Two days out from the second Test in Wellington came a reminder of more sobering events elsewhere as Blair Tickner, a debutant for New Zealand against England last week, stood on the outfield at the Basin Reserve and fought back the tears.
The fast bowler, 29, hails from Hawke’s Bay, among the regions most affected by the extreme rains of Cyclone Gabrielle. In between the two Test matches, he and Will Young returned to join teammates from Central Districts who were assisting with the clean-up. Tickner’s family home in Awatoto was still underwater.
“My father’s house has been fully destroyed so it was good to get back,” said Tickner, his voice occasionally breaking as he spoke. “Obviously it’s hard times for the whole region, so we were helping out neighbours and whoever else we could.
“It’s really tough at the moment, but Hawke’s Bay is staying strong. You grow up there as a kid and it’s just crazy to see. It’s a bit hard to talk about, really.
“Cricket doesn’t feel hard when you see livestock on the side of the road dead, people crying, their whole lives flipped upside down. Cricket is my life but it’s nothing compared to what people are going through at the moment.”
Cyclone Gabrielle wreaked havoc on New Zealand’s North Island, with last week’s first Test in Mount Maunganui somehow spared the worst of it and ultimately going ahead as planned. Entire communities have been left isolated by the resulting floods, while there have been 11 confirmed fatalities so far.
As such, Tickner’s composure on debut – which returned figures of four for 127 – was all the more remarkable. His father, John, owns a plant hire company and though dealing with the destruction of his house and helping others in the area, he managed to stop in at Bay Oval to see his son claim his maiden Test wicket.
Tickner explained: “There wasn’t much power, so we couldn’t actually get hold of many people [at first], but I finally got hold of my dad and he just wanted me to represent our family well and represent Hawke’s Bay.
“I couldn’t really say no to playing my first Test after that. It was pretty emotional, seeing that cap. It was special for me and my family. You obviously dream about your Test debut forever and expect your family to be there, your friends.
“Dad was taking generators back down to Hawke’s Bay and he just stopped in for about half-an-hour, luckily saw my first Test wicket and then went on to a seven-hour drive home. Luckily my wife was there too, but it’s just crazy times at the moment.”
New Zealand Cricket’s sponsors ANZ have announced a donation of $1m (£510,000) towards the relief fund, while the Black Caps’ first one-day international against Sri Lanka at Eden Park on 25 March will see further money raised.
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