LONDON: 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 (NZC) announced on 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.
New Zealand’s lastwicket 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.-AFP