But Tom Lowry is better remembered for his leadership than his efforts with the willow. And it was status, not statistics, that saw the warm-hearted all-rounder inducted into the New Zealand Hall of Fame in 1996.
Lowry captained the first two New Zealand teams to tour England in 1927 and 1931 and was a pioneer who helped stake a place for New Zealand cricket.
As a player, he was an attacking batsman of considerable skill, a useful wicketkeeper, and even a part-time bowler.
In 198 first-class games, he scored 9421 runs at an average of 31.19, which was impressive for the time. He scored 18 centuries in that haul and also took 188 catches, 49 stumpings and 49 wickets at an average of 27.
Bill Francis, in his book, Tom Lowry: Leader in a Thousand, described Lowry as a pivotal figure in the history of New Zealand cricket.
"He, as much as anyone, laid the foundations for the development and acceptance of New Zealand cricket on the international stage."
Lowry was born into a prominent and wealthy family, but never paraded his good fortune.
In fact, it was often a source of amusement. With his weathered face buried under an old Homburg hat, and a cigarette wedged between his stubby fingers, Lowry would mutter a running commentary during games and take great delight in thumbing his nose at his stuffy contemporaries.
He was, at heart, a man of the land. A forthright and unpretentious bloke.
Lowry's grandfather, also named Thomas, arrived in New Zealand in the mid-1840s and founded a productive sheep station at Okawa in Hawke's Bay.
Lowry's father, another Tom, expanded the station and established what was to become a very successful horse stud.
Lowry's mother was also a leading figure in the community, serving as president of the New Zealand Red Cross Society and as president of the Hastings Women's Community Club.
Educated at Christ's College in Canterbury, Lowry was a robust young lad who grew into a solid 1.88m, 90kg frame. He captained both the first XV and first XI and was a member of the school shooting team.
He joined the Royal Air Force in 1918 but did not see active service during World War I.
Lowry made his first-class debut that year, scoring 28 and 10 for Auckland in its eight-wicket loss to Wellington at Eden Park, before heading to Britain to attend Cambridge University.
While at Cambridge, Lowry played with the Somerset County side during the university holidays and was selected for the MCC team that toured New Zealand and Australia in 1922-23. The team was led by accomplished England and Lancashire batsman Archie MacLaren.
Lowry saved his best performances for the three unofficial tests against New Zealand, scoring 54, 61, 13 and 130.
In the summer of 1924-25, Lowry toured Australia with the New Zealand team and scored a memorable century against South Australia. The following season, he joined Wellington for a six-year stint, leading the team to three Plunket Shield titles in a golden period for the province.
On the 1931 tour of England, the skipper's reputation was based on his hitting power. He loved to drive and hook and scored a lot of his runs on the onside.
He was at his best when attacking the bowling and was not as well-equipped on defence. But what he lacked in finesse, he made up for in determination. He was prepared to take the ball on the body and was stubborn and wily.
A proactive captain, Lowry was always trying something new to make things happen.
Perhaps the best example of his leadership style came in May 1931, when the tourist refused to settle for a draw and beat the mighty MCC by an innings and 122 runs.
Lowry had scored a masterful undefeated 101 to help New Zealand reach 302 for nine declared. Ian Cromb took six for 46 on the final morning as the home side collapsed to be all out for 132, conceding a first-innings deficit of 170 runs.
Cromb would have rightly expected to get first crack in the second innings, but Lowry threw the ball to leg-spinner Bill Merrit in an impulsive move that took everybody by surprise.
The rest is history.
Merrit took seven for 28 and helped bowl the MCC out for a paltry 48 .
Lowry's leadership was widely acclaimed. The surprise win helped put New Zealand cricket on the map.
Lowry made a further contribution to New Zealand sport as a racehorse breeder and racing administrator. He served as president of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association and was a member of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club committee for 21 years and vice-president for 15.
Lowry died in Hastings Memorial Hospital on July 20, 1976.
Tom Lowry
Sport: Cricket.
Lived: 1898-1976.
Major achievement: Captained New Zealand in first official test.
Test record: 7 games, 223 runs at 27.87, 8 catches.
First-class record: 198 games, 9421 runs at 31.19 including 18 100s, 188 catches, 49 stumpings, 49 wickets at 27.
- Sources: Don Neely. 'Lowry, Thomas Coleman - Biography', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
