Brian John McKechnie (born 6 November 1953) is a former "double All Black" - representing New Zealand in both rugby union and cricket. He was born at Gore in Southland and educated at Southland Boys' High School.[2]

Brian McKechnie
Birth nameBrian John McKechnie
Date of birth (1953-11-06) 6 November 1953 (age 70)[1]
Place of birthGore, New Zealand
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight79 kg (12 st 6 lb)
SchoolSouthland Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth, fullback
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Invercargill Star ()
Correct as of 23 January 2007
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
Southland ()
Correct as of 23 January 2007
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1977–1981 New Zealand 26 [10 tests] ((148 [2t, 22c, 28p, 4dg]))
Correct as of 23 January 2007
Cricket information
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast-medium
International information
National side
ODI debut (cap 21)7 June 1975 v East Africa
Last ODI1 February 1981 v Australia
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1971/72–1985/86Otago
1971/72–1986/87Southland
Career statistics
Competition ODI FC LA
Matches 14 50 26
Runs scored 54 1,169 168
Batting average 13.50 13.26 14.00
100s/50s 0/0 0/2 0/0
Top score 27 51 32
Balls bowled 818 8,154 1,450
Wickets 19 100 32
Bowling average 26.05 30.65 24.93
5 wickets in innings 0 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 0 0
Best bowling 3/23 4/24 3/23
Catches/stumpings 2/– 24/– 3/–
Source: Cricinfo, 2 May 2017

Rugby career

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He played 26 matches for the All Blacks as a first five-eighth and fullback, most memorably being the player to kick the winning penalty goal against Wales in 1978 when Andy Haden dived out off a lineout near full-time and was apparently awarded a penalty (the referee later said the penalty was for a completely separate incident and was clearly visible in video footage) which would secure the "Grand Slam" for the All Blacks against the home country unions.

Cricketing career

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As a cricketer, McKechnie was an economical right-arm pace bowler and useful lower-order batsman who played 14 one day games for the New Zealand national cricket team, including in the 1975 and 1979 World Cup tournaments in England.[3] His last match for New Zealand was the infamous "underarm match" against Australia in 1981, when McKechnie was the batsman who faced Trevor Chappell's underarm delivery in the final ball of the match, throwing his bat away in disgust after blocking the delivery. McKechnie represented Otago in top-level domestic competitions from 1971–72 to 1985–86 and played Hawke Cup cricket for Southland until 1986–87.[3] He later served on the national selection panel.[4][5][6][7]

Beyond sports

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With Lynn McConnell, he wrote McKechnie: Double All Black: An Autobiography (Craigs, Invercargill) in 1983.[8]

References

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  1. ^ *Brian McKechnie at AllBlacks.com
  2. ^ McCarron A (2010) New Zealand Cricketers 1863/64–2010, p. 86. Cardiff: The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. ISBN 978 1 905138 98 2 (Available online at the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Retrieved 5 June 2023.)
  3. ^ a b Brian McKechnie, CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 November 2023. (subscription required)
  4. ^ "Grim prophecy fulfilled". Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Underhand, underarm". Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Australia v New Zealand 1980-81". Cricinfo. 4 February 2009. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Cricket Photos | Global | ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  8. ^ "McKechnie : double All Black". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
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