Photo Credit: ECB
BLACKCAP No.154, Stirling played six Tests and six ODIs between 1984 and 1986, and is best remembered for a strong tour of Pakistan, in which he toiled on unhelpful pitches and took four for 88 at Karachi.
Initially with Central Districts before moving to Wellington, Stirling took six for 75 against Northern Districts on first-class debut, figures he never bettered in a career spanning 84 games and realising 206 wickets
Stirling never played in a Test on home soil, his career comprising the three Tests in Pakistan, the third Test of the 1985 tour of the West Indies, at Bridgetown, and the first and second Test of the 1986 tour of England – the first time New Zealand beat England in a series.
In total he took 13 Test wickets at 46.23 and 206 first-class wickets at 33.72.
Stirling played six ODIs on the 1984 tours of Sri Lanka and Pakistan, respectively, and was considered a decent 50-over player in domestic cricket, taking 90 List A wickets at 22.26, and averaging 14.39 with the bat.
After his playing days, he continued to give back to the game, coaching at junior level and later becoming involved in administration, eventually chairing the Hawke’s Bay District Association board.
Stirling is survived by his mother, Vera Glover; his wife Debbie, and children Daniel, Annie, and Michael.
Name of Author: New Zealand Cricket
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
