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The crowd, cheering Ironside for his fifth wicket, was stunned in silence.
The New Zealand cricketers stood by the glass windows of the pavilion.
They were making no effort to hide their tears.
The South African fielders were barely in a better state.
Neither am I.
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The New Zealand cricketers stood by the glass windows of the pavilion.
They were making no effort to hide their tears.
The South African fielders were barely in a better state.
Neither am I.
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Sutcliffe put an arm around Blair: "C'mon son, this is no place for you. Let's swing the bat at the ball and get out of here."
On came Tayfield.
Sutcliffe sent the first two balls into the stands over the straight boundary.
The next ball passed without event.
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On came Tayfield.
Sutcliffe sent the first two balls into the stands over the straight boundary.
The next ball passed without event.
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The one after that was hit for another six.
These landed in The Cage, a narrow segment reserved for the coloured population.
The cheer was deafening.
But let us leave that for another thread. Or a book. Or ten. Or a library.
But let us return to the match.
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These landed in The Cage, a narrow segment reserved for the coloured population.
The cheer was deafening.
But let us leave that for another thread. Or a book. Or ten. Or a library.
But let us return to the match.
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Sutcliffe got a single off the fifth ball.
Blair ran a glove across his eyes.
Upset, yes. But defiant as well.
Blair sent the next ball over the mid-wicket fence, setting a new Test record for most runs in an over (25).
He defended the last two balls of the eight-ball over.
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Blair ran a glove across his eyes.
Upset, yes. But defiant as well.
Blair sent the next ball over the mid-wicket fence, setting a new Test record for most runs in an over (25).
He defended the last two balls of the eight-ball over.
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That six remained Blair's only scoring stroke of the innings. Tayfield eventually had him stumped.
The pair added 33 in 10 minutes before walking back back, arms around each other.
Sutcliffe remained unbeaten on an outrageous 112-minute 80 with 4 fours and 7 sixes.
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The pair added 33 in 10 minutes before walking back back, arms around each other.
Sutcliffe remained unbeaten on an outrageous 112-minute 80 with 4 fours and 7 sixes.
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New Zealand lost the match by 132 runs.
Chasing 233, they were in it at 75/3 before collapsing to 100 – but did it matter?
Let me quote Rand Daily Mail: "It is not the result of the match that will be best remembered when men come together to talk about cricket.
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Chasing 233, they were in it at 75/3 before collapsing to 100 – but did it matter?
Let me quote Rand Daily Mail: "It is not the result of the match that will be best remembered when men come together to talk about cricket.
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"They will speak of a match that was as much worth watching as it was worth playing, a match the New Zealanders decided must go on."
Yes.
I am not aware of a Boxing Day's cricket to match this day.
Do you?
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Yes.
I am not aware of a Boxing Day's cricket to match this day.
Do you?
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Before I end this, I must mention that there are at least three creations based on the day.
I have not got my hands on any of these, so I do not know whether they did justice.
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I have not got my hands on any of these, so I do not know whether they did justice.
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Book:
What Are You Doing Out Here: Heroism and Distress at a Cricket Test (2010), by Norman Harris. Blair wrote the foreword.
Stage play:
Second Test (2011). Jonny Brugh did a solo, playing Blair, Adcock, Nerissa Love, and New Zealand PM Sidney Holland, among other characters.
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What Are You Doing Out Here: Heroism and Distress at a Cricket Test (2010), by Norman Harris. Blair wrote the foreword.
Stage play:
Second Test (2011). Jonny Brugh did a solo, playing Blair, Adcock, Nerissa Love, and New Zealand PM Sidney Holland, among other characters.
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TV Movie:
Tangiwai – A Love Story (2011), by Charlie Haskell. Rose McIver as Nerissa Love, Ryan O'Kane as Blair, Dean O'Gorman as Sutcliffe, Jonny Brugh (who played the solo act mentioned above) as Reid, etc.
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Tangiwai – A Love Story (2011), by Charlie Haskell. Rose McIver as Nerissa Love, Ryan O'Kane as Blair, Dean O'Gorman as Sutcliffe, Jonny Brugh (who played the solo act mentioned above) as Reid, etc.
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Former New Zealand fast bowler Iain O'Brien played Adcock in the movie. Here is a still: https://twitter.com/iainobrien/status/287866030037028864
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I hope someone uploads the movie. Or maybe not, for if it is bad, it may ruin everything for me.
It is bad, I guess. Blair said that they had taken "at least 50 per cent poetic licence."
These things always make me uneasy.
Here is the trailer:
It is bad, I guess. Blair said that they had taken "at least 50 per cent poetic licence."
These things always make me uneasy.
Here is the trailer:
