{{short description|New Zealand cricketer}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Richard Collinge | image = | country = New Zealand | fullname = Richard Owen Collinge | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|4|2|df=yes}} | birth_place = Wellington, New Zealand | nickname = | heightft = | heightinch = | heightm = | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Left-arm medium-fast | role = Bowler | family = | international = true | internationalspan = 1965–1978 | testdebutdate = 22 January | testdebutyear = 1965 | testdebutagainst = Pakistan | testcap = 102 | lasttestdate = 24 August | lasttestyear = 1978 | lasttestagainst = England | odidebutdate = 11 February | odidebutyear = 1973 | odidebutagainst = Pakistan | odicap = 2 | lastodidate = 17 July | lastodiyear = 1978 | lastodiagainst = England | odishirt = | club1 = Central Districts | year1 = {{nowrap|1963/64–1969/70}} | club2 = Wellington | year2 = 1967/68–1974/75 | club3 = Northern Districts | year3 = 1975/76–1977/78 | columns = 4 | column1 = Test | matches1 = 35 | runs1 = 533 | bat avg1 = 14.40 | 100s/50s1 = 0/2 | top score1 = 68* | deliveries1 = 7,689 | wickets1 = 116 | bowl avg1 = 29.25 | fivefor1 = 3 | tenfor1 = 0 | best bowling1 = 6/63 | catches/stumpings1 = 10/– | column2 = ODI | matches2 = 15 | runs2 = 34 | bat avg2 = 5.66 | 100s/50s2 = 0/0 | top score2 = 9 | deliveries2 = 859 | wickets2 = 18 | bowl avg2 = 26.61 | fivefor2 = 1 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 5/23 | catches/stumpings2 = 1/– | column3 = FC | matches3 = 163 | runs3 = 1,848 | bat avg3 = 14.43 | 100s/50s3 = 0/4 | top score3 = 68* | deliveries3 = 31,388 | wickets3 = 524 | bowl avg3 = 24.41 | fivefor3 = 22 | tenfor3 = 4 | best bowling3 = 8/64 | catches/stumpings3 = 57/– | column4 = LA | matches4 = 37 | runs4 = 116 | bat avg4 = 9.66 | 100s/50s4 = 0/0 | top score4 = 38* | deliveries4 = 2,038 | wickets4 = 52 | bowl avg4 = 20.15 | fivefor4 = 2 | tenfor4 = 0 | best bowling4 = 5/23 | catches/stumpings4 = 6/– | date = 17 October | year = 2016 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/36606.html Cricinfo }} '''Richard Owen Collinge''' (born 2 April 1946) is a former New Zealand cricketer, who played 35 Tests and 15 ODIs. He was a ''New Zealand Cricket Almanack'' Player of the Year in 1971.
==Domestic career== He played domestic cricket for three different sides. He made his first class debut for Central Districts in 1963/64 and played for them until 1969/70 before moving to Wellington from 1967/68 to 1974/75 and finally Northern Districts till 1977/78. In 163 first class matches he took 524 wickets, with a best of 8-64, at an average of 24.41.
==International career==
A tall, strongly-built man, Collinge bowled left arm fast medium, ending his long run with both arms stretching upwards before delivering the ball.<ref>Kieza, Grantlee. ''FAST and FURIOUS: A celebration of Cricket's pace bowlers'', 1st ed, Lester-Townsend Publishing Pty Ltd. 1990. {{ISBN|0-949853-41-0}} (Australia)</ref> He pitched the ball up and relied on late movement. He was a good foil for the often wild express pace of the young Richard Hadlee and was instrumental in helping Hadlee bring New Zealand's first Test victory over England in 1977-8, with figures of 3-42 and 3-45.<ref>''Wisden'' 1979, p. 917.</ref> The fast inswinger with which he bowled Geoff Boycott at Wellington began England's collapse to 64 all out and brought the crowd to fever pitch.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}
He made his Test debut in 1965 and played his last match at Lord's in 1978.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/137651.html | title=The worst bowling average, and mystery injuries | last=Lynch | first=Stephen | date=19 January 2004 | accessdate=2007-01-16 | publisher=Cricinfo}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web | url=http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/33/33100.html | title=New Zealand v Pakistan in 1972/73 | accessdate=2007-01-16 | publisher=CricketArchive}}</ref> His best Test and One Day International bowling figures were both against India in 1975–76, with 6 for 63 and 5 for 23 respectively. At the time of his retirement, he was New Zealand's greatest wicket-taker, with 116 wickets at 29.25 each, despite missing many matches during his 13-year test career.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}
He could also be a useful batsman. At Auckland in 1972–73, Collinge scored 68 not out for New Zealand against Pakistan; this was the highest score ever made by a number 11 in a Test match at the time. That innings also formed part of the record last-wicket stand in Tests: 151 put on with Brian Hastings in 155 minutes.<ref>''Wisden'' 1974, p. 942.</ref>
A monograph titled ''Following in the Footsteps of 'Davo''' written by Bill Francis was published in 2024.
==Notes== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{ESPNcricinfo|id=36606}}
{{New Zealand Squad 1975 Cricket World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Collinge, Richard}} Category:1946 births Category:Living people Category:Central Districts cricketers Category:New Zealand One Day International cricketers Category:New Zealand Test cricketers Category:New Zealand cricketers Category:Northern Districts cricketers Category:Wellington cricketers Category:Cricketers at the 1975 Cricket World Cup Category:North Island cricketers Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen