Half a century as NZ cricket’s safe pair of hands
Rcricket administrator b February 26, 1945 d November 30, 2020
oss Dykes should be remembered as one of New Zealand Cricket’s great servants, lending his skills to the game as player, selector, manager and administrator – an involvement stretching over 50 years.
Probably Dykes’ greatest claim to national selection fame was pitching a hitherto unknown bespectacled Hamilton student named Daniel Vettori into the cauldron of international cricket in a three-test series against England in 1996-97, on the strength of just two firstclass games.
Dykes was the national chairman of selectors but he and coach of the time Steve Rixon saw and heard plenty they liked about the willowy youngster and they desperately needed a tweaker to give the England batting some problems.
So Vettori came from obscurity into the big-time and looked for all the world like he belonged before going on to forge a long career as a Black Cap that lasted until the 2015 World Cup.
Dykes, who has died in Auckland aged 75, was the sort who would claim little credit for Vettori’s startling elevation, being the humble, low-key person he was.
But he knew the sport at top level inside and out, the legacy firstly of a 10-season career playing for a powerful Auckland side as a highly capable wicketkeeper and lower-order batsman.
Dykes played 31 matches from 1966-67 to 1976-77 (making 81 dismissals, 57 catches, 24 stumpings), at a time when there was little limited-overs play. He began in the company of New Zealand representatives such as Terry Jarvis, John Sparling, Ross Morgan, Graham Vivian, Hedley Howarth and Bob Cunis.
He graduated almost immediately to becoming an Auckland selector, serving for a 12-year period before being appointed to the national panel in 1990. Apart from one season in 1993, when Glenn Turner was handed the reins as a sole selector-coach, Dykes was on the panel for 15 seasons; from 1996-2000 as the convener.
In the 1980s, when New Zealandwas in one of its strongest eras, team selection was uncomplicated. You had Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe as the respective bowling and batting spearheads, and an admirable cast of stable support players. But the 90s brought their own set of issues as the greats left the game and New Zealand’s limited playing stocks were exposed.
Dykes worked hard to try to contain storms as controversy beset the game, with player incidents from the likes of Adam Parore and Chris Cairns, while the potsmoking tour of 1994-95 to South Africa made for challenging times.
The lack of depth in New Zealand’s game led to the inspired selection of Vettori, whose maturity belied his years.
Dykes also did not shirk managerial duties, perhaps his most significant being to take a below-strength New Zealand side back to Pakistan in 2003 for a one-day series after the team had fled the country following a terrorist bombing at their hotel the previous year. It was hardly an appointment many were seeking.
Dykes left the selection panel in 2005, not into a comfortable retirement but into the hot seat as chief executive at Otago Cricket. The smallest of the six major associations in terms of playing numbers was constantly battling against its bigger brothers, who also enjoyed better weather for preparation.
Dykes helped turn around the struggling body both on the field and financially, while also getting the
University Oval in Dunedin accepted as this country’s seventh test venue.
He also lured former Otago firebrand Brendon Mccullum back to his Dunedin roots from his Canterbury base, and gave budding young coach Mike Hesson the opportunity to shine. Mccullum rewarded Dykes and Otago, winning the one-day championship in 2007-08.
Both men paid public tribute to Dykes last week. Mccullum said he was a friend to many and was ‘‘across everything in New Zealand Cricket’’.
‘‘A tremendous man, who I was fortunate enough to have a lot to do with in my time down in Otago and also my first few years in the New Zealand side.
‘‘He always made you feel welcome in his company, and he always made you feel as if the game was meant to be enjoyed for what it was. He had a tremendous impact and he’s going to be a sad, sad loss.’’
Hesson posted an emotional tribute on Twitter. ‘‘Ross Dykes was aman I greatly admired and will miss dearly. Ross was my boss [for Otago] but he was much more than that, aman who genuinely cared about the person first. Thinking of
Sue and his much loved family at this challenging time. Miss you Dykesy.’’
Dykes had earlier made the sacrifice of leaving his familiar Auckland surroundings to take the job and would occasionally reflect on the choicewith the odd dry-witted comment about the difference in climate.
But he was no fly-by-nighter, staying on for 10 years making sure the OCA was on a solid footing. He also found a little piece of paradise in Wanaka, where he and wife Sue could escape for breaks.
Still his appetite for cricket was not satiated. After returning north, he maintained strong links with NZC, acting as amatch referee in summer for firstclass, List A (limited-over) and women’s internationals during recent seasons.
As a selector, the affable Dykes maintained cordial relations with the media, often his greatest critic, always answering his phone or returning a call.
It’s said of wicketkeepers they have the safest pair of hands in the team, and no better tribute could be paid to Dykes, with the way he carried out his duties. He is survived by his wife, four children and three grandchildren. –