FAQs
Click on the questions to see the answer.
Most Memorable Match?
New Zealand verses Australia at the 'Gabba', Brisbane, 1985/6. NZ won the match by an innings and 41 runs. It was New Zealand’s first Test win in Australia. I had my best bowling performance with 9-52 in the first innings and captured 15 wickets in the match as well as scoring 54 with the bat.
Winning the one-day Natwest Trophy at Lord's in 1987 when Nottinghamshire defeated Northamptonshire allowing Notts to win our first ever one-day title. I was named man-of-the-match after scoring 70 not out.
Most Disappointing Match?
New Zealand verses Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, 1973/4. With two days to go, Australia were 32-2 needing over 400 to win and it rained for two days.
Cricketing Heroes as a Youngster?
I admired the cricketing ability of Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies), arguably the greatest all round player in the game.
Bert Sutcliffe (New Zealand), a left handed batsman who averaged over 40 in Test cricket. Bert never had the honor of playing in a NZ test winning team.
Dick Motz (New Zealand), the first New Zealand bowler to capture 100 Test wickets.
Greatest Influences on my Cricket Career?
My father Walter, my brother Dayle, both of whom played Test cricket for New Zealand.
Ian Cromb a former New Zealand cricketer of the 1940's and Canterbury selector during the early 1970's when I was just starting my first class career.
Dennis Lillee, Australia's greatest fast bowler with 355 Test wickets. Lillee was a great role model for every young fast bowler to emulate.
Players Admired?
Australia's Shane Warne, a magnificent leg spin bowler with wounderful bowling skills and a competitive attitude.
Australia's captain, Steve Waugh because of his guts and determination with the bat.
India's Sachin Tendulkar, who is likely to better all the world’s batting records in both the Test and the One-day cricket - he is a batting genius known as the 'Little Master'.
Australia's Brett Lee who has explosive pace and is exciting to watch.
Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralidaran, a bowling genius with his mixed variations and deception. He could conceivably capture 1000 test wickets which would be a remarkable achievement.
Favourite Grounds
Lord's in London because of its history and tradition. It is every cricketer's dream to play a Test match at this famous ground.
Lancaster Park (now AMI Stadium), Christchurch, my home ground and became the venue of my 400th Test wicket.
The Gabba in Brisbane because I had my best Test match bowling figures there.
Trent Bridge, Nottingham, my "home" ground for ten years as a professional County cricketer. Trent Bridge became the venue for my maiden First Class hundred (versus Derby, 1978) and a Test win over England in 1986.
Suggested Improvements to the Game?
A minimum of 100 overs should be bowled in a day's play instead of 90 overs. Players should feel responsible for quickening up a day's play and providing value for money. In an era where there is a lot of competition from other sports, it is important to provide plenty of entertainment to attract the crowds.
The International Match Referee is taking too much player emotion and feeling from the game by penalising players if they step out of line. If players can express elation when they play well, they should be able to express frustration, disappointment and annoyance if things don't go well, provided there is no dessent shown towards the umpire. There is however, no place in the game for sledging or racial abuse of other players.
TV replays for dubious decisions are creating too many pressures on the umpires who have to make instant decisions on what they see and hear. Perhaps one replay should be shown to the viewers instead of five or six replays from different angles. It seems unfair that commentators criticise an umpire's decision after they have had the benefit of seeing the incident replayed many times.
There is too much emphasis on one-day games with teams like India playing 50 games in a year. The ultimate game of endurance, fitness and skill over five days and in changing pitch, weather and match conditions, is the Test Match.
Greatest Opponents During my Career?
The 'Battle of the Allrounders' during the 1980's brought Ian Botham (England), Kapil Dev (India), Imran Khan (Pakistan) and myself together as opponents. The will and the desire to outplay each-other brought fierce competition.
Other players: Viv Richards (West Indies), David Gower (England), Sunil Gavaskar (India), Geoff Boycott (England), Javed Miandad (Pakistan) and Greg Chappell (Australia) were very difficult batsmen to dismiss.
Dennis Lillee (Australia) and myself had some good battles when I faced him as a batsman.
Superstitions?
None.
Most Embarrassing Moment in Cricket?
New Zealand versus England at Lord's, 1978. As I started to run into bowl to Graham Gooch, I tripped over my feet and fell on my face. There were over 28,000 people in the ground and the match was being televised live.
Famous People I have Met?
South African President, Nelson Mandela at a one-day cricket match at the Wanderer's, Johannesburg.
The Queen at Buckingham Palace, Lord's Cricket Ground and I attended a dinner with her on the Royal Yacht 'Brittania'.
Actor Peter O'Toole who starred in the lead role, 'Lawrence of Arabia' who I met at Lord's Cricket Ground.
Singer, Mick Jagger of the 'Rolling Stones' who I also met at Lord's.
New Zealand's Sir Edmund Hillary, the conquerer of Mount Everest, is one of the greatest men I have ever met.
Hobbies?
Gardening, watching movies and videos.
Other Sports Played?
Rugby - I was a timid winger at High School.
Soccer - I was a goalkeeper for Christchurch Boy’s High School first XI. I also played for Christchurch Rangers and Woolston Working Men's Club who competed in the Southern League competition between 1970 and 1975.
I currently have a golf handicap of 13.
Favourite Sports?
Cricket, rugby, soccer and rugby league.
Most Prized Possession?
An autograph book that has over 2500 cricket signatures in it dating back to 1917.
Sporting Heroes Admired?
Muhammad Ali (World Heavyweight boxing champion).
Pele (Brazilian soccer player).
Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls basketball player).
Tiger Woods (Golf).
New Zealand Sporting Heroes Admired?
Peter Snell and John Walker (athletics).
Colin Meads and Sean Fitzpatrick (rugby).
Susan Devoy (squash).
Mark Todd (equestrian).
Favourite TV Programmes?
One Network News, Sky sports and Sky Movies.
Favourite Movies?
'The Magnificent seven', a western and any other action, adventure and espionage movies.
Favourite Actors?
Sir Sean Connery, Liam Neeson, Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jodi Foster.
Favourite Music?
John Denver (country), The Corries (Scottish folk), Gaberlunzie (Scottish folk), Peter Paul and Mary (folk), Abba, Demis Roussos, Westliffe, The Dixie Chicks, Celine Dion and Prelude (folk).
Favourite Meal?
Seafood chowder soup, roast lamb and vegetables, ice cream and fruit salad.
Favourite Drink?
Heineken beer, coke, Coruba Jamaica Rum and coke, red wine.
Favourite Holiday Resort?
Hanmer Springs, an alpine village 125 kms north west of Christchurch. It is a quiet and peaceful place with hot mineral pools, golf course, horse riding, biking, ski fields nearby, and forest walks.
Favourite Hotel?
The City Life Apartments in Auckland - they have all the facilities needed in an apartment including TV, video, microwave, washing machine and dryer, fridge, a bar and a good room service menu.
Favourite Restaurant?
The Commodore Hotel in Christchurch - they have the best seafood chowder in the world!!
Type of Vehicle Driven?
Toyota Rav - 4 door
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2016
Jaguar F-Pace 2018
Newspapers read?
The Sunday Star Times, the Sunday News. Usually read papers on the internet.
Books written?
'Hadlee', 'Rhythm and Swing', 'Hadlee on Cricket', 'At the Double', 'Hadlee Hits Out', 'Soft Deliveries', 'Hadlee's Humour', 'Hard Knocks', 'Caught Out', 'A Guide to Cricket', 'Cricket: The Essentials of the Game', 'Howzat - Tales from the Boundary', 'Changing Pace', 'The Skipper's Diary - Walter Hadlee's diary of the 1949 New Zealand Cricket Tour of England'.
Previous Occupations?
Trainee Manager - Woolworths, 1970-3.
Trainee Departmental Manager - Bing Harris Sargood, 1973-5.
Sales Manager - Shawn Sports, 1975-8.
Professional contracted cricketer for Notts County Cricket Club, 1978-87.
Professional contracted Cricketer for New Zealand, 1978-90.
BNZ Ambassador - Public Relations work - 1990 - 2008
NZC selector - 2000 - 2008.
NZC World Cup Project Manager - 2006.
Had I not been a Professional Cricker, what would I have done?
I would liked to have been a professional golfer but I was never good enough. As I started my business career with Woolworths, I may have ended up as a Branch Manager somewhere!
Current Jobs?
Director of RJ Hadlee Promotions Ltd - Manufacturers and Distributors of 'Hadlee' Memorabilia.
Professional After Dinner and Seminar speaker (motivation).
Level three Cricket coach.
Motto in life?
"A quitter never wins and a winner never quits".
Always give it go. You will never know until you have tried and given it your best.