Brian Young, originally a wicket-keeper batsman who made his
international debut for New Zealand in the three-way World Series during
Graham Gooch's Ashes tour, gave up the stumper's gloves to become a
steady opening batsman. He made 267 not out against Sri Lanka in Dunedin
in March 1997, hitting 37 fours and batting for 605 minutes and 421
balls, and his team won by an innings, but more dramatic was the third
Test against Pakistan in 1993-94. New Zealand were chasing 322 and
seemed to have little chance after losing early wickets, but 120 from
Young and a big stand with Shane Thomson, who also made a century, got
them home easily.
Young made his Test debut in Brisbane in 1993-94 after
injury to Martin Crowe, scoring 38 and 53. In England in 1994 he made
53 at Trent Bridge and 94 in the second innings at Lord's. Against South
Africa in 1994-95 he scored 51 in Durban, 45 and 51 in Cape Town and 74
in Auckland in the return series. After 84 against Sri Lanka in Dunedin
the following summer he lost his place to Roger Twose. He returned on
the Pakistan tour of 1996-97, scoring 61 in Rawalpindi.
He toured
Australia in 1997-98, scoring 45 in Brisbane and made 46 against Sri
Lanka in Galle in June 1998. At 5ft 10ins Young, who made his first
class debut for Northern Districts in 1983-4, made his runs from the
basis of a solid defensive technique with weighted deflections and crisp
pushes. With his wicket-keeping experience he was also a reliable slip
fieldsman. (Bob Harragan) |