John Sparling - one of cricket's givers

But for a knee injury suffered by captain John Reid during fielding practice on a wet outfield in Sydney en route to South Africa in 1961, John Sparling's international cricket career might have taken on a different complexion.

Sparling, an allrounder who bowled off-spin, still sits third on Auckland's all-time bowling list with 248 wickets, with only Hedley Howarth (331) and Andre Adams (251) ahead of him.

However, Reid, who bowled practical medium pace, was seen as a support bowler for the intended pace attack of Dick Motz, Gary Bartlett and Frank Cameron. His injury put paid to that, and because he was in such outstanding form with the bat, he tended to bowl his version of off-spin, which reduced Sparling's opportunities.

It was Sparling's fate that he would not get another significant chance to advance his cause, but he continued to play and captain Auckland until the summer of 1970/71.

His story, John Sparling's Life in Cricket, has been written by Trevor Auger and published by the Cricket Press Pty in the same format as earlier books about Bevan Congdon and Bruce Taylor.

Sparling first made his mark when selected for New Zealand's Brabin team in the summer of 1956/57, and his first-class debut for Auckland soon followed. His first home game at Eden Park was against the touring Australian XI.

The following season, he played a complete programme for Auckland and was a surprise selection in the 1958 side to tour England. Aged 19, he became another of the younger players New Zealand selectors liked to find for such tours. 'Giff' Vivian was the one in 1931; Martin Donnelly and Bill Carson were named in 1937, while in 1965, Graham Vivian, Vic Pollard, Richard Collinge and Bruce Taylor were chosen.

The 1958 tour was a disaster, hounded by lousy weather, batsmen Peter May (337 runs), Colin Cowdrey (241) and Peter Richardson (242) and spinners Tony Lock (34 wickets) and Jim Laker (17). However, Sparling played three of the five Tests, took Tom Graveney for his first Test wicket and scored a maiden Test half-century.

Sparling's determination and application won plaudits from English cricket. While he was the junior in the spin bowling department, behind leg-spinners Jack Alabaster and Alec Moir, he ended the tour with 38 wickets at 20.3.

Back in New Zealand, Auckland benefited from his exposure to international play and against Canterbury, scoring his maiden first-class century with 105 and 51 in the second innings. Then, in Canterbury's first innings, he took 7-98, the first time such a feat had occurred in New Zealand.

Sparling had the benefit of selection in the years before South Africa to keep growing his game, and there was every reason to expect he would be ready to make his mark on the tour. His selection was more as a batsman, although his spinning ability was a helpful tool. He was used as an opener with limited success but soon found he couldn't settle into a consistent role in the side.

His lack of confidence wasn't helped by regularly being dismissed by Peter Pollock.

However, as was the case throughout his career, there was no lack of confidence in his fielding in the covers; he was outstanding.

While getting back into the Test side again in the seasons that followed, his bowling was under-utilised, and when running into his nemesis Peter Pollock in the 1963-64 series, it proved the end of his Test career. His decision to make himself unavailable for selection for the tour of India, Pakistan and England a year later, for family reasons, effectively cut the selection cord as Pollard was taken in his place to become a key player in the years ahead.

Undeterred, Sparling stuck with the game and continued leading Auckland before putting his legal career first, but remembering the game, contributing to Auckland, serving on the Eden Park Trust Board and becoming a life member of the NZ Cricket Players' Association.

Men of Sparling's ilk are the lifeblood of cricket, and his story is a reminder of the selfless contribution they make. Where would cricket be without them?