Photo Credit: New Zealand Cricket
The Whanganui Collegiate School scorebook will not be the same following this season’s retirement of long-standing scorer, Robert Wake.
Having left Whanganui Collegiate School as a pupil in 1960, Wake has made significant contributions to cricket at the school over a 50-year period.
Wake was a talented all-rounder in the 1959 – 60 1st XI, and also represented the school’s Rugby 1st XV.
In 1974, Wake was approached to umpired for the 1st XI and continued until 2001 – standing in 121 matches (and only missing one game in that time).
He then transitioned to managing the WCS 1st XI between 1994 – 2022, helping lead the team through a successful era.
His managerial successes include nine appearances at Gillette Cup nationals, including two championships in 1995 and 1997.
During the 1997 tournament, Wake stepped up to coach and manage the side in absence of the coach at the time.
While he rarely coached, Wake could be relied on to provide valuable advice when asked – sandwiched in with a wicked sense of humour.
Wake begun scoring in 2001, keeping score in immaculate fashion – so much so, that that sheets were often photocopied and framed as a memento from a good day out with bat or ball.
Whanganui Collegiate School Director of Cricket, Tom Dryden, expressed the school’s gratitude to Wake’s service across many years.
“Bob is a kind and dedicated man who had given his life to Whanganui Collegiate cricket,” said Dryden.
“He calls it as it is, keeping the boys in check and maintaining standards of cricket at the school,
“Bob will be greatly missed behind the scorer’s desk, but we look forward to welcoming him to the boundary to enjoy the beautiful game to which he has given so much.”
Wake was awarded an honours tie for his service to cricket in 2021, the highest award given to members of the WCS community.
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
