Former New Zealand pacer Derek Stirling passes away at 62

Derek Stirling. (Photo: X)

Former New Zealand cricketer Derek Stirling breathed his last on Wednesday, December 13, at the age of 62.

Stirling, a fast bowler, played six Tests and as many ODIs or the Blackcaps between 1984 and 1986. He picked up 13 wickets in Tests and six in ODIs. Stirling was unlucky not to have played more games for the national side as he played in an era where a plethora of Kiwi pacers did exceedingly well in world cricket, including the likes Richard Hadlee, Ewen Chatfield, and Lance Cairns.

“I probably never achieved what I potentially could’ve. I was too inconsistent, probably on and off the field. Just making the [New Zealand] team was an achievement. Getting better and staying there was the next step and I never grasped that. But I don’t regret it. It was basically an amateur era. I don’t regret one second of it. I played overseas, cricket was good to me,” Stirling told Stuff in an interview in 2014.

Stirling’s numbers in domestic cricket were quite impressive. He played for the Central Districts between 1981 and 1988 before representing Wellington between 1988 and 1992. The right-arm seamer bagged 206 wickets from 84 first-class matches and 90 wickets from 65 games in List A cricket.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) posted about the demise of Stirling on their official ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) account.

“NZC is deeply saddened by the passing of former Test fast-bowler Derek Stirling, aged 62. “Billy” as he was known, played 6 Tests and 6 ODIs for his country and was a popular member of both the @CDCricket, and @cricketwgtninc sides. Our thoughts are with his family and friends,” New Zealand’s cricket governing body wrote.

After retirement, Hastings-based Stirling served as the chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association and invested a lot of time in coaching young cricketers.

“I am a much better coach than I was a player. The basic though in my head is that if a lanky, skinny kid from Takaro Primary School in Palmerston North can play at Lord’s or play for New Zealand, anyonce can,” Stirling had said back in 2014.