John McMullan (cricketer)

McMullan was born at Dunedin in 1893.^[1] A left-handed batsman and occasional wicket-keeper,^[2] he made his first-class debut against Southland in 1917–18. Batting at number four, he made 157 not out, part of a team total of 313 runs.^[3] Otago won by an innings.^[4] In his next first-class match, against Wellington two seasons later, he made 85 not out and 25 runs in his two innings.^[5] He thus scored 267 runs in his first-class career before being dismissed, setting a world first-class record which was not broken until 1946, when Sam Loxton scored 305 runs before being dismissed.^[6]

The rest of his career was steady, and included two more centuries, both in the Plunket Shield: 111 against Wellington in 1923–24 (one of seven centuries in the match)^[7] and 131 (after 51 in the first innings) against Auckland in 1927–28.^[8] In 1923 the Otago Daily Times described him thus: "Left-hand bat of the 'rock' order. Has to be dug out; also a fine field."^[9] In the 1930s he served on the selection panel for the Otago team;^[10] during the Second World War he was the sole selector.^[11] He also coached young players in Dunedin^[12] and was a selector for the New Zealand national side.^[1]

McMullan was awarded a BA in History by New Zealand University in 1920.^[13] He was headmaster of the Tainui School in Dunedin until 1945, when he became headmaster of George Street School, also in Dunedin.^[14] He died at Dunedin in 1967 at the age of 74.^[15] An obituary was published in the New Zealand Cricket Almanack later in the year.^[1]

• John McMullan at ESPNcricinfo