Sinclair inducted to Sports Legends of Wellington

Our cherished Patron, Barry Sinclair, was inducted into the
'Sports Legends of Wellington' on 4th June, 2015.

Born in 1936 Barry was first selected for Wellington in 1953 as an 18 year old. Many thought he should not have been selected and let it be known. Even the local newspaper decried his selection.

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Stung by the criticism it was Barry's determination to show them he was worthy that eventually saw him selected to play for New Zealand. In those days representative teams did not have coaches, the selectors never told you anything and the captain only spoke when telling you where in the order you were to bat. So Barry was left on his own. His resilience and resourcefulness made him one of the most productive cricketers of his time.
 
Barry played 118 First Class games for Wellington, scored six centuries, 38 50's, and had an average of 32.87.
 
Barry made his Test debut in 1963 and played 21 Tests with an average of 29.43. Along the way Barry scored three Test centuries, His highest, 138 against South Africa at Eden Park in 1964. He also scored 130 against Pakistan at Lahore in 1965. He captained New Zealand in three official Test matches. The first he was only given 20 minutes notice when the established captain, Murray Chapple injured himself during warm-ups. He also captained New Zealand in four unofficial Test matches against Australia and five during the tour of Australia in 1967.
 
Barry retired from representative cricket in 1968.
 
Christopher Martin-Jenkins, the noted English cricket writer, described Barry thus:"Fair-haired and one of the smallest cricketers ever to appear for New Zealand, Barry Sinclair was a sound and often fluent right-handed batsman with an indomitable spirit and an excellent field at cover."
 
Dick Brittenden, in his book "Big Names in New Zealand Cricket, said; "There have not been many New Zealand batsmen smaller of stature than Sinclair, few larger in heart. He was a fine and fluent right-hand batsman, a superb fieldsman, and while he was at it, the most dedicated of cricketers. Not many have followed the physical training programme Sinclair set himself. But he reaped the benefits. He looked, with his small build and his well-developed chest, rather like a pouter pigeon as he prowled the covers."
 
In 2004, Barry became Patron of the North Shore Cricket Club.

In 2010 Barry was made the inaugural patron of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association.
 
We are truly honoured to have Barry as our Patron and sincerely congratulate him on his induction into the  'Sports Legends of Wellington'