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.
