It seems the same is true in death.
The great New Zealand and Otago left-hander died in April 2001.
Some of his ashes were scattered at Carisbrook, with the remainder buried there in a small and private ceremony later that year.
It was a fitting resting place for one of Otago's most revered sportsmen.
But with the future of Carisbrook uncertain, the Otago Cricket Association approached the Sutcliffe family, asking permission to relocate his ashes at the University Oval.
The family agreed, son Gary Sutcliffe said.
The association had a special plaque installed and planned a ceremony to mark the occasion today, which also coincides with the Dunedin book launch of a biography about Sutcliffe's life, The Last Everyday Hero: the Bert Sutcliffe Story, by former Otago Daily Times sports writer Richard Boock.
Just one thing is missing - Sutcliffe's ashes.
"Dad's ashes are proving as elusive as bowlers found taking his wicket," Mr Sutcliffe said with a chuckle.
The association has been unable to find the ashes.
Probes have been put into the turf and a sonar device has been borrowed from the University of Otago geography department to find the urn.
Yesterday, a contractor searched unsuccessfully with a metal detector.
The problem was "nobody recorded precisely where they were at the time they were interred", association chief executive Ross Dykes said.
"And whilst we've spoken to all the people who were at the private ceremony, we haven't been able to find the ashes."
Mark Perham, groundsman at the time, believes the ashes were on the terrace side of the ground towards the Neville St end.
Retired broadcaster Iain Gallaway, who was at the service, thought the spot was closer to the halfway line.
So, it is a large area to search, and the nine years which have passed have not made the task any easier.
The family, though, remained relaxed, about the situation, Mr Sutcliffe said.
"Maybe there is a message here.
"Dad's wishes were, when he first talked about it, that he'd love to have his ashes scattered at Carisbrook.
"Carisbrook was his home, if you like.
"Even though he played quite a bit of cricket in Auckland and also Hamilton after we left Dunedin, it was always Carisbrook. It was always Carisbrook."
Dykes agreed: "We are just adopting the attitude that this is just Bert's way of saying he is quite happy where he is".
"The spirit of what we are trying to do still goes on, which is to acknowledge Bert as a legend of Otago cricket."
