Rob Nicol
CountryNew Zealand
FullnameRobert James Nicol
Birth date28 May 1983 (age 43)
Birth placeAuckland, New Zealand]
BattingRight-handed
Bowling
Internationaltrue
Testdebutdate7 March
Testdebutyear2012
TestdebutagainstSouth Africa
Testcap254
Lasttestdate15 March
Lasttestyear2012
LasttestagainstSouth Africa
Odidebutdate20 October
Odidebutyear2011
OdidebutagainstZimbabwe
Odicap166
Lastodidate19 January
Lastodiyear2013
LastodiagainstSouth Africa
Odishirt28
T20idebutdate22 May
T20idebutyear2010
T20idebutagainstSri Lanka
T20icap44
Lastt20idate26 December
Lastt20iyear2012
Lastt20iagainstSouth Africa
T20ishirt28
Club 1Auckland
Year 12001/02–2008/09
Club 2Canterbury
Year 22009/10–2013/14
Club 3Mashonaland Eagles
Year 32011/12
Club 4Gloucestershire
Year 42012
Clubnumber 438
Club 5Auckland
Year 52014/15–2016/17
Club 6Otago
Year 62017/18
Columns4
Column 1Test
Matches 12
Runs 128
Bat avg 17.00
100s/50s 10/0
Top score 119
Deliveries 117
Wickets 10
Bowl avg 1–
Fivefor 1–
Tenfor 1–
Best bowling 1–
Catches/stumpings 12/–
Column 2ODI
Matches 222
Runs 2586
Bat avg 230.84
100s/50s 22/2
Top score 2146
Deliveries 2339
Wickets 210
Bowl avg 232.90
Fivefor 20
Tenfor 20
Best bowling 24/19
Catches/stumpings 211/–
Column 3T20I
Matches 321
Runs 3327
Bat avg 317.21
100s/50s 30/2
Top score 358
Deliveries 3123
Wickets 35
Bowl avg 333.40
Fivefor 30

Robert James Nicol (born 28 May 1983) is a former New Zealand cricketer, who played all formats of the game. He is a right-handed opening batsman and bowled right arm off spin occasionally.[1] Domestically, Nicol has played first-class, List A and Twenty20 matches for Auckland and Canterbury, and was the captain for Auckland. In June 2018, Nicol announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.[2]

Domestic career

Rob Nicol started off playing for Auckland and played for the Aces for 8 seasons his best spell in 2002–03 where he scored over 600 runs. He then moved to Canterbury in 2009, scoring over 500 runs in his first season. His performances for the Wizards brought him to the notice of the New Zealand selectors, who selected him for the Twenty20 squad.

Previously played at Hitchin Cricket Club in Hertfordshire as the overseas player in 2009 and 2010 before joining up with the Kiwis in West Indies. Broke the Saracens Hertfordshire Division 1 total season runs and largest innings at 201 not out against Knebworth Park CC.

Nicol enjoyed a spell in English county cricket playing for Gloucestershire in July 2012 as a replacement for fellow countryman Kane Williamson as part of the deal Gloucestershire coach John Bracewell set up with the New Zealand Cricket Board where young Kiwi cricketers join Gloucs for experience.[3]

International career

He made his debut in one day internationals in 2011, but failed to secure regular selection past the 2012/2013 season. Selectors rewarded him with a place in the test team in the home series against South Africa, but he found runs difficult to come by and has only played 2 Tests to date. He was also played as the opening partner of Brendon McCullum during 2012 ICC World Twenty20 held in Sri Lanka.

Nicol had a wonderful ODI debut against Zimbabwe in 2011 at Harare. Chasing 232 to win, the New Zealand openers Nicol and Martin Guptill first sent the Black Caps to a flyer as they crossed 50 runs in just 6 overs. After that, he went on to score 108 not out, a brilliant century that included 11 fours.[4] In the process, he became the seventh batsman ever and the second New Zealander (after his fellow opener in the match, Martin Guptill) to score a century on ODI debut. The previous batsmen to achieve this feat were Dennis Amiss, Desmond Haynes, Andy Flower, Saleem Elahi, Martin Guptill, and Colin Ingram.[5]

References

  1. ^ Statistics / Statsguru / One-Day Internationals / All-round records Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 October 2011
  2. ^ "Rob Nicol retires from international and domestic cricket". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  3. ^ Nicol agrees to join Gloucs
  4. ^ Debutants Nicol and Bracewell give New Zealand 1–0 lead Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2011
  5. ^ Records|One-Day Internationals|Batting records|Hundred on debut Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2011