Gavin Larsen

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Gavin Larsen
Personal information
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm medium
Career statistics
Competition Tests ODIs
Matches 8 121
Runs scored 127 629
Batting average 14.11 14.62
100s/50s 0/0 0/0
Top score 26* 37
Balls bowled 1967 6368
Wickets 24 113
Bowling average 28.70 35.39
5 wickets in innings 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 n/a
Best bowling 3/57 4/24
Catches/stumpings 5/- 23/-
Source: Cricinfo, 4 February 2006

Gavin Rolf Larsen (born 27 September 1962 in Wellington) is a former New Zealand cricketer who specialised in the art of economical bowling. He was known playfully by his team mates as "The Postman".


Larsen finished his career with an exceptional economy rate in ODI cricket of 3.76 - the norm is usually somewhere between 4 and 4.50 - in his 121 ODIs, stretching over a ten-year span.

He also played eight Tests with reasonable success, taking 24 wickets. However, as a useful batsman and handy bowler, he held a place in the one-day side and played a major part in New Zealand reaching the semi-final stage of the 1999 cricket World Cup.

Larsen earned his 100th ODI wicket in his home-town of Wellington, claiming the prize scalp of Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

Unusually for a New Zealand player, he played his entire first-class career with one team, Wellington. He also captained the side in the 1994 Australasian Cup in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, where New Zealand reached the semi-finals of a six-team tournament.

His nickname of "The Postman" came about as a compliment:

"John Graham, New Zealand's team manager during much of his career, explained the nickname in the foreword to Larsen's book Grand Larseny (yes, really): "He is the consummate professional, committed, conscientious, competitive and consistent. His nickname of 'The Postman' sums him up well, he always delivers!""[1]

Larsen is now the CEO of Cricket Wellington.


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