Born on February 21st 1936 in Devonport, Auckland, is former Test and ODI wicket keeper for New Zealand, Bev Brentnall.
Bev’s international career began when she was selected to tour England with the White Ferns in 1966 where she was also vice-captain in Trish McKelvey’s team. As well as keeping wickets Bev was handy with the bat and spent most of her time in the middle order. It was in the second Test on the 1966 tour where she made her highest score of 84 not out at Edgbaston.
Over the 10 Test matches Bev played from 1966 to 1971/2, she scored 301 runs at 21.50, a good return for a keeper/batter from that era. In her primary role with the gloves she took 16 catches and 12 stumpings to achieve a very handy 28 dismissals.
“Bev was the best keeper I ever played with. Through the 3 test series against England in 1966 she conceded 1 bye! That happened in the 3rd test our last fielding session & I bowled a very tired ball which yorked Bev on the second bounce. I feel very guilty to this day.” Jill Saulbrey (former Test bowler for New Zealand)
Bev’s Test career may have ended in 1972 but a new one, all too briefly, happened in 1973 when she was selected to captain New Zealand’s ODI team to play in the inaugural World Cup. It made Bev the first person to skipper the White Ferns in ODI cricket. The first game was against Jamaica and was washed out. Not even a coin toss for the new skipper.
Against Trinidad & Tobago in the following match, Bev led New Zealand to their first ODI victory. Across the campaign she played 5 ODIs she took 3 catches and 3 stumpings.