Bob Blair was a fast bowler who was never quite able to carry his enormous success for Wellington in the Plunket Shield over into the Test arena, but he is remembered for one incredible act of bravery while representing his country. In 59 matches for Wellington from 1951-52 to 1964-65 he took 330 wickets at an average of 15.16. In the Test series that followed a few months later in England, he took only three wickets in three Tests, at an average of 70. Blair achieved his best Test match figures, 7/142, in what turned out to be his last Test, against South Africa at Auckland in 1963-64. Blair holds the record for the lowest career batting average by a Test player who scored a 50 in an innings, with 6.75. His only 50 came in the first innings of the Second Test against England at Wellington in 1962-63, when he came to the wicket with the score at 96 for 7 and hit 64 not out, the top score of the innings, putting on 44 for the last wicket with Frank Cameron to take the final total to 194.

New Zealand, who hadn't won any of the 27 Tests they had played, started their tour of South Africa in late 1953 with an innings defeat in the opening Test in Durban, although they were unbeaten in the seven first-class matches preceding it. After a morale-boosting win against North East Transvaal, the New Zealanders headed down to Johannesburg for the second Test. On the opening day, Christmas Eve, New Zealand's seam attack bowled superbly to reduce the hosts to 259 for 8 at the close.

One of the most memorable and poignant moments in New Zealand cricket history occurred on 26 December 1953, just two days after the tragic Tangiwai rail disaster. A rushing lahar had desended from Mt Ruapehu and washed away the bridge shortly before the overnight train was to pass through Tangiwai on its way to Auckland. The second test, at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, started on 24 December and recommenced after a day off for Christmas, on Boxing Day. By the time play resumed, reports of the Tangiwai tragedy (at the time the world’s eighth-deadliest rail disaster) had flashed around the world. The news was especially devastating for one of the New Zealand players, fast bowler Bob Blair, who learned that his fiancée Nerissa Love was among the 151 victims that Christmas Eve. The team headed to the ground, anxious as the full list of casualties had not been released. Blair remained behind to grieve. It was announced that he had withdrawn from the match, and flags at the ground were lowered to half mast.

As New Zealand began its first innings on the morning of the 26th, chasing South Africa’s 271, a distraught Blair remained at the team hotel. Just 21, he was woken in the early hours of the second morning of the Test to be told he'd lost the love of his life. On a lively pitch, Bert Sutcliffe and Lawrie Miller were both forced to retire hurt after being hit by bouncers from the fiery fast bowler Neil Adcock; John Reid was struck five times before being dismissed for three. With the visitors reduced to 81 for 6, Sutcliffe returned to the crease, his forehead swathed in bandages. When the ninth wicket fell at 154, the players began to leave the field. Suddenly the crowd stood in silence as Blair emerged from the tunnel and was greeted by Sutcliffe, who placed a comforting arm around his shoulder. Blair had heard of his team's position and headed to the ground to help. Sutcliffe walked to meet him and Blair said: "I'd like to feel I can help." They returned to the middle arm in arm.

The New Zealanders wept openly and without shame; the South Africans were in little better state, and Sutcliffe was just as obviously distressed. Before he faced his first ball Blair passed his glove across his eyes in the heart-wringing gesture of any small boy anywhere in trouble but defiant. What followed was sensational as the pair smashed 25 runs (including four sixes – three by Sutcliffe and one by Blair) off a single over from South Africa’s Hugh Tayfield. The sixes were lofted into the thin segment of the stand behind long-on, which was reserved in those apartheid-cursed days for "non-Europeans", who traditionally gave vociferous support to the visiting team. Each of those soaring sixes was greeted by pandemonium. By the time Blair was dismissed, the team’s total had climbed to 187, with Sutcliffe 80 not out. Sutcliffe and Blair had added 33 runs in 10 minutes, Sutcliffe making 80 out of 105. Bert had saved a follow-on, and he was quite entitled to regard the tumult of cheering as a tribute to his skill and daring. But he stood aside at the gate, allowing Blair to pass in first. They went, arms about each other, into the darkness of the tunnel, but behind them they left a light and an inspiration.

A superb bowling effort then restricted South Africa to just 148, leaving the New Zealanders chasing 233 for a historic first test win. Although they reached 75 for 3 on the last morning, a win was not to be as the remaining seven wickets fell for 25. Nevertheless, the local press hailed the New Zealanders’ ‘dauntless spirit’ and declared that ‘All the glory was for the vanquished’; ‘Memories of the match will not be of the runs made or of wickets taken, but of the courage displayed by Bob Blair.'

He eventually got her letter, posted from Taihape-the final chapter in their tragic love story. She would meet him off the boat and they would be married, she wrote. But first, he needed to concentrate on hitting a six for his country. New Zealand lost the test but the pair won the country's admiration with their sheer courage and glorious counter-attack - and Bob Blair did hit that six. You wonder how the tragedy shaped Blair's cricket career. The Wellington paceman took 43 wickets at 35.33 in 19 tests and a head turning 330 wickets at 15.16 at first class level, including 9-72 against Auckland.

Blair certainly kept himself busy once retiring from first class cricket. He coached in Queensland, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Northern Ireland and England. He played his last game when he was 67, for Widnes. He captained Lancashire under 50s in a county competition, taking 7-12 in the semifinal. A movie made in 2011, called TANGIWAI focused solely on the Blair and Love story and the subsequent events leading up to the disaster, as well as the courage shown by Bob Blair in Johannesburg.