Barry Sinclair

Barry Whitley Sinclair (23 October 1936 – 10 July 2022) was a New Zealand cricketer. He played 21 Test matches for New Zealand national team as a specialist batsman from 1962–63 to 1967–68, and captained the team from 1966 to 1968.

Early life Sinclair was born in Wellington on 23 October 1936. He attended Rongotai College in his hometown. He was first selected to play for Wellington when he was eighteen.

Domestic career Sinclair played for Wellington from 1955–56 to 1970–71. His highest first-class score was 148, captaining Wellington against the Australians in 1966–67, out of a total of 365 for 7 on the first day.

International career Sinclair scored three of his six first-class centuries in Tests, though never played in a winning Test side. He captained New Zealand in three Tests (the Second and Third Tests against England in 1965–66, and the First Test against India in 1967–68) and also in the four-match series against the visiting Australian team in 1966–67 and on the brief tour to Australia in 1967–68. He retired from international cricket in 1968 to concentrate on work. It was the only century by either side in the three-Test series; at the time, it was the highest Test score ever attained by a New Zealander in New Zealand. He took two Test wickets in ten overs, both against Pakistan in Lahore in 1964–65, after scoring 130 in the first innings.

Sinclair's short stature was sometimes exploited by pace bowlers. However, he learned how to handle short-pitched deliveries. He was a neat, tidy batsman notable for his cutting and on-drives.

Later life Sinclair was made the inaugural patron of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association in 2010. Five years later, he was voted a Legend of Wellington Sport.

Sinclair died on 10 July 2022 aged 85.