OTD | Former New Zealand batter Mark Burgess was born in 1944

Mark Burgess was one of the earliest batting superstars from New Zealand. The former Kiwi skipper put his team on the map and paved the way for many future batters to make a name for themselves and play for the national side.

Born on the 17th of July 1944, Mark Burgess went on to play 50 Test matches and 26 ODI matches for New Zealand. Mark Burgess scored 2684 runs with the bat, with 5 centuries and 14 half-centuries, with a best of 119 and an average of 31. He also took 6 wickets with a best of 3/23.

In 26 ODI matches, Burgess scored 336 runs with a best of 47 and picked a solitary wicket. In the First-Class format, Mark Burgess played 192 matches and scored 10281 runs with 20 centuries and 62 fifties with an average of 35 and also managed to grab 30 scalps with the ball.

Mark Burgess: New Zealand’s early icon

Former New Zealand star batter and skipper Mark Burgess made his Test debut vs India in Dunedin at the age of 24. In his very first innings, he scored a gritty 50 and batted for more than 2 hours before falling to Bapu Nadkarni.

In the second innings, he scored a further 39 runs before he was run out. The match ended with an Indian win as the visitors took the match with 5 wickets in hand. However, it was enough to show the selectors the potential the young Mark Burgess had.

For the next decade, New Zealand saw Mark Burgess rise the ranks and become a key player. The right-handed batter became known for his grit and tenacity and this also earned him a chance to captain the Kiwi side.

After a dozen years with the Black Caps, Mark Burgess called time on his career. His final game was against Australia at the famous MCG ground during the Boxing Day test. The game ended in a draw with Burgess scoring 49 in the 1st and a gritty 10 not out off 60 balls in the dig to end his career on a high. By the time he played his last ball, Mark Burgess was still resilient and tenacious enough to be counted as one of the best earliest batters from New Zealand. 

Also check: Former legendary South Africa pacer Shaun Pollock was born in 1973