Jeff Wilson's selection for New Zealand's one-day side in February 2005 completed a remarkable circle. First capped as a precocious 19-year-old in 1992-93 - when his four ODIs against Australia included a thumping 44 not out from 28 balls to win the match at Hamilton - Wilson then concentrated on rugby union. He became an All-Black legend, scoring 44 tries in 60 internationals, before retiring at 28 and trying his hand at cricket once again. At first the results were unspectacular, but in 2004-05 his form improved, and he was a shock selection for New Zealand's one-day games against a World XI, which replaced the scheduled matches against Sri Lanka, who had returned after the tsunami disaster which devastated their country's coast. Wilson did well, taking 3 for 6 in one of the games, and retained his place for the start of the one-day series against Australia that followed, after a 12-year absence from official international cricket. A hard-hitting batsman and handy medium-pacer for Otago, the golden-haired Wilson (his usual nickname was "Goldie") was without doubt one of the most accomplished allround sportsmen of the modern era.
Steven Lynch