Eric Tindill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Eric Tindill

Tindill in 1935
Personal information
Full name	Eric William Thomas Tindill
Born	(1910-12-18)18 December 1910 Nelson, New Zealand
Died	1 August 2010(2010-08-01) (aged 99) Wellington, New Zealand
Nickname	Snowy
Batting	Left-handed
Role	Wicket-keeper Opening batsman Umpire
Relations	Paul Tindill (son)
International information
National side	New Zealand (1937–1947)
Test debut (cap 31)	26 June 1937 v England
Last Test	25 March 1947 v England
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1932/33–1949/50	Wellington
Umpiring information
Tests umpired	1 (1959)
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 5 69 Runs scored 73 3,127 Batting average 9.12 30.35 100s/50s 0/0 6/12 Top score 37* 149 Catches/stumpings 6/1 96/33
Source: Cricinfo, 22 January 2017
Rugby career
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	66 kg (146 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Halfback, first five-eighth Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1932–45 Wellington () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1935–38 New Zealand 1 (0)

Eric William Thomas Tindill (1910–2010) was an amazing New Zealand sportsman. He holds several unique records. Eric was the only person to play Test matches for New Zealand in both cricket and rugby union. This earned him the special title of a "double All Black." Even more incredibly, he was also the only person ever to play Tests in both sports, referee a rugby Test, and umpire a cricket Test!

Early Life and Sports

Eric Tindill was born in Nelson on December 18, 1910. He grew up in Motueka before his family moved to Wellington in 1922. Eric went to Wellington Technical College. He later became an accountant and worked for the government for 40 years. People called him "Snowy" because of his light-colored hair.

Eric was a talented all-round sportsman. Besides cricket and rugby, he also played football for Wellington in 1927. He even helped start the Wellington Table Tennis Association in 1932. He married his wife, Mary, in 1937.

Cricket Career

In cricket, Eric played for the Midland club, which is now called Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club. He played for the Wellington team from 1932 to 1950. He was a wicket-keeper and a left-handed opening batsman. In his very first first-class game in January 1933, he scored 106 runs! This was in a Plunket Shield match against Auckland.

Playing for New Zealand

Eric also played five Test matches for the New Zealand cricket team.

• In 1937, he toured England with the New Zealand team. He played in all three Test matches.
• A famous cricket book, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, said he was always good enough to be in the team because of his wicket-keeping skills.
• Later that year, Eric caught the legendary Australian batsman Don Bradman out for just 11 runs! This happened in a game against South Australia. It was Bradman's only time playing against a New Zealand team.

After the War

Eric served in the NZEF (New Zealand Expeditionary Force) during the Second World War. After the war, he played in the first two Test matches held in New Zealand.

• In a 1946 Test against Australia, New Zealand struggled, scoring only 42 and 54 runs. Eric made 1 and 13 runs in those innings.
• He played his last first-class game for Wellington in 1950.
• Overall, he scored six centuries (over 100 runs) in first-class cricket. His highest score was 149 runs for Wellington in 1948.
• As a wicket-keeper, he took 96 catches and made 33 stumpings.

Rugby Career

Eric William Thomas Tindill passport application (1935)

In rugby, Eric played for Wellington from 1932 to 1945. He played as a half-back or first five-eighth. He was known for his drop goals, which were worth 4 points back then. In 1932, he even scored a try when Wellington beat the All Blacks!

Becoming an All Black

Eric was chosen for the All Blacks tour to Britain in 1935–36.

• He played in New Zealand's first loss to a club team, against Swansea.
• He scored two drop goals against London Counties.
• On January 4, 1936, he played his only rugby Test match against England at Twickenham. England won that game 13–0.

Eric couldn't play against South Africa in 1937 because he was already touring England with the New Zealand cricket team. He later joined the All Blacks tour to Australia in 1938. In total, he played 17 matches for the All Blacks, scoring 24 points. Many believed he would have been selected for the 1940 tour, but it was cancelled due to World War II.

Umpire and Referee

After he stopped playing, Eric continued his involvement in sports.

• He became a rugby referee at both local and Test levels.
• In 1950, he refereed the first two Tests of the series between the British Lions and the All Blacks.
• He also became a cricket umpire. In 1959, he umpired a Test match at Lancaster Park. England won that game easily.

Later Life and Achievements

Eric Tindill was very involved in sports administration.

• He was the secretary of the Wellington Cricket Association.
• He also helped select players for both the Wellington and New Zealand cricket teams.
• He was part of the group that chose the New Zealand team that won its first-ever Test match in 1956.
• From 1973 to 1981, he was the Treasurer of the New Zealand Boxing Council.

In 1981, Eric was given the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award for his great contributions to rugby and cricket. In 1995, he was added to New Zealand's Sports Hall of Fame. He also received a Halberg award for his services to sport in 2000.

Eric wrote a popular book called The Tour of the Third All Blacks about the 1935–36 rugby tour. He also wrote a history of the Wellington Athletic Rugby Football Club. His son, Paul Tindill, also played both rugby and first-class cricket for Wellington.

Eric Tindill passed away in Wellington in 2010 at the age of 99.

Records and Legacy

Eric Tindill holds some truly special records:

• He is the only person to have played Test matches for New Zealand in both cricket and rugby union.
• He was the oldest living Test cricketer from 2004 until his death in 2010.
• For a time, he was the oldest Test cricketer in history, living to 98 years and 324 days. This record was later broken.
• He became the oldest living All Black in 2001. He was also the last surviving All Black who played a Test before World War II.

Eric Tindill's unique achievements show what an incredible and versatile sportsman he was!