Noel McGregor was an entertaining right-hand batsmen whose first-class career lasted more than two decades, during which time he played 25 Tests for New Zealand. He made his mark in India and Pakistan in 1955-56 where his 300 runs came at 25, making a five-and-a-half hour 111 at Lahore. Almost a ten years later he averaged 28 against the touring South Africans, including a gutsy 68 at Auckland. And in South Africa, in 1961-62, he made 709 runs on the tour and 242 at 24 in the drawn Test series. At Cape Town, he made 68 in New Zealand's first win away from home, five seasons after playing in their first home win. But it was a mixed era for New Zealand cricket, and he also featured in New Zealand's Test-record 26 all out. Even when he quit first-class cricket - not through choice, but because his work moved - he continued playing club cricket until he was 58. He went on to become a leading regional bowls administrator. McGregor died in Christchurch on November 21, 2007 from a heart attack. He was 75.
Martin Williamson