Northern Districts veteran and former BLACKCAPS batsman Daniel Flynn has announced his retirement from cricket.
The master of despatching a punishing hook or pull shot to the boundary and architect of a devastating cut shot finishes his 16-year career with Northern Districts having played 100 first-class matches – joining just five other ND players in the “100 club”; as well as having notched 20 first-class centuries, a record by some distance by any ND batsman.
Overall, Flynn played 135 first-class matches for 21 centuries, including a career-best 241 against the Otago Volts in 2010/11.
Born in Rotorua and raised in Tauranga, “Flynny” also played 88 List A matches for his lifelong province ND, among 133 List A matches overall, and scored five List A hundreds, all for ND.
About to turn 35 this month, as a young player Flynn progressed through the ND age-group system from Under-15 level and made his ND debut in a List A match in December 2004 when he was just 19.
He made his first-class debut in January 2005 against the Volts at Harry Barker Reserve in Gisborne and, remembers longtime ND selector Pat Malcon, “ND won convincingly, but Daniel scored just two runs in his only innings. The following season, against the same team, at the same venue, he scored his maiden first-class century which showed how fast he progressed at this level.”
That progression extended to white-ball cricket with his 104 T20 appearances being another ND all-time record for the departing legend.
A former New Zealand Under-19 rep, consistent runs and versatility across all formats saw Flynn earn full international honours for the first time in 2008.
“Representing your country is the ultimate for any cricketer; it’s what you dream of as a kid so to have achieved it is something I look back on with immense satisfaction,” said Flynn on that call-up to the BLACKCAPS.
Malcon believes the left-hander displayed his greatest qualities in his first Test series away in England that year.
“Daniel batted for three hours in the second innings for 29 not out to help the BLACKCAPS draw the first Test, and suffered an horrendous injury [to the face, losing a tooth] in the second Test before returning the very next Test to score 49.
“It epitomised Daniel’s courage and determination – qualities that were evident throughout his career.”
Flynn said the people he’d played alongside throughout my career deserve a special mention in his farewell.
“They stand out for me. They’re not just good cricketers, but good people whom I’ve learned plenty from, both on and off the field,” said Flynn.
“Winning trophies for ND alongside these guys was always special and those are memories that I will never forget.”
At the top of the order for most of his career, Flynn captained ND in 47 first-class games and in 25 games in the white-ball formats.
“Daniel will definitely be remembered for his leadership skills. He was always respected by his players and the coaches he played under,” said Malcon.
“He has carved a special place in ND’s cricket history as a top player across all formats; an astute captain; and a great team man.”
Flynn says he can’t even begin to list all the people who have helped him in his career.
“First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge my family. My wife has had to raise two young kids on her own throughout the last few summers and she’s done a heck of a job. After that, there are just too many other people to name who have helped me.”
Flynn joins Canterbury’s Andrew Ellis and Auckland Ace Craig Cachopa as recent Domestic captains to have retired at the close of the shortened 2019/20 season.
STATCHAT
Tests: 24 matches, 1,038 runs at 25.95; HS 95; 6×50; 10 catches
ODIs: 20 matches, 228 runs at 15.20; HS 35; 4 catches
T20is: 5 matches, 59 runs at 11.80; HS 23; 2 catches
First-class: 135 matches, 7,815 runs at 35.04; HS 241; 21×100, 29×50; 55 catches
List A: 113 matches, 2,753 runs at 27.25; HS 149; 5×100, 12×50; 30 catches
T20: 109 matches, 1,837 runs at 19.33; HS 86; 7×50: SR 128.28; 31 catches
