The Black Caps and Proteas will play for the Tangiwai Shield over two Test matches, the first in Mount Maunganui starting Sunday.
The rail disaster - on Christmas Eve in 1953 - coincided with the second Test between New Zealand and South Africa at Ellis Park, where 21-year-old Bob Blair was opening the bowling.
Blair was woken in the early hours of the second day to be told he lost his fiancée, Nerissa Love, in the tragedy. She was one of 151 people to lose their lives after a rail bridge was swept away by a lahar.
While Blair’s team mates resumed the match, with the flags of both countries lowered to half mast, he stayed at the hotel to grieve. But as New Zealand struggled over the course of the day, with three batsmen including Bert Sutcliffe hospitalised due to the aggressive South African bowling, Blair appeared out of the tunnel after the Kiwis lost their ninth wicket. It left the crowd silent and players from both sides in tears.
Blair joined a bandaged and bloodied Sutcliffe at the crease. The pair put on 33 runs, including a world record 25 off one over.
Blair now lives in Cheshire, UK, and is the only surviving player from either side that played in the 1953 match.
The Tangiwai Shield was created by carver David Ngawati (Ngati Hine), made from native timber puriri and includes an inlaid mere made from pounamu sourced from the Tangiwai region.
The shield will be blessed and presented to both teams at a Powhiri in Tauranga this afternoon.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink said the shield was a fitting acknowledgement of what he considered one of the great stories of Kiwi sporting courage.
“The background to this test match is one of the most sad and moving and heartbreaking stories imaginable. It’s also an uplifting story of incredible courage and resilience, and in terms of the South African team and public, great compassion and empathy.”
Cricket South Africa chief executive Pholetsi Moseki sends his best wishes to everyone who was touched by the tragedy.
“It’s important that the teams of today and tomorrow know where they came from, and I’m sure the Tangiwai Shield will do much to assist with that.”
SHARE ME