Bob Blair, whose courage in the face of unimaginable grief became one of New Zealand sport's most enduring stories, has passed away in England on his 94th birthday.
A Petone-born fast bowler of genuine pace and menace, Blair played 19 Tests for New Zealand between 1952 and 1964, taking 43 wickets at an average of 35. He had a formidable domestic record with 330 wickets at a remarkable average of 15 in 59 first-class matches played predominantly for Wellington and one season for Central Districts. In his best season, 1956-57, he captured 46 wickets at an average of 9, twice taking nine wickets in an innings.
But it was the bravery and resilience he and his teammates displayed on the 1953 tour of South Africa that etched Blair’s name into sporting folklore.
Playing in the second Test against South Africa at Ellis Park, 21-year-old Blair received word in the early hours of the second morning that his fiancée, Nerissa Love, was one of the 151 killed in the Tangiwai rail disaster on Christmas Eve.
With his team in trouble and down to their last wicket on day two, Blair, who had initially stayed back at the team hotel to grieve, emerged from the players' tunnel at Ellis Park. He strode out to join a bloodied Bert Sutcliffe who had earlier been to hospital and back following numerous blows by the cricket ball while batting. The crowd of 23,000 fell silent. Players from both sides wept.
The pair added 33 for the last wicket, including a world record 25 off a single Hugh Tayfield over, before Blair was stumped. When they walked from the field, the Ellis Park crowd gave them a thunderous standing ovation.
It remains one of the most moving moments in sporting history and was the inspiration behind the creation of the Tangiwai Shield which was jointly introduced by NZC and Cricket South Africa in 2024 for men’s Test series between New Zealand and South Africa.
The trophy 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.
“The story of Bob Blair and the Tangiwai rail disaster has left an indelible mark on cricket in both New Zealand and South Africa,” he said.
“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-grand children, and all who loved him.”
Following the 1953 tour, Blair continued to play for New Zealand for another decade and fittingly finished his international career against South Africa in Auckland in 1964 where he claimed his best Test match figures, 7 for 142.
He never lost his love for the game, playing into his 60s and captaining the Lancashire Over-50s in a county competition, as part of more than 40 seasons playing cricket.
After his playing days, Blair threw himself into 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. He retained a lifelong love of cricket, golf, and his homeland, always making the effort to catch up with old teammates when he returned to New Zealand.
The story of Bob Blair and Nerissa Love has since inspired books, a television film, and a stage play. It is a story that belongs not just to cricket, but to all of New Zealand.
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.
