Gavin Larsen

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Gavin Larsen

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| fullname = Gavin Rolf Larsen

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|27 September 1962}}

| birth_place = Wellington, New Zealand

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nickname =

| height =

| country = New Zealand

| international = true

| internationalspan = 1990–1999

| testdebutdate = 2 June

| testdebutyear = 1994

| testdebutagainst = England

| testcap = 190

| lasttestdate = 27 April

| lasttestyear = 1996

| lasttestagainst = West Indies

| odidebutdate = 1 March

| odidebutyear = 1990

| odidebutagainst = India

| odicap = 64

| lastodidate = 16 June

| lastodiyear = 1999

| lastodiagainst = Pakistan

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm medium

| role = Bowler

| columns = 4

| column1 = Test

| matches1 = 8

| runs1 = 127

| bat avg1 = 14.11

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 26*

| deliveries1 = 1,967

| wickets1 = 24

| bowl avg1 = 28.70

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 3/57

| catches/stumpings1 = 5/–

| column2 = ODI

| matches2 = 121

| runs2 = 629

| bat avg2 = 14.62

| 100s/50s2 = 0/0

| top score2 = 37

| deliveries2 = 6,368

| wickets2 = 113

| bowl avg2 = 35.39

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 4/24

| catches/stumpings2 = 23/–

| column3 = FC

| matches3 = 103

| runs3 = 3,491

| bat avg3 = 28.61

| 100s/50s3 = 2/17

| top score3 = 161

| deliveries3 = 12,765

| wickets3 = 156

| bowl avg3 = 29.62

| fivefor3 = 5

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 6/37

| catches/stumpings3 = 70/0

| column4 = LA

| matches4 = 229

| runs4 = 1,981

| bat avg4 = 18.17

| 100s/50s4 = 0/2

| top score4 = 66

| deliveries4 = 12,061

| wickets4 = 227

| bowl avg4 = 30.31

| fivefor4 = 1

| tenfor4 = 0

| best bowling4 = 5/30

| catches/stumpings4 = 59/9

| date = 4 May

| year = 2017

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/37601.html Cricinfo

}}

Gavin Rolf Larsen (born 27 September 1962) is a former New Zealand international cricketer who specialised in the art of economical bowling. He was known playfully by his teammates as "The Postman". He is currently chief selector for the national side.

Domestic career

Unusually for a New Zealand player, he played his entire first-class career with one team, Wellington. He also captained the side in the 1994 Australasian Cup in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, where New Zealand reached the semi-finals of a six-team tournament.

His nickname of "The Postman" came about as a compliment:

"John Graham, New Zealand's team manager during much of his career, explained the nickname in the foreword to Larsen's book Grand Larseny (yes, really): "He is the consummate professional, committed, conscientious, competitive and consistent. His nickname of 'The Postman' sums him up well, he always delivers!""{{cite news |last1=Lynch |first1=Steven |title=Guptill's record, and Tendulkar's ton at Lord's |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/640025.html |access-date=13 June 2021 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=11 June 2013}}

International career

Larsen finished his career with an exceptional economy rate in ODI cricket of 3.76 – the norm at the time was usually somewhere between 4 and 4.50 – in his 121 ODIs, stretching over a ten-year span.

He also played eight Tests with reasonable success, taking 24 wickets. However, as a useful batsman and handy bowler, he held a place in the one-day side and played a major part in New Zealand reaching the semi-final stage of the 1999 Cricket World Cup.

Larsen earned his 100th ODI wicket in his home-town of Wellington, claiming the prize scalp of Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

After cricket

Larsen was formerly chief executive of Cricket Wellington, leaving the post in October 2011 after four years.{{cite news |last1=Millmow |first1=Jonathan |title=Gavin Larsen will still feel the heat |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/5825986/Gavin-Larsen-will-still-feel-the-heat |access-date=13 June 2021 |work=Stuff |date=20 October 2011}} He was appointed on 8 July 2015 as a selector of the New Zealand cricket team.{{cite news |title=Gavin Larsen appointed New Zealand selector |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/gavin-larsen-appointed-new-zealand-selector-895197 |access-date=13 June 2021 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=8 July 2015}} Larsen quit as a selector in March 2023 and was appointed as performance director at Warwickshire.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/64834355|title=Gavin Larsen: Warwickshire appoint New Zealand selector as performance director|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=29 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/gavin-larsen-to-step-down-as-nz-selector-1361660|title=Gavin Larsen to step down as New Zealand selector|publisher=ESPNCricinfo|accessdate=29 November 2024}} He held the role for two seasons until resigning in November 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cj4vr7yzjdvo|title=Larsen quits as Warwickshire performance director|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=29 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://edgbaston.com/news/bears-performance-director-larsen-leaves-warwickshire/|title=Bears Performance Director Larsen leaves Warwickshire|publisher=edgbaston.com|accessdate=29 November 2024}}