Heath Davis
{{short description|New Zealand cricketer}}
{{confuse|Heath Davis (director)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Heath Davis
| image = Cricket_no_pic.png
| country = New Zealand
| fullname = Heath Te-Ihi-O-Te-Rangi Davis
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|11|30|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand
| international = true
| internationalspan = 1994–1997
| testdebutdate = 2 June
| testdebutyear = 1994
| testdebutagainst = England
| testcap = 189
| lasttestdate = 18 September
| lasttestyear = 1997
| lasttestagainst = Zimbabwe
| odidebutdate = 18 April
| odidebutyear = 1994
| odidebutagainst = Sri Lanka
| odicap = 90
| lastodidate = 14 May
| lastodiyear = 1997
| lastodiagainst = India
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm fast
| columns = 4
| column1 = Test
| matches1 = 5
| runs1 = 20
| bat avg1 = 6.66
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 8*
| deliveries1 = 1,010
| wickets1 = 17
| bowl avg1 = 29.35
| fivefor1 = 1
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 5/63
| catches/stumpings1 = 4/–
| column2 = ODI
| matches2 = 11
| runs2 = 13
| bat avg2 = 6.50
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 7*
| deliveries2 = 432
| wickets2 = 11
| bowl avg2 = 39.63
| fivefor2 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 4/35
| catches/stumpings2 = 2/–
| column3 = FC
| matches3 = 71
| runs3 = 538
| bat avg3 = 11.44
| 100s/50s3 = 0/0
| top score3 = 38*
| deliveries3 = 11,682
| wickets3 = 215
| bowl avg3 = 31.13
| fivefor3 = 6
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 5/32
| catches/stumpings3 = 26/–
| column4 = LA
| matches4 = 47
| runs4 = 140
| bat avg4 = 12.72
| 100s/50s4 = 0/0
| top score4 = 21
| deliveries4 = 1,998
| wickets4 = 45
| bowl avg4 = 36.80
| fivefor4 = 0
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling4 = 4/35
| catches/stumpings4 = 12/–
| date = 4 May
| year = 2017
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/36825.html Cricinfo
}}
Heath Te-Ihi-O-Te-Rangi Davis (born 30 November 1971) is a former New Zealand cricketer. He played five Test matches and eleven One Day Internationals in the 1990s. He played his provincial cricket for Wellington.
Early and personal life
Davis was born on 30 November 1971{{cricinfo|id=36825}} at Hutt Hospital, and spent his early years in the greater Wellington region before he moved with his family to Australia whilst he was in primary school.{{Cite web |last=Chapman |first=Madeleine |date=2 August 2022 |title=Finding Heath Davis |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/02-08-2022/finding-heath-davis?fs=e&s=cl |access-date=1 August 2022 |website=The Spinoff }}
In 2022, Davis came out as gay – making him the first Black Cap to publicly disclose his homosexuality.
Cricket career
Davis was prevented from enjoying a longer international career by problems with injury, wides and, particularly no-balls. A quick and skiddy bowler, his impressive Test figures hide the story of up to 14 no-balls in an innings.
Davis was selected on the 1994 New Zealand tour of England. He was not expected to play any of Test matches but to "gain experience and take advantage of the opportunity to play or train every day".{{Cite book |last=Howarth |first=Geoff |title=Stirred But Not Shaken |publisher=Hodder Moa Beckett |year=1998 |location=New Zealand |pages=53}} Geoff Howarth said of him "We knew he could bowl fast, but he had problems with his direction and no-balling". Ken Rutherford said "I soon learnt he had a lot of raw talent but very little cricketing nous".{{Cite book |last=Rutherford |first=Ken |title=A hell of a way to make a living |publisher=Hodder Moa Beckett |year=1995 |location=New Zealand |pages=198}} Due to injuries, he played in the first Test where New Zealand lost to England by an innings and 90 runs and he bowled 21 overs and took 1 wicket for 93 runs.{{Cite web |title=Full Scorecard of New Zealand vs England 1st Test 1994 – Score Report {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-tour-of-england-1994-62077/england-vs-new-zealand-1st-test-63646/full-scorecard |access-date=17 April 2022 |website=ESPNcricinfo}} His first ball in Test cricket went for four wides.{{Cite web |last=Hepburn |first=Steve |date=17 January 2014 |title=Cricket: Plenty promised, few delivered |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/cricket/cricket-plenty-promised-few-delivered |access-date=17 April 2022 |website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}
His career came in two short bursts, in between which he strove for improved rhythm. He tended to lose control when he strove for extra pace. He played both Test matches in the 1997 Sri Lanka
Davis moved to Brisbane, Australia in 2003 and he is involved with cricket coaching. In 2008, he suffered a workplace accident while driving a forklift. As a result, half of his left foot had to be amputated.{{Cite web|date=26 April 2010|title=Heath Davis looks on the bright side|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/3624961/Heath-Davis-looks-on-the-bright-side|access-date=19 December 2020|website=Stuff |language=en}} He remarked about accident "I didn't want to remember all the no-balls that I bowled through my career. So I decided to do something permanent about it..."{{Cite web|title=Middle & Leg: Shihad, Heath, Masala & Monty|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/middle-leg-shihad-heath-masala-monty/C4HJXNDYMWQPDZVFOZRMAJGNLU/|access-date=19 December 2020|website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
The Otago Daily Times named him in their New Zealand Test team of the "greatest 11 players NZ forgot".{{Cite web|last=Seconi|first=Adrian|date=13 January 2013|title=Cricket: The greatest 11 players NZ forgot|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/cricket/cricket-greatest-11-players-nz-forgot|access-date=19 December 2020|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cricinfo|id=36825}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Heath}}
Category:New Zealand cricketers
Category:New Zealand Test cricketers
Category:New Zealand One Day International cricketers
Category:Wellington cricketers
Category:Cricketers from Lower Hutt