Christmas, Rail Disaster and a Cricket Match
The unknown story behind the Tangiwai Shield.
The Ellis Park saga that unfolded during the Christmas of 1953 is one of the most inspiring stories to come out of New Zealand cricket. We do not remember the match for its dramatic finish or insatiable records but for the heroic defiance of two Kiwi batters - one battling a physical tragedy while the other dealt with a personal loss. This is a story about the men who forgot to look up the word ‘surrender’ in the dictionary.
The second test between New Zealand and South Africa was scheduled from December 24-29. On Christmas Eve, the Wellington-Auckland express plunged into the Whangaehu river at Tangiwai. One of the piers on the railway bridge over the river got damaged by a mudflow. The tragedy resulted in a death toll of 151. New Zealand fast-bowler Bob Blair’s fiancé Nerissa Love was among the people who perished.
Blair did not take the field the next day. The South Africans, relentless, unleashed a barrage of hostile bouncers. A vicious bouncer crashed into Chapple’s chest, knocking the breath from his body as the crowd gasped. Then walked in Bert Sutcliffe. If you are not aware, Sutcliffe was New Zealand's leading run-scorer then. He was against a 6 feet 3 inch tall Neil Adcock. He attempted to hook a short ball from Adcock but instead missed it, hitting him on the left ear.
Sutcliffe was rushed to the hospital. The next batter in, Lawrie Miller also fell prey to Adcocks’s sharp bouncer. He was rushed to the hospital as well. No one was spared from pain that day.
The score stood at 57-5. The tide started to turn when shocking the crowd, Miller walked out to bat. Bravely, he fought for his 14 runs. By the time the scoreboard read 81-6, New Zealand still needed 40 runs to avoid the follow-on. Then, through the hush, a bandaged Sutcliffe re-entered the arena - head swathed in white, spirit unbroken. The stadium froze, then thundered applause.
Sutcliffe launched a counter-attack. They saved the follow-on, but the battle raged on. When the ninth wicket fell at 154, it seemed certain the innings was done. The South Africans started to walk off.
At that moment, a ripple ran through the stands. Bob Blair, his eyes rimmed with sorrow but shoulders set with quiet resolve, walked out to join Sutcliffe. Perhaps, as he gripped his bat and stepped onto the field, he whispered, “This is for you, Nerissa”.
The stadium held its breath. Blair and Sutcliffe wielded their bats not just for runs or records, but for the memory of those lost and the resilience of those left behind.
The crowd had experienced varied emotions in just a few hours. Creating a bond is perhaps the toughest thing in this world but that day Ellis Park stood behind the broken men. South Africa won the test. The defiant Kiwi scripted a cricket folklore like no other, one that shall live on forever. The people at Ellis Park left with tears in their eyes, their hearts forever changed by what they had witnessed.
To commemorate the Tangiwai train tragedy, it was decided that all New Zealand and South Africa series would be played for the Tangiwai Shield. The Shield is crafted from native New Zealand timber puriri and has been designed by David Ngawati.
In every clang of the Tangiwai Shield, the echoes of courage and collective healing endure, reminding us that, sometimes, cricket is more than a game.
This blog looks at the real stories that have shaped cricket, highlighting the moments of loss, hope, and determination that have defined the game. From the events at Ellis Park to other lesser-known incidents, these posts focus on times when cricket’s meaning goes beyond just the results.
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