Geoff Howarth

Who is Geoff Howarth?

Geoffrey "Geoff" Philip Howarth, OBE, is a former New Zealand cricketer, who remains the only New Zealand captain to have positive win-loss records in both Test cricket and ODI cricket.

Howarth played some Test cricket with his elder brother Hedley, but most of his 47-Test career did not overlap with Hedley's. He played most of his career as a specialist batsman, captaining the team for 30 of those 47 Tests, and although his batting average of only 32 was not stunning, he did make six Test centuries. Four of those came while he was not captaining the side.

In his debut series as captain, he led the side to their first Test series victory over the West Indies, when New Zealand won the first Test chasing 104 after being 73 for 8, then drew the second Test thanks to 147 from Howarth, and also survived an evenly-fought third Test. He also became coach for the New Zealand team in the early 1990s and was coach of the ill-fated tour of South Africa in 1994.

His highest first-class score was 183, for Surrey against Hampshire at The Oval in 1979, "a cultured innings lasting four hours" which helped Surrey to an eight-wicket victory. His best bowling figures were 5 for 32 for Auckland against Central Districts at Auckland in 1973-74.