Robert William Blair 23 June 1932 – 23 June 2026

Wellington Cricket notes with regret the passing of former Wellington and New Zealand opening bowler Bob Blair, having just reached his 94th birthday. A genuinely fast bowler, he was a mainstay of the Wellington bowling attack for well over a decade, often in tandem with fellow Hutt Valley paceman and later business partner Bruce Morrison, who passed away in September last year.

Raised in Petone, Bob’s ability was recognised early, and he made his debut for Wellington in a four-day match against the newly formed Central Districts on the Basin Reserve over Christmas 1951. It was the start of a career that produced 330 wickets at an average of just 15.16 each for the capital side and helped them win the Plunket Shield in 1954/55, 1956/57, 1960/61 and 1961/62. He played for Central Districts in 1955/56, taking a further 42 wickets.

With the wind behind him on a bouncy Basin Reserve pitch, Bob was able to achieve steep bounce and many an opening batter slept uneasily knowing they would have to face him the next day. Of only medium height and slim build, he had a long, smooth run-up and generated extreme pace with a fast arm action.

While he was at his lethal best throughout the 1950s, he did not win the Winsor Cup for New Zealand bowling supremacy until 1962, then won it twice more in succeeding years.

In and out of New Zealand teams through the 1950s and 60s, he played 19 Tests between 1953 and 1964, taking 43 wickets at an average of 35.23. Touring South Africa in 1952/53 and England in 1958, he took 129 first-class wickets overall for New Zealand, with a best return of 6-19 against Cambridge University, who were dismissed for 46 at Fenners in 1958. The University side was led by future England captain Ted Dexter and one of the opening batters was Henry Blofeld.

He led the Wellington team from time to time in the absence of regular skipper John Reid and was captain in his final game for Wellington against Otago at Carisbrook in February 1965.

Bob played in nine Hawke Cup matches for Hutt Valley, including a challenge against Nelson in December 1962, which the home side won by a single run after Hutt Valley had led on the first innings.

He lived in Queensland for a period, then had two spells coaching at Lancashire club Widnes and, in 1990, was coach of Zimbabwe provincial side Matabeleland. Later still, he coached in Ireland and was living in England at the time of his death.

One of the true greats of Wellington cricket, his memory will live on.

Article added: Wednesday 24 June 2026