Wellington: Former Kiwi cricket legend Bob Blair passed away on his birthday. June 23 was the former Kiwi pacer’s 94th birthday. Bob died that day. This former Kiwi pacer passed away in England. From 1953 to 1964, Bob played a total of 19 Tests in the country’s jersey. He took 43 wickets.

While Bob has witnessed numerous memorable moments in his career, he is known in world cricket as a brave cricketer. He entered the field in the country’s jersey with the grief of losing his fiance. The year is 1953. Service’s New Zealand team toured South Africa. Blair received some grim news during the second Test match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. Blair’s fiancee Nerissa Love was killed in a horrific train crash on Christmas Eve. Another 151 people died in that accident.

Grieving the loss of a loved one and performing on the field is not easy. But here Blair was different. Protea pacer Neil Adok broke the team’s batting order. After the fall of New Zealand’s ninth wicket, many thought that Blair might not take the field again in that match. But he entered the field wearing pads with a stone in his heart. He added 33 runs for the last wicket with injured Kiwi Byator Sutcliffe in the same match. In that match, Sutcliffe suffered a head injury while batting in front of the South African bowling line-up. He left the field bleeding. Later, however, he also entered the field wearing bandages.

Blair also had an enviable record in first-class cricket. He has taken 537 wickets in a total of 119 first-class matches. Blair was at his best in the 1956-57 season, taking 46 wickets at an average of just 9. After retiring in 1964, he coached Australia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Northern Ireland and England. Kiwi cricketers will wear black armbands on the first day of the Nottingham Test to honor the legendary Kiwi pacer.