Rodney Redmond Test Debut Century, Career and Five Consecutive Fours to Majid Khan

Mr. Devotor

Rodney Redmond remains one of cricket’s most fascinating tales. In 1973, he made his Test debut for New Zealand against Pakistan and stunned the crowd with a blazing century in the first innings and a stylish fifty in the second. Yet, despite such a dream debut, he never played another Test.  What went wrong? From his fearless stroke play and five consecutive fours off Majid Khan to the struggles with contact lenses on the 1973 England tour, this is the story of a cricketer who touched greatness only once on the biggest stage. His legacy lives on through his son Aaron Redmond, who later played eight Tests for New Zealand.  Join us as we relive the rare, bittersweet, and unforgettable journey of Rodney Redmond—cricket’s true “One-Test Wonder.” 🏏✨  📌 Hashtags  #CricketHistory #RodneyRedmond #OneTestWonder #NZCricket #CricketLegends #TestCricket #CricketStories #CricketClassics

Transcript

00:00Rodney Redmond's name is etched in cricketing folklore for a feat as remarkable as it was

00:06fleeting. In his solitary test match against Pakistan in 1973, Redmond announced himself in

00:12grand style with a century and a 50. Yet curiously, he was never seen again in the voids of New Zealand.

00:20Opening the innings at Auckland, Redmond played with a freedom that belied the weight of the

00:24occasion. In his first knock, he reached his 100 from just 110 deliveries, a sparkling effort

00:31that included a passage of sheer audacity. Five consecutive boundaries struck off Majid

00:36Khan bowling. The crowd swept in the joy of the moment, poured onto the ground and lifted the

00:42debutant upon their shoulder, a carnival atmosphere rarely witnessed in New Zealand cricket. He

00:48followed his median turn with a polished 56 in the second innings, completing a debut to rival

00:53any in test history. And yet fate was cruel. For reasons ranging from eyesight troubles to the

00:59selector's preference, Redmond test carrier began and ended in that single match. Although Rodney

01:05Redmond remains one of the cricket's rarest tales, a man who touched greatness in one dazzling performance

01:11then walked away leaving behind a story as humorous as it is bittersweet. He was a tall and forceful

01:18opening best man, renowned for his commanding strokes of the front foot. Added to that he

01:24bowled serviceable, slow left armours and patrolled the field with reliability. Such was his promise

01:30when New Zealand side was chosen for the 1973 tour of England, his place seemed assured. Yet the tour

01:37proved a cruel turning point. Struggling to adapt to newly fitted contact lenses, he never quite found

01:43his rhythm, although he amassed 483 runs at 28.41. The fluency of his domestic form deserted him and

01:52he failed to break into the Test 11. It marked the beginning of an abrupt decline, missing the 1973-74

01:59season entirely. He was never again considered for international honours and within two further

02:05summers his playing days were behind him. Life after cricket took him across the Tasman, settling in Perth,

02:12Western Australia. But the Rodney Redmond name did not fade from New Zealand cricketing story.

02:17His son, Aaron Redmond, returned to the country, came through the New Zealand Cricket Academy

02:22and carved out his own career, first with Canterbury, then Otago and eventually as part

02:28of the touring squad to England in 2008. Aaron Redmond went on to represent New Zealand in eight

02:34tough matches, carrying forward a legacy began if only briefed by his father. Although the Rodney

02:40Redmond's story is one of promise, misfortune and renewal, an enduring reminder of cricket's

02:46curious way of balancing triumph and disappointment across generations.

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