Born: July 31, 1916 – Devonport
Died: August 2, 1980 – Devonport
Test record: 0 Tests
Tours: 1939 tour of Britain

Verdun Scott holds the rare distinction of representing New Zealand in rugby league and cricket, embarking on the Kiwis’ tour of Britain that was cut short by the outbreak of World War II and later playing 10 Tests in the whites after the war’s conclusion.

The cousin of former Kiwi Len Scott, he played for North Shore Albions from 1936 and debuted for Auckland in 1938.

Scott was chosen as a centre in the 1939 Kiwis squad, but the 23-year-old was one of the unfortunate five players who did not get a run in the two games before the tour was abandoned.

The prime years of Scott’s footballing career were lost to the war, serving in Egypt and Italy, but he later helped North Shore to Roope Rooster and Stormont Shield success in 1945, and was a triallist for the Kiwis’ 1947-48 tour of Britain.

By that stage, he was established in the New Zealand cricket side. An Auckland rep from 1937-53 and a prolific Plunket Shield runscorer – including a double-century against Otago in the 1947-48 summer – Scott scored 458 runs, including three half-centuries, in 10 Tests from 1946-52.

On Test debut, he top-scored with 14 as New Zealand was infamously skittled for 42 by Australia at the Basin Reserve. Scott’s highest Test score was 84 in a total of 160 against West Indies in his last Test appearance, while he retired with a first-class average of just under 50.