New Zealand and South Africa to play for Tangiwai Shield in Test series, commemorating 1953 rail disaster

A Test series between New Zealand and South Africa will now be played for the Tangiwai Shield. The two-match Test series between New Zealand and South Africa is slated to start on Sunday, 4 February in Mount Maunganui. This prestigious trophy will commemorate the tragic events of 1953 when 151 people lost their lives in New Zealand’s worst rail disaster while traveling on a train from Wellington to Auckland. Among the victims was Nerissa Love, the fiancée of former New Zealand fast bowler Bob Blair. This place was then renamed Tangiwai (river of tears) and the episode also coincided with the first visit of Queen Elizabeth to New Zealand. All the celebrations were reportedly stopped owing to the accident.

New Zealand🇳🇿 vs South Africa🇿🇦 Test series now gets officially named. The teams contest for the Tangiwai Sheild. The inaugural Tangiwai Shield series begins on 4th Feb. This has a deep story, unlike most other trophies named after cricketers.

It is to commemorate New Zealand's… pic.twitter.com/dsWhIsA9e4

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) February 2, 2024

The heart-breaking incident took place when the second Test between New Zealand and South Africa was being played at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 24 December. As fate would have it, Blair was part of the squad. New Zealand had restricted South Africa to 259 for 8 on the first day of the Test match. Blair, who suffered a personal loss, stayed back in the hotel and an official announcement ruled him out for the rest of the match. All the flags at the ground were lowered to half-mast. In a sensational turn of circumstances, Blair later marched out of the players’ tunnel after New Zealand lost their ninth wicket for 154 in the first innings. He then partnered with Bert Sutcliffe and forged a remarkable 33-run partnership. This dragged New Zealand back from a precarious position to reach a total of 187. This effort is forever remembered in the history of New Zealand cricket. Even as he walked out, a crowd over 23,000 cheered him on and even the South African team applauded him even as few players could not stop their tears. This shield has been designed by David Ngawati, a member of Ngati Hine. It is made from the indigenous New Zealand timber known as puriri. It has an inlaid mere, crafted from pounamu, a specific type of stone procured from the Tangiwai region. According to an official statement from New Zealand cricket, the shield will also undergo a blessing and will be formally presented to the teams in Tauranga today ahead of the Test series between New Zealand and South Africa.