Bob Blair Cricketer
Robert William Blair (b. 23 June 1932 in Petone) is a former cricketer who played 19 Tests for New Zealand. In December 1953 Blair, playing for New Zealand against South Africa at Johannesburg, received news that his fiancée, Nerissa Love, had been killed in the Tangiwai railway disaster on Christmas Eve. Blair was not expected to bat when his turn came on Boxing Day, as an announcement had been made that he would take no further part in the game. In the event, however, he appeared at the crease to join Bert Sutcliffe, who had already started to walk off the field. The packed crowd stood in silence. The two men added 33 for the last wicket, with Sutcliffe striking three sixes and Blair one from a single eight-ball over, but in the next over Blair was stumped off Hugh Tayfield. South Africa won the match by 132 runs. In the late 1990s Blair was coach of the Zimbabwe domestic first class Matabeleland Cricket Team that competed for the Logan Cup.
Personal facts
| Birth date | June 23, 1932 |
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