Walter Hadlee never played for a winning Test team. Yet, it could be said that he had more influence on the future success of New Zealand cricket than his record of six draws and two defeats as captain suggests.

Record public interest after the lean war years meant between 1945/6 and 1950/1 the nation toured and hosted England, as well as playing their first test against Australia. Hadlee not only led his country with his "grand personality," but was made an OBE for services to cricket. Moreover, his sons Dayle and Richard were born during this time.

Hadlee is the grandfather of the modern game in New Zealand, having filled most of the top roles in the game. He was made CBE in 1978, his final year as chairman of the New Zealand Cricket Council's board of control.

Son Richard went one better in 1990 with a knighthood. At the time Richard was world record holder for wickets taken in tests.

Christchurch Boys' High School, the font of many a future test player, was where young Walter was educated. A key moment in his development as a cricketer, apart from the assiduous notes and obsessive listening he undertook as a boy, occurred when Curly Page, Ian Cromb and Bill Merritt visited school assembly before embarking on the 1931 England tour. Walter later wrote, "with pride we bade farewell to the three old boys." Hadlee recalls these formative events with clarity even today, such were the influence on his desire to play for New Zealand.

The most notable part of Hadlee's career, particularly as a Test captain, was his leadership of the 1949 tour to Britain. It was just the fourth tour there, and only the third with Tests, after Tom Lowry's 1931 team and Page's 1937 squad of 17. Lowry's team included Page, and Page's, in succession, included Hadlee. Thus, the national captain emerged with a natural progression. Lowry had been educated at Cambridge and played for Somerset, Page was his vice captain and heir apparent, Hadlee was the most experienced and best qualified to captain the side after the war.

Unfortunately, the 1945/6 Australians trounced the New Zealanders, bowling them out for just 42 and 54 in the only test between the two countries up to 1973/4. Because of the war the team was inexperienced, six making their test debuts, although they didn't know it at the time, as the Imperial Cricket Conference did not ratify the match as a test until Australian pressure brought about recognition in March 1948.

Hadlee was the natural choice as captain. He had made his New Zealand debut in March 1936 and was a successful Canterbury captain.

He won the toss in Wellington and batted on the damp pitch, hoping it would get worse for the Australians.

The last eight New Zealand wickets fell after lunch, for just five runs. Hadlee commented simply, "We failed and that is all there is to be said."

In the second innings, after the Australians had moved in fits and starts to 199/8 declared, Hadlee was bowled by Keith Miller for three, and the team, five of whom were not to play for New Zealand again, fell in 32 overs and two balls.

In a pre-tour guide for the 1949 New Zealanders, Peter West described Hadlee. "From all accounts, Hadlee will be a splendid captain, thoughtful and sagacious." One of these accounts was undoubtedly Joe Hardstaff senior's, who had coached in Auckland.

"He is a captain with a thorough knowledge of the game. He will make an ideal skipper in England and a good example to younger players both on and off the field." At the time he had more centuries (13) than any other player in New Zealand, one of which had been scored in the one-off test in Christchurch in March 1947. This was a scheduled three-day match, but after Hadlee and Bert Sutcliffe added 133 for the first wicket in 116 minutes to begin the match, rain washed out the last day. Even an added day, the fourth, was rained off.

Hadlee planned the tour meticulously. He saw a cricket match " as a kind of balance sheet." Hadlee's "remarkable gift for prognostication" came into play here. "I set us a number of team targets. Briefly they were: 1. We were to play 32 first class matches. I wanted 16 wins. 2. 30 centuries. 3. We would play about 400 innings. Run outs were akin to economic waste in business and must happen only in the event of: (a) A direct hit from a fieldsman. (b) A calculated risk in chasing runs to win a match. I set a limit of 2% - eight for the tour. Our final results were: 13 wins, 29 centuries, 11 run outs.

Hadlee wrote: "I rate this tour as the highlight of my playing days, not only because of the achievements on the field or the welcome profit of 17,000 pounds, but for the companionship, fun and fellowship that endures to this day."

Even now, in old age, Hadlee recounts these targets with accuracy and pride, relishing his near parody of a parsimonious, teetotal, Methodist accountant.

Graham Dowling, another undemonstrative Christchurch accountant who captained and administered New Zealand cricket, had many similarities in approach to Hadlee.

Of course, Hadlee had helped pave the way for New Zealand teams to succeed in tests by Dowling's reign in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Hadlee's target setting strategies were ahead of their time in many ways, strategies that are now formulated by coaches and other specialists, who have taken over many of the roles of the captain. Interestingly, Hadlee believes a modern day coach would not have fitted in on this tour.

In 1965, when Hadlee managed the New Zealanders on tour, he continued his captaincy philosophy into management.

"My approach to the game was to look after my players. They were more important than I was."

On the pitch Hadlee sought to "read and assess a game - something I enjoyed. Trying to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition. Making the best of what we had."

He aided tour captain John Reid early in his New Zealand captaincy with advice on nursing and resting bowlers and field placing amongst other things.

Other innovations Hadlee pioneered were looking to the minor associations for national players such as Fen Cresswell from Marlborough and future national captain Harry Cave, from Wanganui. This was a precursor for his support for Central Districts affiliation in 1954/5 and Northern Districts granting of first-class status in 1956. But, it was for his cricketing knowledge and unfailing fairness that Hadlee is best remembered.

Brittenden wrote, "Perhaps it was easier for him, than for most, to be a team man, for he has always had a very highly developed appreciation of the game as a study of tactics and strategies."

"So he knew, almost without question, what had to be done at any given moment. He usually succeeded in doing it."

John Arlott called him "a strategic commander of real ability," though his military style planning was not a result of war service, as his poor eyesight made him unfit for duty. Having to wear glasses, caused he believes from copying cricket scores from Wisden as a boy, also prevented moving beyond rugby for Canterbury to higher honours.

Hadlee's stern side comes out when asked about his current influence on New Zealand cricket. Teaching his sons on a backyard pitch so well is arguably a bigger contribution than any other to New Zealand cricket. Dayle, who played 26 tests, is now director of the BIL Cricket Academy at Lincoln near Christchurch.

Sir Richard, of course, is convener of selectors. "He's played far more cricket than I have and should have far more knowledge," Walter says when asked if he offers his 86 test veteran son advice on selections. "It's none of my business!"

He believes, "For a country of our size we do well. In my own assessment I am very happy as long as we are competitive."

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