Story: Cricket

New Zealand's first test cricket win, 1956

New Zealand's first test cricket win, 1956

On 13 March 1956 at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand finally won its first official test match when the wicketkeeper Sam Guillen (a West Indian by birth, who had played five tests for the West Indies) stumped Alf Valentine and dismissed the West Indies in their second innings for 77. It was New Zealand's 45th test match. Those celebrating the victory are from left: John Reid (the captain who was playing his 100th first-class match and had scored 84 in New Zealand's first innings), Murray Chapple, Sam Guillen and Don Taylor. The West Indies had won the first three tests easily, with Everton Weekes scoring a century each time. However, in the last test Weekes was dismissed cheaply twice, and New Zealand succeeded in bowling out the West Indies for their lowest test score up to that time.

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How to cite this page:

Don Neely, 'Cricket - Test cricket 1945–1979', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/38308/new-zealands-first-test-cricket-win-1956 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Don Neely, published 5 Sep 2013, updated 1 Apr 2016