Top 5 spinners in New Zealand's Test history

#2 John Bracewell

John Bracewell was the first New Zealand spinner to take a ten-wicket match haul

Along with Daniel Vettori, John Bracewell remains one of only two New Zealand spinners to pick up more than 100 Test wickets. In a career spanning from 1980 to 1990, Bracewell was part of a sterling New Zealand team which achieved several enduring triumphs in diverse conditions across the globe. While the legendary Richard Hadlee was the primary architect of almost every one of those victories, the off-spinner came up with vital spells whenever his side needed breakthroughs.

All but one of Bracewell's four five-wicket hauls came in winning cause. His 6/51 in the second innings of the 1988 Bombay Test contained the scalps of quite a few eminent players of spin. With his high-arm action, he imparted generous flight and outsmarted opposition batsmen. The finest example of his admirable prowess came in the 1986 Auckland Test. The off-spinner's ten-wicket match haul spun New Zealand to a series sealing victory against Australia. Apart from his skills with the ball, he was also a serviceable lower-order batsman.

Career Span

1980 to 1990

Statistics

102 wickets from 41 Tests at an average of 35.81 and strike-rate of 82.3 with 4 five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul