Test matches between New Zealand and South Africa will be contested for the Tangiwai Shield as a tribute to a remarkable day’s cricket in the aftermath of a tragedy.
From the 2023/24 two-match series, New Zealand and South Africa will play a Tangiwai Shield test match in honor of Boxing Day 1953, when an unforgettable day of cricket took place at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park to hold.
South Africa were 259-8 at Stamps on the first day. The next day, Christmas Day, the remaining days of the test match, the train from Wellington to Auckland passed through Tangiwai. It was too late when the crew realized that one of the pillars of the bridge over the Whangev River was missing.
Driver Charles Parker and foreman Lance Redman were able to save some lives, but the locomotive, tender, and five second-class cars fell into the river. The Tangiwai disaster, which killed 151 people, remains the worst rail disaster in New Zealand history. Among the dead was Bob Blair’s fiancee Nerissa Love, a 21-year-old who played for New Zealand.
When the game resumed, an official announcement announced that Blair would not be on the field that day. He was in a hotel room with his manager, John Kerr. After being bowled out for 271, South Africa released young fast bowler Neil Adcock on a lively pitch.
Adcock punched Bert Sutcliffe in the side of the head. Sutcliffe lost consciousness. Laurie Miller coughed up blood after he punched her in the chest. John Beck was hit in the groin so hard that the impact knocked his box over. Those were just serious injuries.
When Miller appeared, New Zealand were 57-5 with two players in hospital and one in a hotel. Sutcliffe also reappeared, his head heavily bandaged around a lump behind his left ear.
This is Tangiwai Shield – the new trophy for SA NZ in honour of Bob Blair’s fiancée Nerissa Love passing away in the tragedy. And the day’s cricket that followed, with Blair coming to the ground to avoid the follow on.
One of the truly great cricket stories. Great job everyone…pic.twitter.com/LqrhRVH9dX
– Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) 3. February 2024
Despite Sutcliffe’s brutal counterattack, New Zealand were 154 by the time the ninth wicket fell. The cricketers stopped on their way home as Blair joined Sutcliffe with tears streaming down his cheeks. Carr was arranging a taxi.
Sutcliffe famously greeted him with the words, “Come on, son, this isn’t your place. Swing your bat and get out of here.”
Sutcliffe hit three sixes in the next over off the notoriously economical Hugh Tayfield bowling, and Blair hit one. At that point, the 25-run over was the most expensive in the history of Test cricket.
The pair added 33 in 10 minutes. Then they walked back arm in arm. Blair had only his six shots on target, while Sutcliffe had his four and his six and seven, giving him 80 points.
South Africa won by 132 points, but it had little impact. “It was a great and glorious victory, and a story that every New Zealand boy should learn at his mother’s knee,” wrote Dick Brittenden. Like many others, he had no doubts that he would win that day.
Cricket of the Day was featured in a book by Norman Harris (Blair wrote the foreword), a play (Johnny Blue gave a solo performance), and a film (The Love Story of Tangiwai). Inspired. New Zealand fasting). Bowler Ian O’Brien faced Adcock).
And now a shield.
Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.
