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Richard de Groen

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Richard de Groen
Personal information
Full name
Richard Paul de Groen
Born (1962-08-05) 5 August 1962 (age 62)
Otorohanga, Waikato, New Zealand
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast-medium
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 185)6 November 1993 v Australia
Last Test25 November 1994 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap 86)16 December 1993 v Australia
Last ODI19 December 1994 v Pakistan
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1987/88–1989/90Auckland
1990/91–1995/96Northern Districts
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 5 12 60 50
Runs scored 45 12 311 69
Batting average 7.50 2.39 7.97 4.31
100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0
Top score 26 7* 35 12
Balls bowled 1,060 549 12,352 2,340
Wickets 11 8 210 56
Bowling average 45.90 59.75 25.07 29.00
5 wickets in innings 0 0 10 0
10 wickets in match 0 0 2 0
Best bowling 3/40 2/34 7/50 4/16
Catches/stumpings 0/– 2/– 10/– 10/–
Source: Cricinfo, 4 May 2017

Richard Paul de Groen (born 5 August 1962) is a former New Zealand international cricketer. He played five Test matches and 12 One Day Internationals for New Zealand in 1993 and 1994.[1] He is now a Commonwealth Games official.

Life and career

De Groen was born at Otorohanga in Waikato and educated at Mount Albert Grammar School in Auckland.[2] He studied accountancy at the University of Auckland and worked as a manager with Price Waterhouse from 1986 to 1997.[3]

He played domestic cricket for Auckland and Northern Districts between the 1987/88 and 1995/96 seasons.[4] In the match against Otago in the 1992/93 Shell Trophy he took 7 for 50 and 6 for 49.[5] He was the leading bowler in the competition that season with 46 wickets at an average of 16.84; the next most successful was his Northern Districts teammate Matthew Hart with 34 at 17.23.[6] Northern Districts won the competition. Wisden described de Groen as "a medium-fast right-armer of admirable control and stamina".[7]

He toured Australia with the Test team in 1993-94, playing in two of the three Tests after being called up during the tour to replace the injured Willie Watson.[8] He then played two Tests at home against Pakistan in 1993-94, and a final Test on the tour to South Africa in 1994-95.[9] He took his best Test figures in the First Test against Pakistan: 3 for 40 and 2 for 48.[10]

De Groen was Games Team Manager with the New Zealand Olympic Committee from 1998 to 2007, controlling all aspects of team preparations for three Commonwealth Games (1998, 2002 and 2006) and three Olympic Games (2000, 2002 and 2004).[11] Since 2008 he has been the Development Director with the Commonwealth Games Federation.[12]

Cricket Academy of Excellence

Richard De Groen is the founding member and CEO of the Cricket Academy of Excellence which is a hard nosed cricket academy based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Notable graduates of the academy are, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Sachin Tendulkar and Dion Nash. All went on to successful careers for their respective countries. Richard De Groen takes a hard nose approach with his coaching, players who have come through the Cricket Academy have stated they wouldn't be the player today without the knowledge and no "bullshit approach".

Notable attendees to the Academy are Jesse Ryder & Doug Bracewell, both were close to graduation of the academy but unfortunately for the love of the drink both were expelled for a four day bender which resulted in multiple fights and sex scandals which left De Groen with no choice but to expel the two. It is said that De Groen gave both Jesse and Doug and ultimatum choose a life of hookers and cocaine or a successful life of cricket. Both left immediately afterwards choosing the life of drugs and hookers over cricket. Richard said he understands their decision but is disappointed to lose the two.

Richard De Groen came out of retirement in 2012 to participate in the Appleby 6's tournament in Invercargill. De Groen's presence drew a crowd well over 5,000 to the Appleby oval. De Groen and the Dolphins managed to finish 1st in the plate final winning $27.50 and a leg of lamb for the efforts. De Groen afterwards said he wanted to thank Albion in Gore for spending the day drinking out of a keg turning up to the final drunk leaving the Dolphins nothing but victory.

Richard De Groen was awarded with the key to Invercargill for his efforts in the tournament.

References

  1. ^ Richard de Groen, CricInfo. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  2. ^ "Sports Dinner". Quarterly. 7 (4): 14. 2012.
  3. ^ "Richard de Groen". LinkedIn. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  4. ^ Richard de Groen, CricketArchive. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  5. ^ "Otago v Northern Districts 1992-93". Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Bowling in Shell Trophy 1992/93". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  7. ^ Wisden 1994, p. 1192.
  8. ^ Greg Baum, "The New Zealanders in Australia, 1993-94", Wisden 1995, pp. 1047–59.
  9. ^ "Test Matches played by Richard de Groen". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  10. ^ "1st Test, Auckland, Feb 10 - 12 1994, Pakistan tour of New Zealand". Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Richard de Groen". NZOC. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  12. ^ "CGF Management Team". CGF. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
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