Hedley Howarth


Hedley John Howarth was an international cricketer who played 30 Tests and nine One Day Internationals for New Zealand. The elder brother of Geoff Howarth, former New Zealand captain, he was born and died in Auckland.

Domestic career

Howarth attended Auckland Grammar School, where he was a pace bowler. After he left school he had back trouble, and his coach, Merv Wallace, suggested he take up spin bowling. He became an orthodox left-arm bowler, and made his first-class debut in 1962.

International career

Between the years 1969 and 1977, Howarth played 30 tests for New Zealand, capturing a total 86 wickets at an average of 36.95. Justin Vaughan chief executive of New Zealand Cricket credited Howarth with playing a significant role in New Zealand's international cricket history, crediting Howarth's "five-wicket bag against India at Nagpur in 1969 was a match winner that helped give New Zealand its first ever test win on the sub-continent". India were chasing 277 in the fourth innings but it was Howarth's 5 for 34 that gave New Zealand the lead, highlighted by a catch off his own bowling, ending a 167-run win. Howarths's other five-wicket haul was in a Test against the Pakistan national cricket team in Karachi, when he picked up 5 for 80.
Howarth was a part of the New Zealand national cricket team that played in the 1975 Cricket World Cup in England, making it to the tournament semi-finals.
March 1977 marked his retirement from Test cricket. After retiring, Howarth devoted his time to his family's fishing business, Kia Ora Fisheries, later Kia Ora Seafoods.

Death

Howarth died at age 64 on 7 November 2008. A cause of death was not initially disclosed, though Howarth had been battling cancer for some time.