John Geoffrey Wright, popularly known as John Wright, is a former New Zealand cricketer and highly respected coach. Born on June 5, 1954, in Derby, England, Wright is renowned for his fighting spirit and exceptional skills as a left-hand opening batsman.
Wright began his cricketing journey in the 1970s and soon established himself as a vital player in the New Zealand national team. With a sound defensive technique and a wide range of strokes, he became the first New Zealand batsman to surpass the remarkable milestone of 4000 Test runs. During the 1980s, he played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s overseas successes against cricketing powerhouses such as England and Australia.
One of Wright’s most memorable achievements is scoring a century against all six of his Test opponents, including Sri Lanka in the 1990-91 series. Nevertheless, it is the match against England in 1991-92 that remains etched in the minds of cricket aficionados. Just one run short of a potential match-saving century, Wright charged down the pitch against Phil Tufnell and got stumped. This downturn led to England’s victory by an innings and four runs, with mere minutes remaining.
After retiring from professional cricket, Wright transitioned into coaching. He first joined Kent as a coach before venturing into a more prominent position as the coach of the Indian national cricket team. This role came with its challenges, but Wright garnered immense goodwill for his dedication and candor. His partnership with Sourav Ganguly, the then captain of the Indian team, resulted in several significant victories, most notably against Australia in Kolkata in 2001. The team also secured series wins in Pakistan and claimed Test victories in England and Australia.
Following a five-year hiatus after his tenure with India, Wright returned to his homeland and assumed the position of New Zealand’s head coach in December 2010. Although the stint lasted less than two years, it witnessed some memorable achievements. The highlight was the team’s first Test win in Australia in 26 years, which occurred in Hobart in December 2011. Additionally, the New Zealand team reached the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup. However, the team faced subsequent setbacks in series against South Africa and the West Indies. Differences with John Buchanan, the director of cricket for New Zealand Cricket, led to Wright’s resignation in July 2012.
Throughout his career as a player and coach, John Wright has inspired countless cricket enthusiasts. His determination, skill, and ability to forge successful partnerships have left an indelible mark on the sport. Today, he remains highly regarded for his contributions to the game and his commitment to bringing out the best in his players.
