Craig Spearman

Craig Murray Spearman (born 4 July 1972) is an English-New Zealand former cricketer who played 19 Tests and 51 One Day Internationals for New Zealand from 1995 to 2001. Spearman was a member of the New Zealand team that won the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy.

Craig Spearman

Personal information
Full name	Craig Murray Spearman
Born	4 July 1972 (1972-07-04) (age 52) Auckland, New Zealand
Nickname	Spears
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Batting	Right-handed
International information
National side	New Zealand (1995–2001)
Test debut (cap 195)	8 December 1995 v Pakistan
Last Test	30 November 2000 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap 96)	15 December 1995 v Pakistan
Last ODI	11 February 2001 v Sri Lanka
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1993/94–1995/96	Auckland
1996/97–2004/05	Central Districts
2002–2009	Gloucestershire
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 19 51 201 285 Runs scored 922 936 13,021 8,058 Batting average 26.34 18.71 37.85 29.73 100s/50s 1/3 0/5 30/56 8/52 Top score 112 86 341 153 Balls bowled 0 3 78 33 Wickets – 0 1 0 Bowling average – – 55.00 – 5 wickets in innings – – 0 – 10 wickets in match – – 0 – Best bowling – – 1/37 – Catches/stumpings 21/– 15/– 197/– 104/–
Source: Cricinfo, 4 May 2017

He took his education from Kelston Boys High School, Auckland and then to Massey University, New Zealand.

Domestic career

However, after meeting with fellow New Zealander, John Bracewell, he was asked to play for the team he was coaching, Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. Spearman immediately became a favourite in Bristol, when he hit a century in his first match.

In 2004 he hit 341 against Middlesex at Gloucester. His innings contained 40 fours and six sixes and was the highest ever score by a Gloucestershire batsman, beating the record of WG Grace. Since then he has continued to score runs and has gone on to add two more double centuries.

During a game against Oxford in 2005 he hit 34 runs off an over. In 2006 he became just the 4th player from his county to score a century in both innings against Northamptonshire. He finished the year with 1370 runs in the Championship. In 2009, he made only six Championship appearances with 206 runs at 22.88, and at the end of the year agreed to be released from his contract.

International career

A right-handed opening batsman, Spearman made his international debut for New Zealand in a Test Match in December 1995 against Pakistan at Christchurch. He was never able to secure his spot in the side and only scored one Test hundred, an innings of 112 against Zimbabwe. He was, however, a member of the New Zealand squad for the 1996 Cricket World Cup. After giving up on his international career, he moved to England in 2001 to pursue a career in banking.

External links

• Craig Spearman at ESPNcricinfo