Bert Sutcliffe, one of the most successful New Zealand First Class and Test Cricket batsmen, died after a prolonged illness on Friday, 20 April 2001. He was 77.

He was regarded as one of best left-handed batsmen of the post-WWII era. In fact, his individual score (385) for Otago against Canterbury at Lancaster Part, Christchurch in 1952 is not only the highest individual First Class score in New Zealand to-date but it also long stood as the highest individual First Class score by a left handed batsman. Until Charles Brian Lara scored 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994.

In a brilliant career spanning from 1941 to 1966, he scored 26 First Class centuries in New Zealand. He also scored three other mammoth knocks of 355, 275 and 264 for Otago in Plunket Shield matches. During his innings of 275 versus Auckland he was associated with L Watt (96) to yield a record first wicket partnership of 373 runs in 1950-51.

Sutcliffe came into the limelight immediately after World War II when the MCC team visited New Zealand in 1946-47. Sutcliffe scored a century in each innings (197 and 128) for Otago against the tourists. He made 58 in the first innings of the drawn Christchurch Test.

More accolades awaited him during New Zealand's tour of England in 1949. He scored 2627 (Average 59.70), a feat only exceeded by Sir Donald Bradman for a touring side in England. The tests, all 3-day matches, were drawn. Bert Sutcliffe's own performance in the series was remarkably consistent. He played a string of good knocks - 82 (Leeds), 57 (Lords), 101 (Old Trafford) and 88 & 34 (The Oval).

In the following season in New Zealand in 1950-51, he scored 116 against England in the First Test Match at Christchurch, which ended in a draw. Later he captained New Zealand in their first ever test series against the West Indies, in New Zealand in 1951-52.

New Zealand batting revolved around him during that era. Some indication of that may be had from his scores of 62 out of 172 v South Africa (Wellington, 1952-53), 80 out of 187 v South Africa (Johannesburg, 1953-54), and 74 out of 125 v England (Dunedin, 1954-55). Bert Sutcliffe once blasted 46 in 13 minutes for the New Zealanders versus Hampshire at Southampton in 1949.

His best Test series was against India in 1955-56, when he amassed 611 runs (Avg 87.28). The prolific batsman scored 13 not out at Hyderabad, 73 at Bombay and his highest Test cricket score of 230 not out during this series.

Returning after a five year absence from International Cricket, at the age of 49, he represented New Zealand on the tour of India and Pakistan in 1964-65. He was again successful on the Indian leg of the tour, where he scored 56 at Madras, 151 not out at Calcutta and 54 at New Delhi.

In 42 Test Matches he aggregated 2727 runs (Avg 40.70) and scored 5 centuries and 15 fifties.

Alas, the Cricket World has lost another legend!

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