Martin Snedden


Martin Colin Snedden is a former New Zealand cricketer, who played 25 cricket tests, and 93 One Day Internationals, between 1980 and 1990. He was a member of New Zealand's seam bowling attack, alongside Richard Hadlee and Ewen Chatfield, throughout its golden age in the 1980s.

Family

Snedden was born in 1958 in Auckland. His uncle, Colin Snedden, played one Test for New Zealand; his father, Warwick Snedden, and grandfather, Nessie Snedden, both also played first-class cricket. His brother, Pat Snedden, is a company director and philanthropist. His son, Michael, made his first-class cricket debut for Wellington in October 2019, and became the first fourth-generation cricketer to play first-class cricket in New Zealand.

International career

Snedden's best Test figures were 5 for 68 in New Zealand's victory over West Indies in Christchurch in 1986-87. He was the first bowler to concede 100 runs in a One Day International with figures of 12–1–105–2 from a 60-over match; it remained the record for most runs conceded until surpassed by Mick Lewis in March 2006. Snedden was generally a lower order batsman though he once scored 64 opening the innings in a One Day International. He also represented Auckland in New Zealand State cricket.

Beyond cricket

Snedden, a lawyer by profession, was for some years the Chief Executive Officer of New Zealand Cricket. He left NZC to head the 2011 Rugby World Cup Organising Team. Snedden was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2012 New Year Honours, for services to sporting administration.