NZ pacer Hayes passes away

Former New Zealand fast bowler, Johnny Hayes has passed away at the age of 80. The tall right-armer struggled in his brief career in the 1950s, taking just 30 wickets at an average of 40.56.

Hayes toured with New Zealand under Walter Hadlee in 1949, but sustained a groin strain and did not make his Test debut until 1950-51 against the same opposition. He had figures of 1-85 from his 43 overs bowling once in the match. It was not until the following year that he made his first genuine impact at international level, when he dismissed Gomez, Walcott and Worrell in a sharp opening spell.

His career best figures came at the tail end of his international career, 4-36 in 1958 against England. He played just two more Tests.

Hayes took 292 wickets in his first-class career at an average of 23.14. He retired from the sport in 1961 and ran an import-export business and served as Morocco’s honorary consul-general in New Zealand until 2004.