New Zealand fast bowler Bob Blair, who soldiered after Tangiwai disaster, dies aged 94

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Bob Blair, the New Zealand fast bowler famous for having played one of cricket’s most heroic innings in great adversity, has died on his 94th birthday. He had been the fifth-oldest living Test cricketer.

Blair played 19 Tests for New Zealand from 1953 to 1964, taking 43 wickets at an average of 35.23. More than all his bowling efforts, however, he will be remembered for the ten minutes he spent at the crease at No. 11 under the most tragic circumstances during the Johannesburg Test of December 1953.

On Boxing Day, day two of that Test match following a rest day for Christmas, New Zealand’s players had woken up to the news of a horrific accident that had occurred on the night of December 24 in Tangiwai, where a railway bridge had collapsed beneath an express train from Wellington to Auckland. Among the 151 killed was Blair’s fiancée Nerissa Love.

Blair, then 21, had remained behind at the team hotel to grieve, but he walked to the crease at the fall of New Zealand’s ninth wicket, when everyone at the ground assumed their innings had ended.

At the crease was Bert Sutcliffe, who had himself come back out to the crease after having retired hurt earlier. He had taken a vicious bouncer to the head from the South Africa quick Neil Adcock, and the blow had left Sutcliffe bleeding from a split in his ear.

Along with Sutcliffe, who scored an unbeaten 80 that included seven sixes – most of them off his famous hook – Blair added 33 for the tenth wicket before he was stumped for 6.

The memory of that tragic and stirring day lives on in the form of the Tangiwai Shield, which now goes to the winner of Test series between New Zealand and South Africa. New Zealand are the current holders of the shield, having won the inaugural edition of the series in 2023-24. That series win was New Zealand’s first over South Africa in Test cricket.

“The story of Bob Blair and the Tangiwai rail disaster has left an indelible mark on cricket in both New Zealand and South Africa,” interim New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive Graham Parks said in a statement. “The courage and camaraderie shown during the second Test in South Africa in 1953 and in the years that followed epitomises everything that is great about sport.

“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. The cricket community extends its deepest condolences to Bob’s wife Barbara, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and all who loved him.”

The trophy, as described by NZC, was crafted from New Zealand native pūriri timber, and pounamu sourced from the Tangiwai region to commemorate the bond forged between the two nations through the Tangiwai rail disaster. Blair was the last surviving New Zealand player from that Test.

Blair had a solid first-class record with 537 wickets at an average of 18.54 in 119 matches played predominantly for Wellington and one season for Central Districts.

After his playing days, which ended in 1964, Blair moved to coaching, working with clubs and associations in Queensland, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Northern Ireland, and England. Blair later settled in Cheshire, England, with his wife Barbara, whom he married in 1986.

“As a sign of respect to Bob Blair and his family, the BLACKCAPS will don black armbands for the first day of the third Test against England on Thursday in Nottingham,” NZC said.

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