Posted February 14, 2024 18:39
· last edited February 15, 2024 01:19
Napier Phoenix
I seem to remember Noumea playing here quite regularly when Bilby was playing. As a kid I saw them play Hawke’s Bay at the Hastings Showgrounds. Not sure of the score but don’t recall them being worldbeaters. when the national team played club sides - are they counted as caps? We had a few English sides visiting during that time where he might have played.ClubOranje
Jessie Merino
Yeah. And do the same in wngtn. May as well rebuild the Basin when they knock through that 2nd Mt Vic tunnel, turn it into a rectangular field with a wesr facing Bilby Stand. Spiritual home and all that. Who watches cricket anyway? Ps Graham Bilby, ex Seatoun & NZ great, is still alive btw. A friend of my father's played golf with him at Paraparaumu a coupla weeks ago.
Bilby is only 82, so not overly surprised, although plenty have gone by that age. Not sure how much of a NZ great; played 8 games, 4 losses and a draw with New Caledonia, a win over Singapore and 2 losses to Israel. I was still in bare feet and shorts, so never watched those games, but looking at the results, either not a great period for the All Whites, or NC had a team stacked with French imports.
Bilby was NZ captain when Zealandia were still dreaming of getting out of wngtn Div 5. My sources say he played 27 times for NZ. Captained them against Man U in ChCh for one.
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Unknown editoredited February 15, 2024 01:19
Napier Phoenix
I seem to remember Noumea playing here quite regularly when Bilby was playing. As a kid I saw them play Hawke’s Bay at the Hastings Showgrounds. Not sure of the score but don’t recall them being worldbeaters. when the national team played club sides - are they counted as caps? We had a few English sides visiting during that time where he might have played.ClubOranje
Jessie Merino
Yeah. And do the same in wngtn. May as well rebuild the Basin when they knock through that 2nd Mt Vic tunnel, turn it into a rectangular field with a wesr facing Bilby Stand. Spiritual home and all that. Who watches cricket anyway? Ps Graham Bilby, ex Seatoun & NZ great, is still alive btw. A friend of my father's played golf with him at Paraparaumu a coupla weeks ago.
Bilby is only 82, so not overly surprised, although plenty have gone by that age. Not sure how much of a NZ great; played 8 games, 4 losses and a draw with New Caledonia, a win over Singapore and 2 losses to Israel. I was still in bare feet and shorts, so never watched those games, but looking at the results, either not a great period for the All Whites, or NC had a team stacked with French imports.
Bilby was NZ captain when Zealandia were still dreaming of getting out of wngtn Div 5