Three long serving Auckland cricketers were honoured by the Auckland Cricket Alumni at a breakfast before the first New Zealand-Pakistan Test in Auckland today.

Former New Zealand captain Geoff Rabone, long serving Auckland captain and New Zealand representative John Sparling and Auckland captain and New Zealand player Dr Justin Vaughan were feted in the Alumni's traditional fashion with a poem written about them and a caricature presented at the function.

The Alumni meeting was combined with the Auckland Cricket Association's pre-Test breakfast at Eden Park today.

Geoff Rabone, a New Zealand representative from 1949/1955 and played first-class cricket from 1940/41-1960/61. He played 82 first-class matches in that time and hit 3425 runs at 28.30 He captained New Zealand in five tests.

Geoff Rabone - Man of honour, man of cricket

Ramrod straight he strode the pitch, the leader of his men.
Under fire they stood their ground.
And only when Adcock had finished his untamed attack
Did Rabone say, "Sutcliffe, pay those Springboks back!"
Rabone shed a tear that day at Ellis Park and, the papers said,
New Zealand were brave in every phase and brilliantly led.

He played the mightiest foe, Cowdrey, Hutton and May,
Those England juggernauts who in little more than half a day
Fired New Zealand out for 26.
But Rabone, batting at No 6 said: "Bowl you best at any speed
And show me your bag of tricks."
He faced up with his hat askew and he battled long and hard,
Against the pace of Tyson and Statham, and spin of Appleyard.

Such names, such wonderful names, Rabone played them all,
Man to man, face to face and when it ended he still stood tall.
When the exploits of this man are properly analysed,
And his record is read again, then no one is surprised,
That Rabone's name is high in New Zealand's game,
With a place reserved in cricket's Hall of Fame.

In a career which spanned 1956/57-1970/71, John Sparling played 73 matches for Auckland, scoring 2977 runs at 28.08 and took 248 wickets at 21.47. He represented New Zealand from 1948-1963/64.

John Sparling

A prodigy no less - an Auckland Grammar man,
Hardly shaving when his first class career began.
At 18 - a cricketing genius straight from that famous school
And thrown into the deep end of the Auckland cricket pool.

For nine years in the sixties he led the Auckland side,
He imbued them with his strength and monumental pride.
Burgess, Carson, Cunis, Dykes, Harford Noel and Roy,
Harris, Hedley Howarth, Jarvis - Vivian just a boy.

Kemp, Johnny Mac, Redmond, Stott and Speed,
Sutton, and Morgan R, with Sparling in the lead.
A legal man now - of honours, laws and letters,
Practicing his craft without constraint or fetters.
Retired - no! The Society team's his passion.
Where he still rolls his arm, in a - kind of Sparling fashion.

Justin Vaughan was the most recent of the players honoured, and he appeared 48 times for Auckland from 1989/90-1996/97, scoring 2269 runs at 33.86. He first played for New Zealand in 1992/93 and his last match was in 1996/97.

Dr Justin Vaughan

His bat, a scalpel in his hands, cut to the Basin fence.
His century was made in an innings made intense
By the fierce competition for a young man on debut
An honour that is achieved by a very talented few.

He saw no laughter in losing, only joy in winning the game.
He never sought the glory, nor everlasting fame.
His theatre was the verdant field, his instruments bat and ball
He operated simply to make opponents fall.

Do the basics right, he's say, and it all falls into place
There's only goal in mind with no second in this race.
Riposte and parry the swords of opposing team,
Nightmares are for losers, for winners there are dreams.

He chose his way and like St George mounted on a steed,
Led by his example in life and in cricketing deed.
Immaculately English, a competitive and gentle man,
He has made an indelible mark as only champions can.

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