Bruce Murray, a former New Zealand batter, died at the age of 82. On his Test debut against India in 1968/69, Bruce Murray earned 54 points.
Bruce Murray, a former New Zealand opener, died at the age of 82. The tall batsman, who could also bowl leg spin, was instrumental in New Zealand’s first-ever Test victory against Pakistan in 1969. He had struck a brave 90 in the historic series, narrowly missing out on a well-deserved ton.
Murray not only made an impression on the international stage, but he also shown his worth in first-class cricket, appearing in 102 games and scoring 6257 runs, including six hundreds. He has spent the majority of his cricket career with Wellington.
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Bruce Murray is regarded as one of the best hitters in New Zealand cricket
In February 1968, Bruce made his debut. Murray went on to represent the Black Caps in 13 Tests throughout his international career. He scored 598 runs at an average of 23.92, including five half-centuries. His top score in this format is the match-winning 90 runs he achieved against Pakistan during an away Test series in Lahore in 1969.
Notably, his descendants have succeeded in bringing their passion of the game to the next level, as his daughter Jo Murray and son-in-law Robbie Kerr have both represented Wellington. Meanwhile, Bruce’s grandchildren are the Kerr sisters of the current New Zealand women’s squad, Amelia and Jess.
Even though Bruce had a brief international career, success and riches did not come easily to him, as he had to toil hard in Wellington for over ten seasons before making a significant breakthrough in New Zealand cricket.
Years of hard effort and commitment paid off when he was given an opportunity against India in the 1968-69 season and scored 54 runs on debut. He followed it up with a 74 in the second Test, earning him a spot for England’s 1969 tour.
His international career ended on a low note in 1970/71, with only one run in both innings against England.
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