New Zealand’s Bob Blair, whose courage in the face of immense grief made him a national hero, has died aged 94, New Zealand Cricket announced Wednesday.
A fast bowler, who took 43 wickets in 19 Tests between 1952-1964, Blair is best remembered for the 10 minutes he spent batting during the Johannesburg Test of 1953.
The then 21-year-old Blair was informed in the early hours of the second morning that his fiancee, Nerissa Love, was one of the 151 killed in the Tangiwai rail disaster in New Zealand’s North Island on Christmas Eve.
He initially remained at the team hotel to grieve but with New Zealand struggling last man Blair walked out to the middle to join a bloodied Bert Sutcliffe who had earlier been to hospital after taking numerous blows while batting.
The crowd of 23,000 fell silent and players from both sides were reported to have wept.
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New Zealand’s last-wicket duo added 33, including a then world record 25 off a single Hugh Tayfield over, before Blair was stumped for just six and then cheered off the field by spectators.
Blair’s courage was the inspiration behind the creation of the Tangiwai Shield which in 2024 became the trophy for men’s Test series between New Zealand and South Africa.
“The story of Bob Blair and the Tangiwai rail disaster has left an indelible mark on cricket in both New Zealand and South Africa,” said NZC interim chief executive Graham Parks.
He added: “To have been able to honour that inspirational story with the introduction of the Tangiwai Shield in 2024 was both poignant and will ensure the legacy of Bob Blair lives on.”
Blair finished his international career against South Africa in Auckland in 1964 where he claimed his best Test-match figures of 7-142 and later settled in Cheshire, northwest England, with his wife Barbara.
As a sign of respect, the New Zealand team will wear black armbands in memory of Blair for the first day of the third Test against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Thursday.
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