Brian Dunning made his first-class debut for Northern Districts in 1961–62 and was seldom out of the team for 17 seasons.
[3][4] He also made his highest score in 1972–73, 142 out of a team total of 252 against Central Districts,[5] and took his best bowling figures, 5 for 37 against Auckland.
[6] He represented New Zealand in Australia's Coca-Cola Knockout Cup in 1971–72 and in their winning campaign in 1972–73.
[7] In 1982–83, when Northland won the Hawke Cup for the second time and held it against two challenges, Dunning was the leading batsman in the competition, with 390 runs at 97.50 including two centuries.
[8] In January 2011, to mark 100 years of Hawke Cup cricket, a "Team of the Century" was named.