Background

As a youngster, he was introduced to the sport of cricket by his elder brother Dayle and forged a formidable new-ball partnership with him in 1971-72. As a tearaway in those days, Hadlee placed speed far ahead of guile, which was echoed in his unkempt, long-haired appearance. It was his lethal, whippy, side-on action that kept all the great batsmen of his era on their toes, as he was able to extract pace, bounce, and movement from even the least responsive surfaces.

First Appearance

He began his international career in 1973 with the Test series, and in his first five years, he only claimed 61 wickets, each costing more than 35 runs. Despite this, it was in 1976 against India that he made his first breakthrough, taking 11 wickets in a game that led to the win for New Zealand. Hadlee took 6 for 26 in England's second innings in 1978, as the hosts chased 137 to win their first test match. He bowled the visitors out for 64, helping New Zealand to a historic victory.

Ascend to Glory

In the first five years of his career, Hadlee steadily developed his marvelous career: his bowling improved, his batting was full of attractive strokes, and his fielding at his favourite gully position was brilliant.

In 1979-80, the West Indies played New Zealand in a home test series. At that time, the West Indies was one of the top cricket powers in the world. In the first test in Dunedin, New Zealand won by one wicket, with 11 wickets taken by Hadlee. The second test of the series was won by New Zealand 1–0 as Hadlee scored his maiden test century. This result marked the beginning of New Zealand's 12-year unbeaten home record in test matches. As a result of his implacable performance, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (MBE) at the 1980 Honours of the Queen's Birthday.

Low Point

Richard Hadlee didn't have such a big low point in his professional career, but he gets disturbed a lot in his personal life. Firstly, when his wife wanted a divorce from him, and secondly, when he could no longer play his loving game as a result of injury. The player also said in an interview that he regrets that he wasn't able to play the game for 3-4 more years due to injuries and mental state.

Richard 's Record

• First player in the history of ODI to score 1,000 runs and take 100 wickets
• Second fastest five-wicket taker in 25 Tests, the fastest seamer to do so (62 matches), and third fastest when it comes to innings played
• In Test cricket, he collected 36 five-wicket hauls, and in ODIs, the latter a Test cricket record at the time of his retirement
• Took ten or more wickets in nine Test matches, with his best match bowling figures being 15/123 against Australia at The Gabba in 1985.
• Scored two tests match hundreds at the Colombo Cricket Club Ground, including 151 not out in 1987 against Sri Lanka
• As a fast bowler in the 20th century, he had the best single-innings bowling figures (9/52 in the first innings of the first Test against Australia at The Gabba in 1985).

Retirement

Sir Richard Hadlee retired from cricket on 9 July 1990. In this day's cricket match, he dismissed Devon Malcolm of the England team.