Bruce Taylor, the New Zealand cricket all-rounder who remains the only player in the world to have scored a century and taken a five-wicket bag on Test debut, has died in Wellington, aged 77.
New Zealand test cap No.108, Taylor achieved the feat in the second test against India at Kolkata in 1965, having been drafted into the playing 11 at the last moment.
Having begun the second day unbeaten on 13, and with his batting partner - Bert Sutcliffe, on 74, Taylor adopted a strategy of all-out attack against the host's bowling and, by the time Sutcliffe had reached 98, was on 88 himself and closing in on his milestone century.
When he was eventually dismissed for 105, the pair had racked up a record seventh-wicket stand of 163 in 158 minutes.
Taylor then celebrated with the new ball, taking 5/86 as India replied with 380, in what was eventually a drawn result.
To demonstrate this was no flash in the pan - he followed that up with five for 26 in the next test as India were bowled out for 88.
A tall, lean man with long levers, Taylor bowled brisk fast-medium with a high action and was an aggressive batsman, not averse to depositing the ball wide of off-stump high and handsome over the legside.
Taylor played for Canterbury from 1964-65 to 1969-70, and for Wellington from 1970-71 to 1979-80.
His highest first-class score was 173 for Wellington against Otago in the summer of 1972-73.
Once his playing days had finished, Taylor filled selection roles for Otago, Wellington and New Zealand.
RNZ
