Nick Beard

{{short description|New Zealand cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2013}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Nicholas Beard

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| fullname = Nicholas Brendan Beard

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1989|09|16}}

| birth_place = Dunedin, Otago

| nickname =

| heightm =

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Slow left arm orthodox

| role = Bowler

| family =

| club1 = Otago

| year1 = {{nowrap|2008/09–2015/16}}

| type1 = FC

| debutdate1 = 13 March

| debutyear1 = 2009

| debutfor1 = Otago

| debutagainst1 = Auckland

| lastdate1 = 24 October

| lastyear1 = 2015

| lastfor1 = Otago

| lastagainst1 = Canterbury

| type2 = LA

| debutdate2 = 17 December

| debutyear2 = 2009

| debutfor2 = Otago

| debutagainst2 = Auckland

| lastdate2 = 23 March

| lastyear2 = 2014

| lastfor2 = Otago

| lastagainst2 = Auckland

| columns = 3

| column1 = FC

| matches1 = 36

| runs1 = 714

| bat avg1 = 24.62

| 100s/50s1 = 1/1

| top score1 = 188

| deliveries1 = 6,220

| wickets1 = 69

| bowl avg1 = 44.37

| fivefor1 = 1

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 6/107

| catches/stumpings1 = 11/–

| column2 = LA

| matches2 = 36

| runs2 = 125

| bat avg2 = 12.50

| 100s/50s2 = 0/0

| top score2 = 24*

| deliveries2 = 1,705

| wickets2 = 32

| bowl avg2 = 44.78

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 3/34

| catches/stumpings2 = 3/–

| column3 = T20

| matches3 = 55

| runs3 = 101

| bat avg3 = 14.42

| 100s/50s3 = 0/0

| top score3 = 20

| deliveries3 = 1,065

| wickets3 = 46

| bowl avg3 = 26.67

| fivefor3 = 0

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 4/16

| catches/stumpings3 = 13/–

| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/nick-beard-326971 CricInfo

| date = 4 January

| year = 2022

}}

Nicholas Brendan Beard (born 16 September 1989) is a New Zealand former professional cricketer. He played as a left-handed batsman and left-arm slow bowler for Otago.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/326971.html |title=Nick Beard |accessdate=5 May 2016 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}} He was born at Dunedin and educated at Kavanagh College.

Beard played for the New Zealand under-19 side at the 2008 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, playing in two warm-up matches and five Youth One Day International matches during the competition.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/245/245792/245792.html Nick Beard], CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 January 2022. {{subscription required}}[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-under-19-world-cup-warm-up-match-2007-08-335427/bangladesh-under-19s-vs-pakistan-under-19s-335496/match-report Convincing wins for India and New Zealand], CricInfo, 13 February 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2022. He went on to make two Youth Test appearances and two further Youth One Day International appearances against the England under-19 side on the side's 2008 tour of England.[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-under-19s-tour-of-england-2008-299284/england-under-19s-vs-new-zealand-under-19s-2nd-youth-test-328899/match-report-4 Redfern ensures draw amid Beard blitz], CricInfo, 4 August 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2022.[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-under-19s-tour-of-england-2008-299284/england-under-19s-vs-new-zealand-under-19s-2nd-youth-odi-328894/match-report Wakely and Smith shine before washout], CricInfo, 9 August 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2022.

Having first played for Otago's Second XI in January 2009, Beard made his first-class cricket debut two months later for the side, against Auckland. He took his career best innings bowling figure of six wickets for 107 runs against Auckland in March 2010[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/plunket-shield-2009-10-428880/central-districts-vs-canterbury-428951/match-report-3 Central Districts and Otago pull off thrilling wins], CricInfo, 7 March 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2022. and played for a New Zealand emerging players side later in the year[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/emerging-players-tournament-2010-467161/australian-institute-of-sports-vs-new-zealand-emerging-players-467180/match-report New Zealand demolish Australia by 138 runs]CricInfo, 14 August 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2022. before touring Zimbabwe with the New Zealand A side in October.[https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/new-zealand-a-in-zimbabwe-new-zealand-closer-to-resuming-ties-with-zimbabwe-476605 New Zealand closer to resuming ties with Zimbabwe], CricInfo, 12 September 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2022.[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-a-tour-of-zimbabwe-2010-11-476591/zimbabwe-a-vs-new-zealand-a-1st-unofficial-test-476602/match-report Flynn, Chakabva, Franklin star in high-scoring draw], CricInfo, 10 October 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2022.

Beard took his best Twenty20 cricket bowling figures of 4/16 against Wellington in December 2012[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/hrv-cup-2012-13-577196/otago-vs-wellington-580762/match-report All-round Otago crush Wellington], CricInfo, 23 December 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2022. and later in the same season scored his only first-class century. Batting as a nightwatchman he made 188 runs against Auckland in February 2013, and innings that included 31 fours and one six and was described as "remarkable" by CricInfo.[https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/doug-bracewell-stars-for-central-districts-tim-southee-fires-on-return-605225 Bracewell stars for Central Districts, Southee fires on return], CricInfo, 17 February 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2022. His previous highest score of 62, and only other score in excess of 50 runs, had been made in 2010.[https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/plunket-shield-2010-11-3rd-round-central-districts-romp-to-third-outright-win-489146 Central Districts romp to third outright win], CricInfo, 26 November 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2022.

By the 2014–15 season however, Beard's bowling action was under scrutiny. He remodelled his action and was cleared to bowl again ahead of the 2015–16 season but experience more problems with his action during the season. Beard had already qualified to trade as a real estate agent and initially planned to take some time away from cricket whilst working in that industry.[https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/spinner-nick-beard-s-action-cleared-874767 Spinner Nick Beard's action cleared], CricInfo, 13 May 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2022.[https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/otago-spinner-nick-beard-turns-to-real-estate-948839 Otago spinner Beard turns to real estate], CricInfo, 5 December 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2022. He played his last matches for Otago during the 2015–16 Plunket Shield and later chose to retire from cricket and become a full-time real estate agent.[https://www.nickbeard.co.nz My Story], Nick Beard Real Estate Agent. Retrieved 5 January 2022.