David George Trist

22 September 1947 – 29 May 2025

I was fortunate enough to play in the same club team as David Trist, affectionatel known as Tristy.

We both trained with the West Christchurch University Club while still at school and then played senior cricket once left. It was a special club at a special time with a team laden with first class players including Graham Dowling (NZ captain), Terry Jarvis, Brian Hastings, Nev Huxford, Peter Sharp, Chris Kirk, John Mitchell, Gary Bartlett and, of course, Tristy. He was a fast medium bowler and formed a formidable opening combination with swing bowler, Nev Huxford.

Tristy was highly skilful, combining seam with metronomic accuracy. No opposition batsman could get away from his nagging accuracy and impeccable length. He had a high cricket intellect which morphed, at a later stage of life, into his coaching and commentating.

Upon leaving Christchurch Boys’ High School where he was an important part of a tremendous team of sporstmen: Dayle Hadlee, Alan Hounsell, John Christensen (NZ Olympic gold medallist in hockey), Graham Henry (Otago), Ken Baker (Canterbury), Jumbo Anderson (Black Cap), Cran Bull (Canterbury), Ian Walter (Canterbury B) and Vance Bishop (senior rugby).

He played for Canterbury at Brabin Shield (National Under 20) in 1965-66 and 1966-67, and at Rothmans level (National Under 23) in 1966-67.  He played for West Chrisrtchurch University CC, to become Burnside West Christchurch University in 1971 and, in the twilight of his club career, had a couple of seasons with Lancaster Park CC.

He trained as a school teacher before moving into coaching.

His first-class career saw Tristy playing 24 first class matches for Canterbury from 1969-70 to 1977-78. He was to make a brief comeback when he played in the Shell Cup final in 1981-82. His first first-class match was for a South Island XI against the touring West Indies team in 1968. He was then selected in the New Zealand touring team to India and Pakistan(as a replacement for the injured Dick Motz) in 1969. He played 3 first class matches on tour but no Tests. He later played for New Zealand against Victoria in 1972.

Despite his impressive cricket record, Tristy left an indelible mark on New Zealand’s cricketing landscape as a coach.

His life had taken him to South Africa where he coached the Eastern Province team to their national title in 1989. He then moved to the Netherlands to further his coaching career before returning to New Zealand to coach successfully both Canterbury and Auckland.

He became the Black Caps coach in 1999 and, in 2000, coached New Zealand to their first international title by beating India in the final of the ICC Knockout Trophy (later to become the Champions Trophy). He remained coach for two years.His loquacious manner and cricket intellect took a natural course into the cricket commentary box where his voice became a familiar friend all listeners of Sports Roundup.

He retired to his small holding at Little River on Banks Peninsula.

Tristy was all about personality. He was sincere, frank, single-minded, understanding, showed gravitas yet was laid back; he was funny.

His success lay in his deep understanding of cricket and that he understood young men. He will always be remembered with affection by those he played with and by those he coached.

Article added: Monday 09 June 2025 thanks to Mike Fisher for writing