Former New Zealand opener Wynne Bradburn dies

Wynne Bradburn, who played two Tests for New Zealand against South Africa in 1963-64, has died at the age of 69. He suffered a fatal heart attack hours after the funeral of his wife of 48-years who died five days earlier.

Bradburn started his career with Northern Districts as a middle-order batsman but his success came after he switched to opening. His call-up against South Africa was something of a surprise, given his form that season had not been outstanding and he had yet to score his maiden first-class hundred.

He made 32 in his first Test and 2 and 14 in the second. By the time the side came to be chosen for the 1965 England tour he was out of the reckoning. The following summer he made his only hundred, 107 against Auckland.

His son, Grant, also played Test cricket for New Zealand, one of only seven father-and-son pairings to do so.

"He could have gone at any stage, he wasn't feeling very well on the day," Grant told the New Zealand Herald. "He told one of our cousins that he just wanted to jump into the grave on Thursday. I guess he felt his time was done and he wanted to be with mum.

"It was a huge shock for as all. He said to me moments before he died that he was very, very proud of the send-off we gave our mum. We're just thankful that he got through [her] funeral."