Cricketer, sports commentator
Died aged 93
Colin Snedden, the oldest New Zealand test cricketer when he died, ranked in the middle of the distinguished Snedden dynasty that threaded through Auckland cricket from 1908 to the present day. His nephew Martin, a high-flier in international sport had a 25-test cricket record.
At more than 2m tall, Colin looked a giant compared with his Auckland team-mates of 1938, but World War II left time for only six Auckland matches. Then came the big chance, his first test - against England in Christchurch, 1947. New Zealand declared at 345 for nine wickets so Colin did not bat. Rain ruined the rest of the test and Colin only bowled eight wicketless overs. His sporting career seemed to end when he was not considered for the 1949 team tour of Britain.
One day he was painting a fence when a friend who was a radio sports commentator suggested he might try radio commentating on cricket matches from Eden Park.
Colin had a sense of humour and a keen eye. He called cricket from Eden Park for 30 years, with Alan Richards.
Rugby, too - countless club matches, then first class and on the staff for test matches.
His moment of sporting fame came after the All Blacks beat the Springboks at Eden Park in 1956, for their first ever series win against that nation. He powered through the crowd to question the All Blacks. Famous try-scorer Peter Jones was first. Colin asked how he felt.
That, said Jones, was the hardest match he had played in - "I am absolutely buggered".