One of the most satisfactory features of the 1968/69 season was the success of Bob Cunis, whose career, only a year before, had seemed likely to be nearing its end, because of knee injuries.
In that season, he bowled only 114 overs, about a third of his usual quota, and had taken seven wickets; he had been forced to withdraw from the New Zealand team which made a brief Australian tour early in the summer.
If he was still a candidate for New Zealand test and touring teams when the 1968-69 season began, he was very much an outsider. He had not enjoyed much success in his few national appearances, his fitness was very much in doubt, and there was even speculation whether he would retain his place in the Auckland Plunket Shield side.
It was clear that Cunis was troubled by his injured knee, and sometimes, it seemed, by both of them. From the start of his career in 1960/61, he had always rolled about the field somewhat in the manner of a stage sailor. But he had always shown fighting qualities far above the average.
He made everyone sit up by taking 10 for 93 in Auckland’s first match. But, it was said, Northern Districts was not strong, and when Cunis had only two wickets against Otago there was much shaking of heads. Back he bounced, with 6 for 60 in Central’s first innings, a match analysis of 9 for 106 against Wellington, and a total for the series of 30, his personal best, and the top in the competition.
So to the inter-island game at New Plymouth. This, it was felt, would be the big test. He had already bowled 148 eight-ball overs and surely now his knee troubles must catch up on him. At Pukekura Park, in high temperature, he bowled 36 overs and took 5 for 93. It was a very convincing answer.
Cunis was an automatic selection for the tests against the West Indies and in them he sent down another 81 overs. Only at Wellington did wickets come his way at all readily – he had five for 112 in the match – and he did not contain the West Indies batsmen to the extent demanded of his particular bowling job. But that would not have been an easy task for the most accomplished bowlers anywhere and Cunis certainly earned his cricketing keep.
Now he has reached 200 first-class wickets in his career, and he led the bowling aggregates for 1968/69 very easily.
It was a remarkable performance for a written-off player. But somehow, typical of Cunis. At 28, he has a good many seasons of cricket still ahead of him, if his knees do not let him down. His heart certainly will not.
Bob Cunis died suddenly in August 2008 at the age of 67. He played 20 tests for New Zealand and coached the national team from 1987 to 1990.