The Otago Daily Times counts down the 150 greatest moments in Otago sport.
No 66: Turner's four double tons (1972)
There were all those first-class centuries, of course - 103 to be exact. And in 1975 he showed the world he was more than just a stodgy opener with a straight bat, lighting up the tournament with his innovative batting.
Arguably, though, the 1972 tour of the West Indies has to rate as his most memorable achievement. Turner was always single-minded in his pursuit of runs but perhaps never more ruthless or unrelenting as he was that summer.
In 12 tour games, which included all five tests, Turner amassed 1284 runs at an average of 85.60, including four double centuries.
He made a relatively inauspicious beginning with an innings of 38 against the University of West Indies in a limited-overs fixture, and scores of 31 and seven in a first-class game against Jamaica.
But he found form in the warm-up before the opening international with an innings of 202 against the President's XI.
In the first test at Sabina Park in Kingston, the West Indies posted a formidable 508 for four declared and reduced New Zealand to 108 for five.
But the home side could not remove Turner from the crease. He carried his bat through all nine and a-half hours of the innings, reaching 223. He became just the fourth player to bat through a test innings for the second time.
Most importantly, his innings sent a message to the West Indies that New Zealand would not roll over so easily.
Aided by some lifeless pitches, all five tests were drawn in a series which is considered by some to be one of the most boring ever played.
Turner scored two more double 100s, both at Bourda Oval in Georgetown. One came against Guyana and one in the fourth test, where he combined with Terry Jarvis in a New Zealand test record opening stand of 387.
Turner's innings of 259 was the highest score by a New Zealander in a test until Martin Crowe surpassed his effort with 299 against Sri Lanka in Wellington in 1990-91.
