Emotions run high on any player's Test debut, but Central Stag BLAIR TICKNER's Test debut over the past week played out with a backdrop of feelings that he could never have imagined.

Tickner was determined to be a "bright light" for his family and friends back in flood-ravaged Hawke's Bay after Cyclone Gabrielle struck his home region two days out from the Test match in which he would be named in the playing XI for the first time.

"It's just crazy, to be honest," said Tickner today.

"A bit to hard to talk about. Obviously I grew up there as a kid. The whole region is doing it tough at the moment, but Hawke's Bay is staying strong so that's good."

New Zealand Cricket released Tickner and WILL YOUNG immediately after the first Test against England to head home and help out in the recovery for two days.

DONATE TO THE New Zealand Red Cross Disaster Fund HERE

"My father's house has been fully destroyed by the flooding, and it was good to get back to help them out," said Tickner.

"And obviously it is just hard times for the whole region so we were helping out neighbours and whoever we could. The rest of the Central Stags cricket team were helping alongside us."

Tickner's father John runs the family business About City Hire in Napier, which came in handy.

"We've been clearing neighbour's stuff using the forklift and loader. I actually got my old man's loader stuck driving around the neighbour's yard, so it's about a metre in mud at the moment. They said it wasn't that deep. Sorry about that, Dad!"

After the cyclone and subsequent flooding hit, swamping a key power substation that blacked out Hawke's Bay, communications were down between Tickner and his family.

"You obviously dream about your Test debut your whole life and expect your family to be there, your friends," said Tickner.

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"Two days beforehand, the cyclone hit New Zealand and it took a while to get hold of people because there was no power in Hawke's Bay, but I finally got hold of my Dad, and he just wanted us to keep going for the family, and for people back home.

"My Dad was lucky enough to still come through to Bay Oval. He went up and was taking generators back to Hawke's Bay to help people, so he just stopped in for half an hour, fortunately saw my first Test wicket, and then went back on to a seven-hour drive to help everyone at home.

"Luckily my wife Sarah was able to be there as well, but it's just crazy times. I just kept going back to my family in my thoughts, to give me a bright light to keep going.

"I just wanted to be a bright light for them, at home, playing my first Test. It was pretty emotional when I told him I would be playing. It was special for me and my family after all that hard work."

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Tickner said that the BLACKCAPS being in their Test "bubble" helped him focus on what he had to do.

"Being in that bubble can make it sort of hard as well, when you know people have been hit hard and it's been hard for everyone throughout the country. There was a lot going on, but it was a good experience to get it done, and a big crowd around Bay Oval, and now we've got the good cause of the Sri Lanka fundraiser game coming up."

ANZ NZ will partner with NZC to present a special fundraising cricket match to raise money for the New Zealand Red Cross Disaster Fund.

The fundraising match will be the BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka ODI at Eden Park, on Saturday, 25 March 2023.

ANZ NZ is pledging $1 million at the match and encouraging the public to donate further on the day. NZC will donate all ticket proceeds and assist with other game-day fundraising activations.

Tickner said he was grateful for the chance to leave the BLACKCAPS camp and head home straight after the Test.

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"You see stock dead on the side of the road and grown men crying about their homes after their whole lives have been flipped upside down. Cricket is obviously my whole life, but it's not hard to go out there and play a Test match: that is nothing compared to what people are going through at the moment.

"We were wanting to help out as cricketers in any way we could, and it's awesome to see ANZ and NZC turning the match against Sri Lanka in to a fundraiser for the entire relief effort in New Zealand, including Hawke's Bay but also everywhere from Northland down that has been hit hard. Hopefully we can have a sellout, and all of that money goes to them.

Hopefully I will also have a few days off after the second Test against England at the Basin to go back and help for a few more days on the ground, before the Sri Lanka match.

"It's just been awesome to see the region pulling together, people walking down the road, asking everyone if they need help."

DONATE TO THE New Zealand Red Cross Disaster Fund HERE

Article added: Wednesday 22 February 2023