"My father's house has been destroyed": Blair Tickner reveals personal link to New Zealand storm

GEORGE DOBELL IN WELLINGTON: Tickner, a tall seamer, made his Test debut in the first match of the series with England in Mount Maunganui. He claimed four wickets in the match in the knowledge of the damage wrought by Cyclone Gabrielle

Blair Tickner hopes he provided a "bright light" for those in New Zealand struggling with the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. 

Tickner, a tall seamer, made his Test debut in the first match of the series with England in Mount Maunganui. He claimed four wickets in the match and batted for nearly an hour in the first innings to help Tom Blundell add 59 for the 10th wicket. 

And he did so in the knowledge that his father's house - and many more besides - had just been "fully destroyed" by a storm that has killed around a dozen people, and about which the New Zealand government are now warning will cost around the same amount as the earthquake which devastated Christchurch in 2011. 

As a result, it has been announced that the ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Eden Park on March 25 will be a fundraiser for the New Zealand Red Cross Disaster Fund. ANZ NZ, the principal sponsor of New Zealand's Test cricket, have already pledged NZ$1million (£500,000).

Tickner was also released from the squad for a couple of days to help with the clear-up efforts.

^{Blair Tickner's father's house has been destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle [supplied]}

"My father's house has been fully destroyed," an emotional Tickner said from Wellington on Wednesday. "So it was good to get back and help out. It's hard times for the whole region so we've been helping out neighbours and whoever we could. Luckily enough the Central Stags cricket team were helping alongside us. It's been tough. It's really tough at the moment."

The area around Tauranga, where the first Test was played, enjoyed something of a miraculous escape from the worst of the cyclone. But the Hawkes Bay region was less fortunate. Tickner, who lives in Hastings, learned the extent of the damage to the area his father, John, lives, Awatoto (just south of Napier), a day or two ahead of the game but said his father urged him to play.

"Ahead of the first Test, there wasn't much power so we couldn't actually get hold of many people," he said. "I finally got hold of my dad and he just wanted us to represent our family well and represent Hawke's Bay. I couldn't really say no to playing my first Test and I knew I was going to help out afterwards. I just wanted to be a bright light for them at home. 

"My teammates supported me a lot. It's been hard because we're in a bubble, even if you're in Tauranga and people are just going about their business normally. It's hard sometimes to feel like there's been so much damage in New Zealand just down the road. They definitely supported me and it was awesome to have the boys behind me. Now we've got the good cause of the Sri Lanka game coming up. 

"You obviously dream about your Test debut forever and expect your family and friends to be there. But two days before it, the cyclone hit New Zealand and my dad was lucky enough to come through.

"He was taking generators back down to Hawkes Bay to help people. He just stopped in for about half-an-hour and luckily saw my first Test wicket and then went on to a seven-hour drive back home to help everyone. Luckily my wife was there, but it's just crazy times at the moment. 

^{The storm has brought widespread damage to New Zealand [supplied]}

"But it doesn't feel hard when you see stock on the side of the road dead, people crying, grown men crying about their homes. Their whole life's been flipped upside down. Cricket to me is obviously my life as well but it's nothing compared to what people are going through at the moment. 

"I think the only thing I kept going back to is my family saying it's the only bright light at the moment. It's just crazy. A bit hard to talk about, really."

Tickner is keen to return to the region after the second Test to continue with the clear-up efforts. 

"Luckily my dad's got a hire business, so we we've been clearing neighbours’ stuff, using the forklift and loader," he said. "I actually got my old man's loader stuck so hopefully he doesn't watch this because it's about a metre in mud at the moment. I probably shouldn't have driven around the neighbour's yard: they said it wasn't that deep and I got it stuck. So yeah, sorry about that, dad.

"It's awesome to see NZC and ANZ coming forward for the first game against Sri Lanka. It's going to be awesome. Hopefully we can have a sell out and all that money goes to them. It's been hard for everyone throughout the country; it's not just Hawkes' Bay. I just want everyone to go out and support and you can help donate food, clothing all around New Zealand. Everyone can help."

Main image credit: Photosport NZ

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