Cricket-Emotional Tickner returns to New Zealand squad after cyclone relief efforts

(Reuters) New Zealand pacer Blair Tickner said he was struggling to reconcile the excitement of his Test debut with the suffering caused by a devastating cyclone in his hometown, but said it made him want to offer some comfort to those affected, including his father.

Cyclone Gabrielle hit New Zealand’s North Island on 12 February, four days before the first Test between New Zealand and England. Tickner’s home town of Hastings in the Hawkes Bay region was one of the worst affected areas. His father’s home was destroyed.

Tickner was allowed to go home to help with the emergency response after England won on Sunday and was emotional as he met his team-mates in Wellington ahead of the second Test starting on Friday.

“You dream of your Test debut forever and you expect your family to be there,” Tickner told reporters on Wednesday.

My dad just wanted me to represent our family well and represent Hawkes Bay. I just wanted to be a bright light for them at home.

Tickner, 29, took 4-127 against England as New Zealand lost by 267 runs at Mount Maunganu, which was not as badly affected by the cyclone.

His father had encouraged his son to take the field against England and was at the Bay Oval to see him dismiss Ben Duckett for the first Test wicket.

My father’s house is completely destroyed. It was good to come back and help them, she said through tears. I grew up there as a kid, it’s just crazy to see.

Cricket doesn’t feel heavy when you see equipment lying dead on the side of the road, people crying and their whole lives turned upside down.

New Zealand’s first One Day International against Sri Lanka on 25 March is a fundraiser for the New Zealand Red Cross Disaster Fund.

All box office receipts and donations from the public will be donated, governing body NZC said. Their sponsor ANZ Bank has pledged one million New Zealand dollars ($622,600) to the fund.

“Cricket is obviously my life as well, but it’s nothing compared to what people are going through right now,” Tickner said.

($1 = NZ$1.6062)

(Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Bengaluru)