Robert James Nicol (born 28 May 1983) is a former New Zealand cricketer, who played all formats of the game. He is a right-handed opening batsman and bowled right arm off spin occasionally.[1] Domestically, Nicol has played first-class, List A and Twenty20 matches for Auckland and Canterbury, and was the captain for Auckland. In June 2018, Nicol announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.[2]

Rob Nicol
Personal information
Full name
Robert James Nicol
Born (1983-05-28) 28 May 1983 (age 40)
Auckland, New Zealand]
BattingRight-handed
Bowling
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 254)7 March 2012 v South Africa
Last Test15 March 2012 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap 166)20 October 2011 v Zimbabwe
Last ODI19 January 2013 v South Africa
T20I debut (cap 44)22 May 2010 v Sri Lanka
Last T20I26 December 2012 v South Africa
T20I shirt no.28
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2001/02–2008/09Auckland
2009/10–2013/14Canterbury
2011/12Mashonaland Eagles
2012Gloucestershire (squad no. 38)
2014/15–2016/17Auckland
2017/18Otago
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I FC
Matches 2 22 21 130
Runs scored 28 586 327 6,319
Batting average 7.00 30.84 17.21 32.74
100s/50s 0/0 2/2 0/2 10/37
Top score 19 146 58 160
Balls bowled 17 339 123 4,487
Wickets 0 10 5 43
Bowling average 32.90 33.40 68.58
5 wickets in innings 0 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 0 0
Best bowling 4/19 2/20 4/53
Catches/stumpings 2/– 11/– 5/– 104/–
Source: Cricinfo, 18 April 2023

Domestic career edit

Rob Nicol started off playing for Auckland and played for the Aces for 8 seasons his best spell in 2002–03 where he scored over 600 runs. He then moved to Canterbury in 2009, scoring over 500 runs in his first season. His performances for the Wizards brought him to the notice of the New Zealand selectors, who selected him for the Twenty20 squad.

Previously played at Hitchin Cricket Club in Hertfordshire as the overseas player in 2009 and 2010 before joining up with the Kiwis in West Indies. Broke the Saracens Hertfordshire Division 1 total season runs and largest innings at 201 not out against Knebworth Park CC.

Nicol enjoyed a spell in English county cricket playing for Gloucestershire in July 2012 as a replacement for fellow countryman Kane Williamson as part of the deal Gloucestershire coach John Bracewell set up with the New Zealand Cricket Board where young Kiwi cricketers join Gloucs for experience.[3]

International career edit

He made his debut in one day internationals in 2011, but failed to secure regular selection past the 2012/2013 season. Selectors rewarded him with a place in the test team in the home series against South Africa, but he found runs difficult to come by and has only played 2 Tests to date. He was also played as the opening partner of Brendon McCullum during 2012 ICC World Twenty20 held in Sri Lanka.

Nicol had a wonderful ODI debut against Zimbabwe in 2011 at Harare. Chasing 232 to win, the New Zealand openers Nicol and Martin Guptill first sent the Black Caps to a flyer as they crossed 50 runs in just 6 overs. After that, he went on to score 108 not out, a brilliant century that included 11 fours.[4] In the process, he became the seventh batsman ever and the second New Zealander (after his fellow opener in the match, Martin Guptill) to score a century on ODI debut. The previous batsmen to achieve this feat were Dennis Amiss, Desmond Haynes, Andy Flower, Saleem Elahi, Martin Guptill, and Colin Ingram.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Statistics / Statsguru / One-Day Internationals / All-round records Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 October 2011
  2. ^ "Rob Nicol retires from international and domestic cricket". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  3. ^ Nicol agrees to join Gloucs
  4. ^ Debutants Nicol and Bracewell give New Zealand 1–0 lead Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2011
  5. ^ Records|One-Day Internationals|Batting records|Hundred on debut Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2011

External links edit