, April 02 – 07, 1965, New Zealand tour of Pakistan". Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  9. ^ C. Martin-Jenkins, The Complete Who's Who of Test Cricketers, Rigby, Adelaide, 1983, p. 404.
  10. ^ NZCPA announces Barry Sinclair in New Patron Role Archived 14 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  11. ^ "Queen's 90th birthday honours list 2016". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.

Further reading

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  • Bill Francis, In Pursuit of Excellence: The Barry Sinclair Story, The Cricket Publishing Company, West Pennant Hills, NSW, 2016
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Sporting positions
Preceded by New Zealand national cricket captain
1966–68
Succeeded by