View source for Neil McKenzie

{{Short description|South African cricketer}}
{{For|the English footballer|Neil MacKenzie}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox cricketer
|                name = Neil McKenzie
|               image = Neil McKenzie.jpg
|             country = South Africa
|            fullname = Neil Douglas McKenzie
|            nickname =
|          birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|11|24|df=yes}}
|         birth_place = [[Johannesburg]], [[Transvaal Province]], South Africa
|             batting = Right-handed
|             bowling = Right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium]]
|              family = [[Kevin McKenzie (cricketer)|Kevin McKenzie]] (father), [[Megan McKenzie]] (sister)
|       international = true
|   internationalspan = 2000–2009
|       testdebutdate = 20 July
|       testdebutyear = 2000
|    testdebutagainst = Sri Lanka
|             testcap = 277
|        lasttestdate = 6 March
|        lasttestyear = 2009
|     lasttestagainst = Australia
|        odidebutdate = 2 February
|        odidebutyear = 2000
|     odidebutagainst = Zimbabwe
|              odicap = 59
|         lastodidate = 30 January
|         lastodiyear = 2009
|      lastodiagainst = Australia
|            odishirt = 4
|       T20Idebutdate = 24 February
|       T20Idebutyear = 2006
|    T20Idebutagainst = Australia
|             T20Icap = 21
|        lastT20Idate = 13 January
|        lastT20Iyear = 2009
|     lastT20Iagainst = Australia
|               club1 = [[Gauteng cricket team|Transvaal]]
|               year1 = {{nowrap|1995/96–1996/97}}
|               club2 = [[Gauteng cricket team|Gauteng]]
|               year2 = {{nowrap|1997/98–1998/99}}
|               club3 = [[Northerns cricket team|Northerns]]
|               year3 = {{nowrap|1999/00–2003/04}}
|               club4 = [[Imperial Lions|Lions]]
|               year4 = {{nowrap|2003/04–2015/16}}
|               club5 = [[Somerset County Cricket Club|Somerset]]
|               year5 = 2007
|               club6 = [[Durham County Cricket Club|Durham]]
|               year6 = 2008
|               club7 = [[Hampshire County Cricket Club|Hampshire]]
|               year7 = 2010–2013
|               club8 = [[Barbados Royals|Barbados Tridents]]
|               year8 = 2014
|             columns = 4
|             column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
|            matches1 = 58
|               runs1 = 3,253
|            bat avg1 = 37.39
|           100s/50s1 = 5/16
|          top score1 = 226
|         deliveries1 = 90
|            wickets1 = 0
|           bowl avg1 = –
|            fivefor1 = 0
|             tenfor1 = 0
|       best bowling1 = –
|  catches/stumpings1 = 54/–
|             column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
|            matches2 = 64
|               runs2 = 1,688
|            bat avg2 = 37.51
|           100s/50s2 = 2/10
|          top score2 = 131[[Not out|*]]
|         deliveries2 = 46
|            wickets2 = 0
|           bowl avg2 = –
|            fivefor2 = 0
|             tenfor2 = 0
|       best bowling2 = –
|  catches/stumpings2 = 21/–
|             column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
|            matches3 = 280
|               runs3 = 19,041
|            bat avg3 = 45.77
|           100s/50s3 = 53/86
|          top score3 = 237
|         deliveries3 = 1,054
|            wickets3 = 11
|           bowl avg3 = 51.63
|            fivefor3 = 0
|             tenfor3 = 0
|       best bowling3 = 2/13
|  catches/stumpings3 = 255/–
|             column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
|            matches4 = 298
|               runs4 = 8,571
|            bat avg4 = 37.92
|           100s/50s4 = 12/58
|          top score4 = 131[[Not out|*]]
|         deliveries4 = 255
|            wickets4 = 4
|           bowl avg4 = 62.00
|            fivefor4 = 0
|             tenfor4 = 0
|       best bowling4 = 2/19
|  catches/stumpings4 = 90/–
|                date = 2 December
|                year = 2021
|              source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/neil-mckenzie-46208 ESPNcricinfo
}}

'''Neil Douglas McKenzie''' (born 24 November 1975) is a South African former [[cricket]]er, who played all three forms of the game. He was a right-handed opening batsman who played for [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]], making his first appearance in 2000. He is currently the high performance batting coach of [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]]. He played for the [[Highveld Lions]] in South African domestic cricket and has also played county cricket for [[Somerset County Cricket Club|Somerset]], [[Durham County Cricket Club|Durham]] and [[Hampshire County Cricket Club|Hampshire]].

He announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in January 2016.<ref name="retire">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/967131.html |title=Neil McKenzie retires from all cricket |access-date=30 January 2016 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

In November 2024, he was appointed as the consultant coach for the [[Sri Lanka national cricket team]] for the upcoming 2-match test series against [[South Africa national cricket team]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/neil-mckenzie-appointed-as-sri-lanka-consultant-coach-ahead-of-south-africa-tests-101731409298120.html |title=Neil McKenzie appointed as Sri Lanka consultant coach ahead of South Africa Tests |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=12 November 2024}}</ref>

==Early and personal life==
Educated at [[King Edward VII School (Johannesburg)|King Edward VII School]], McKenzie was a promising junior cricketer, captaining the South African Schools and Under-19 sides. McKenzie is married to South African model Kerry McGregor. His sister, [[Megan McKenzie|Megan]], is also a leading model in South Africa.

==Domestic career==
With better form in international arena, a further development as a result of his recall was that Somerset announced that it was unlikely that McKenzie would return to the club for the 2008 season, having played in 2007 as a [[Kolpak ruling|Kolpak]] player. It was subsequently announced that he would play part of the 2008 season for [[Durham County Cricket Club|Durham]] as an overseas player.<ref>[https://archive.today/20110525231348/http://www.cricketworld.com/2008_county_season/durham/article/?aid=14420 ''Durham To Boast World Class Batting Line-Up In 2008''] [[Cricket World]] retrieved 31 March 2008</ref>

In January 2010, McKenzie joined English county side [[Hampshire County Cricket Club|Hampshire]] as a [[Kolpak ruling|Kolpak]] player for the [[2010 County Championship]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/hampshire/8487974.stm Neil McKenzie joins Hampshire]</ref> On 5 August 2011 McKenzie hit his career best first-class score of 237 in a County Championship match against [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club|Yorkshire]].<ref name="REC">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2011/content/story/526086.html|title=Carberry makes 300* in 523-run stand|date=5 August 2011|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=5 August 2011}}</ref> Not only did he make his highest score, but during his innings a number of records fell. Himself and [[Michael Carberry]] set a new Hampshire record for the 3rd wicket in first-class cricket, setting a partnership of 523 runs to surpass the previous best partnership for the 3rd wicket, which was set by [[George Brown (cricketer, born 1887)|George Brown]] and [[Phil Mead]] in 1927.<ref name="REC"/> The partnership with Carberry was also the highest for any wicket for Hampshire, surpassing the 411 set by [[Robert Poore]] and [[Teddy Wynyard]] in 1899.<ref name="REC"/> Their partnership was the 11th time in first-class cricket that a partnership has passed 500 runs, currently ranks 9th on the all-time list.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/Firstclass/Overall/Partnerships_Over_500.html|title=Partnerships Over 500 in First-Class Matches|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=5 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119124348/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/Firstclass/Overall/Partnerships_Over_500.html|archive-date=19 November 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==International career==
His Test debut came as an opening batsman in a tour of Sri Lanka but like his father [[Kevin McKenzie (cricketer)|Kevin McKenzie]] he soon cemented his place in the South African middle order before returning to the side as an opener later in his career. McKenzie made his maiden Test hundred against [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]] in 2000–01. Another century soon came, against [[Sri Lanka cricket team|Sri Lanka]] at Supersport Park but it would be his last for seven years. From there on in he could not convert his twelve 50s into hundreds although he came close when he was run out by [[Damien Martyn]] for 99. After a series of low scores was dropped from the side. After showing excellent form in domestic cricket, and due to successive poor performances by opener [[Herschelle Gibbs]], he was recalled to the South African Test squad three and a half years later for the second Test against the [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]] at Newlands. Opening the innings, McKenzie scored 23 before a torn calf muscle meant he was unable to bat in the second innings and would miss the third Test of the series.

During a test against [[Bangladesh cricket team|Bangladesh]] begun on 29 February 2008, McKenzie was involved in a world record 1st wicket partnership of 415 with [[Graeme Smith]],<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/7272340.stm ''South Africa set new opening mark ''] [[BBC News]] retrieved 1 March 2008</ref> McKenzie registering a career best 226. He continued his form in the next Test against [[India cricket team|India]] when he registered scores of 94 and 155 not out.

In the first Test against [[England cricket team|England]] at Lord's in July 2008, McKenzie batted for over nine hours in a 447-ball innings of 138 to help his side save the match having been asked to [[follow-on]] on the third day.<ref>[http://www.cricketworld.com/internationalcricketnews/article/?aid=16380 ''Hashim Amla Century Guides South Africa To Safety''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803024259/http://www.cricketworld.com/internationalcricketnews/article/?aid=16380 |date=3 August 2008 }} [[Cricket World]] retrieved 16 July 2008</ref>
[[File:Neilmckenziescg.jpg|thumb|left|Neil McKenzie training at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2009]]
During 2008, McKenzie became one of only twelve players to score more than 1000 test runs in the calendar year. The year, however, ended in disappointing fashion as he was shown to be out of form in series against [[Bangladesh cricket team|Bangladesh]] and [[Australia cricket team|Australia]]. That then led to him being dropped from the test squad, after the second test.

He played his first ODI since 2003 against [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] and made a hard-fought 63 in the first ODI, while also playing his part in a successful 4–1 series win, which made [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]] the number 1 ranked ODI team in the world. With [[Graeme Smith]] fit again, McKenzie lost his place in the next ODI squad.

He was however named as one of five cricketers of the year by [[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|Wisden]], a prestigious award, dating back more than 125 years, for his form in the away series in England.

==International centuries==
===Test centuries===
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=8|Test centuries of Neil McKenzie
|-
! style="width;30px;"| No !! style="width:50px;"| Runs !! style="width:50px;"| Match !! style="width:140px;"| Against !! style="width:280px;"| City/Country !! style="width:250px;"| Venue !! style="width:140px;"| Start date !!style="width:50px;"| Result
|-
| '''[1]''' || 120 || 5 || {{cr|NZ}} || {{flagicon|SA}} [[Port Elizabeth]], [[South Africa]] || [[St George's Park Cricket Ground|St George's Park]] || 30 November 2000 || Won
|-
| '''[2]''' || 103 || 9 || {{cr|SL}} || {{flagicon|SA}} [[Centurion, Gauteng|Centurion]], South Africa || [[SuperSport Park]] || 20 January 2001 || Won
|-
| '''[3]''' || 226 || 44 || {{cr|BAN}} || {{flagicon|BAN}} [[Chittagong]], [[Bangladesh]] || [[Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium|ZAC Stadium]] || 29 February 2008 || Won
|-
| '''[4]''' || 155* || 45 || {{cr|IND}} || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Chennai]], [[India]] || [[MA Chidambaram Stadium]] || 26 March 2008 || Drawn
|-
| '''[5]''' || 138 || 48 || {{cr|ENG}} || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[London]], [[England]] || [[Lord's]] || 10 July 2008 || Drawn
|}

===ODI centuries===
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=8|One Day International centuries of Neil McKenzie
|-
! style="width;30px;"| No !! style="width:50px;"| Runs !! style="width:50px;"| Match !! style="width:140px;"| Against !! style="width:280px;"| City/Country !! style="width:250px;"| Venue !! style="width:140px;"| Date !!style="width:50px;"| Result
|-
| '''[1]''' || 120* || 19 || {{cr|SL}} || {{flagicon|SA}} [[East London, Eastern Cape|East London]], South Africa || [[Buffalo Park]] || 17 December 2000 || Won
|-
| '''[2]''' || 131* || 35 || {{cr|KEN}} || {{flagicon|SA}} [[Cape Town]], South Africa || [[Newlands Cricket Ground]] || 22 October 2001 || Won
|}

==International awards==
===One Day International Cricket===
====Man of the Match awards====
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin-left:10px"
|-
! style="background:white; color:black;" |S No
! style="background:white; color:black;" |Opponent
! style="background:white; color:black;" |Venue
! style="background:white; color:black;" |Date
! style="background:white; color:black;" |Match performance
! style="background:white; color:black;" |Result
|- style="background:White;"
| 1
| [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]]
| [[Buffalo Park]], [[East London, Eastern Cape|East London]]
| 17 December 2000
| 120* (135 balls: 13x4, 1x6) ; 1-0-5-0
| {{cr|ZAF}} won by 95 runs.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Matches/MatchScorecard_ODI.asp?MatchCode=0040 |title= 2000-2001 South Africa v Sri Lanka - 2nd Match - East London}}</ref>
|- style="background:White;"
| 2
| [[West Indies national cricket team|West Indies]]
| [[Queen's Park Oval]], [[Port of Spain]]
| 12 May 2001
| 73 (117 balls: 8x4) ; DNB
| {{cr|ZAF}} won by 53 runs.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Matches/MatchScorecard_ODI.asp?MatchCode=1525 |title= 2000-2001 West Indies v South Africa - 6th Match - Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad}}</ref>
|- style="background:White;"
| 3
| [[Zimbabwe national cricket team|Zimbabwe]]
| [[Harare Sports Club]], [[Harare]]
| 30 September 2001
| 69* (86 balls: 10x4) 
| {{cr|ZAF}} won by 6 wickets.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Matches/MatchScorecard_ODI.asp?MatchCode=1835 |title= 2001-2002 Zimbabwe v South Africa - 3rd Match - Harare}}</ref>
|- style="background:White;"
| 4
| [[Kenya national cricket team|Kenya]]
| [[Newlands Cricket Ground]], [[Cape Town]]
| 22 October 2001
| 131* (121 balls: 8x4, 3x6) ; 2-0-10-0
| {{cr|ZAF}} won by 208 runs.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Matches/MatchScorecard_ODI.asp?MatchCode=1848 |title= 2001-2002 Standard Bank Triangular Tournament - 8th Match - South Africa v Kenya - Cape Town}}</ref>
|- style="background:White;"
| 5
| [[India national cricket team|India]]
| [[Bangabandhu National Stadium]], [[Dhaka]]
| 18 April 2003
| 1 ct. ; 80 (107 balls: 6x4)
| {{cr|ZAF}} won by 5 wickets.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Matches/MatchScorecard_ODI.asp?MatchCode=2094 |title= 	2002-2003 TVS Cup - 6th Match - India v South Africa - Dhaka (Dacca)}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Neil McKenzie}}
*[http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/46208.html Cricinfo player profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:McKenzie, Neil}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Alumni of King Edward VII School (Johannesburg)]]
[[Category:Barbados Royals cricketers]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Johannesburg]]
[[Category:Durham cricketers]]
[[Category:Gauteng cricketers]]
[[Category:Hampshire cricketers]]
[[Category:Lions cricketers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Northerns cricketers]]
[[Category:Somerset cricketers]]
[[Category:South African cricket coaches]]
[[Category:South African cricketers]]
[[Category:South Africa One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:South Africa Test cricketers]]
[[Category:South Africa Twenty20 International cricketers]]
[[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]]
[[Category:Wisden Cricketers of the Year]]
[[Category:South African expatriate cricketers in England]]