I just realised this iconic song is now 50 years old... youtube.com/watch?v=AQ21CL…

Former BLACKCAPS batsman John Guy is 91 today. The only player to appear for five NZ provinces. He was also responsible for the famous Excalibur bat.

Oldest living men's Northern Districts FC cricketers: Gren Alabaster, John Guy. Oldest living men's Otago FC cricketers: Gren Alabaster, John Guy. (Both aged 91)

Oldest living men's FC cricketers for Auckland - Roger Harris (92) Canterbury - Doug Reid (96) CD - Dave Spence (95) ND - Gren Alabaster (91) Otago - Gren Alabaster (91) Wellington - Trevor McMahon (95)

The New Zealand A team on its only previous tour to South Africa in 2004 was: M Bell (captain), T Canning, J Franklin, P Fulton, G Hopkins, J How, C Martin, M Mason, J Patel, R Sherlock, M Sinclair, R Taylor, L Vincent, K Walmsley, P Wiseman.

Remembering Carl Wayne, lead singer of the Move, who died OTD 2004 aged 61. Many great songs from this group in the 1960s. youtube.com/watch?v=HXQFGA…

One-hit wonder Diane Ray was born OTD 1945. She had a massive hit in 1963 with a song she recorded when she was just 17. She died in 2020 aged 74. youtube.com/watch?v=Te3ff_…

OTD 80 years ago, NZ Services began a FC game at Scarborough v Leveson-Gowers' XI who had Hutton, Washbrook, Edrich in their team. Ted Badcock, BLACKCAPS #1, (aged 48) opened the bowling for Services and took 6-166 off 57.5 overs. static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/194…

Peter Truscott, BLACKCAPS #105, died in Taupo on Monday aged 84. He played one test v Pakistan at Christchurch in 1964/65. His career highlight was 165 for NZ U23s v the full strength Auckland attack of Cunis, Sutton, Sparling and Howarth in 1963/64.

Remembering Johnny Cooper who died OTD 2014 aged 85. His 1955 single, "Pie Cart Rock 'n' Roll", is regarded as the first original rock and roll song recorded and released in New Zealand. Bonus: the flip side as well. youtube.com/watch?v=tAMEag…

Rod Derrett from 60 years ago when the Springboks toured New Zealand. "The Springboks and the All Blacks" youtube.com/watch?v=LpHnPr…

Former BLACKCAPS all-rounder and NZ football rep Vic Pollard is 80 today. Pollard took 56 innings to score his first test century and then scored another in his very next innings (in England 1973).

Century on first-class debut in South Africa by NZ batsmen 111 J Reid NZ 1953/54 122* J Kasper Natal B 1970/71 118 C Harris Canterbury 1993/94 173* M Richardson NZ 2000/01 101 B McCullum NZ 2005/06 109 D Brownlie NZ 2012/13 249 R Mariu NZA 2025/26 103 D Phillips NZA 2025/26

Highest scores by NZ batsman in South Africa 268 Mathew Sinclair NZA v SAA Potchefstroom 2004/05 262 Stephen Fleming NZ v SA Cape Town 2005/03 249 Rhys Mariu NZA v SAA Potchefstroom 2025/26 203 John Reid NZ v Western Province Cape Town 1953/54

Rhys Mariu is the first player to score 249 (out or not) in New Zealand first-class cricket and just the 18th overall.

Highest scores by NZ batsmen on FC debut in any country 249 R Mariu for NZA 2025/26 (SA) 217 R Ravindra for Durham 2022 (ENG) 203 B Schmulian for CD 2017/18 (NZ) 200* K Williamson for NZ 2022/23 (PAK) 200 D Conway for NZ 2021 (ENG)