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John Wright (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
John Geoffrey Wright is a former international cricket
er representing - and captaining - New Zealand
, and, following his retirement in 1993, coaching the Indian national cricket team from 2000 to 2005. He made his international debut in 1978 against England
. During his career, he scored over 5,000 Test runs at an average of 37.82 runs per dismissal with 12 Test centuries, 10 of them in New Zealand. He also played for Derbyshire
in England. In first-class cricket
he scored over 25,000 runs, having scored over 50 first-class centuries. He has also scored over 10,000 runs in List A limited overs cricket.
He typically opened for New Zealand, and was noted as a tenacious, rather than spectacular, batsman. His team nickname was "shake"; reputedly a reflection on his packing technique. Together with Bruce Edgar
of Wellington, he formed what was arguably New Zealand's most successful and reliable opening partnership. During a match against Australia in 1980, he became the second player in history to score an eight off one ball in a Test, running four and collecting four overthrows. Toward the end of his career he used an unorthodox batting stance; whereas most batsman face the bowler with the bat in line with their legs, and perpendicular
to the ground, Wright would stand with his bat raised in parallel to it.
After retiring, Wright worked in sales for around two years - self-confessedly without great success. After taking up coaching for Kent County Cricket Club
, Wright enjoyed a successful coaching career with India, from 2000 to 2005, during which time the team improved immensely, winning a home test-series 2-1 against Australia (which included the historic Kolkata test which India won coming back from a follow-on with Indian batsman VVS Laxman making 281*), drawing a test series against Australia in Australia 1-1 in a four-match test series in 2003-04 (Steve Waugh
's farewell test series), winning a series against arch-rivals, Pakistan, and reaching the final of the 2003 Cricket World Cup
held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. The following months saw the team lose form, and series' to Australia and Pakistan. In May 2005, former Australian skipper, Greg Chappell
took over from Wright.
Wright was also appointed as coach of the World XI team that played Australia
in the ICC Super Series 2005
.
In 1990 together with New Zealand writer Paul Thomas he wrote an entertaining autobiography 'Christmas in Rarotonga'.
In 2006, John authored the book "John Wright's Indian Summers
" describing his experiences as coach of the Indian Cricket Team along with Indian journalist Sharda Ugra and Paul Thomas.
Currently, John Wright is serving New Zealand Cricket in various capacities. On 20 December 2010, John Wright was named as NZ Cricket Coach, replacing Mark Greatbatch
.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er representing - and captaining - New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and, following his retirement in 1993, coaching the Indian national cricket team from 2000 to 2005. He made his international debut in 1978 against England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. During his career, he scored over 5,000 Test runs at an average of 37.82 runs per dismissal with 12 Test centuries, 10 of them in New Zealand. He also played for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
in England. In first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
he scored over 25,000 runs, having scored over 50 first-class centuries. He has also scored over 10,000 runs in List A limited overs cricket.
He typically opened for New Zealand, and was noted as a tenacious, rather than spectacular, batsman. His team nickname was "shake"; reputedly a reflection on his packing technique. Together with Bruce Edgar
Bruce Edgar
Bruce Adrian Edgar was a cricketer from Wellington and one of the best batsmen New Zealand has ever produced. An accountant by profession, in the 1980s, he played 39 Tests and 64 One Day Internationals, altogether he played 175 first-class matches...
of Wellington, he formed what was arguably New Zealand's most successful and reliable opening partnership. During a match against Australia in 1980, he became the second player in history to score an eight off one ball in a Test, running four and collecting four overthrows. Toward the end of his career he used an unorthodox batting stance; whereas most batsman face the bowler with the bat in line with their legs, and perpendicular
Perpendicular
In geometry, two lines or planes are considered perpendicular to each other if they form congruent adjacent angles . The term may be used as a noun or adjective...
to the ground, Wright would stand with his bat raised in parallel to it.
After retiring, Wright worked in sales for around two years - self-confessedly without great success. After taking up coaching for Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
, Wright enjoyed a successful coaching career with India, from 2000 to 2005, during which time the team improved immensely, winning a home test-series 2-1 against Australia (which included the historic Kolkata test which India won coming back from a follow-on with Indian batsman VVS Laxman making 281*), drawing a test series against Australia in Australia 1-1 in a four-match test series in 2003-04 (Steve Waugh
Steve Waugh
Stephen Rodger "Steve" Waugh, AO is a former Australian cricketer and fraternal twin of cricketer Mark Waugh. A right-handed batsman, he was also a successful medium-pace bowler...
's farewell test series), winning a series against arch-rivals, Pakistan, and reaching the final of the 2003 Cricket World Cup
2003 Cricket World Cup
-Group stage tables and results:The top three teams from each pool qualify for the next stage, carrying forward the points already scored against fellow qualifiers, plus a quarter of the points scored against the teams that failed to qualify.-Pool A:...
held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. The following months saw the team lose form, and series' to Australia and Pakistan. In May 2005, former Australian skipper, Greg Chappell
Greg Chappell
Gregory Stephen Chappell MBE is a former cricketer who captained Australia between 1975 and 1977 and then joined the breakaway World Series Cricket organisation, before returning to the Australian captaincy in 1979, a position he held until his retirement 1983...
took over from Wright.
Wright was also appointed as coach of the World XI team that played Australia
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
in the ICC Super Series 2005
ICC Super Series 2005
The ICC Super Series 2005 was a cricket series played in Australia in October 2005 and featuring some of the world's best cricketers. There were two teams playing: Australia, the world's ranked number one side, and an ICC World XI made up of some of the best non-Australian cricketers...
.
In 1990 together with New Zealand writer Paul Thomas he wrote an entertaining autobiography 'Christmas in Rarotonga'.
In 2006, John authored the book "John Wright's Indian Summers
Indian Summers (book)
Indian Summers is a book authored by John Wright describing his experiences as coach of Indian national cricket team. It is co-authored by Indian journalist Sharda Ugra and New Zealand writer Paul Thomas.-External links:****...
" describing his experiences as coach of the Indian Cricket Team along with Indian journalist Sharda Ugra and Paul Thomas.
Currently, John Wright is serving New Zealand Cricket in various capacities. On 20 December 2010, John Wright was named as NZ Cricket Coach, replacing Mark Greatbatch
Mark Greatbatch
Mark John Greatbatch was a New Zealand cricketer. He scored more than 2,000 runs in his 41 Tests for New Zealand...
.