Archived audio courtesy of The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound - Contains commentary of New Zealand's first-ever cricket test victory: against the West Indies in Auckland on 13 March 1956. A short interview is heard with John Reid, the New Zealand captain, at Eden Park after the test.

"We weren't professionals you see. There was no such thing as a professional in those days."

- John R. Reid

New Zealand and England have been competing against each other in Test Cricket since 1929. To date, the two sides have played 99 tests, with England winning 47, New Zealand eight and 44 drawn. And while the two sides have keenly contested recent Tests, it hasn't always been the case.

On March 28 1955, England (then known as the Marylebone Cricket Club) bowled New Zealand out for 26 in their second innings at Eden Park in Auckland. It has been described as our 'darkest day' in cricket and it is a score that still stands today as a record test low.

For former New Zealand batsman and bowler John Richard Reid, looking back sixty years to that day is something he says he'd rather avoid. "Do we have to go round to that? I didn't think we'd get bowled out for 26. Can I whisper that?" he says with a chuckle. "I don't remember much else and I don't want to remember much else either!" However, his twinkling eyes tell otherwise and rafts of memories are soon revealed.

Fresh from winning the 1954-55 Ashes series against Australia, England travelled to New Zealand with a formidable team. Amongst the players was Frank "Typhoon" Tyson, who at the time was regarded as one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket.

John Reid says the New Zealand players had never seen the like. While New Zealand posted a competitive score in the first innings of 200, anchored by 73 from Reid, and held England to a lead of only 46, they were laid bare in the second. "I had problems with Tyson... the first ball I faced him I had my bat going back and the ball went past me...I was not out overnight but the morning of the next day I had guys throwing it at me from halfway down the pitch to quicken up my reactions."

Another player who tormented the New Zealanders was Bob Appleyard, who took four for seven in the second innings and seven for 45 for the match. "We knew they were a good side... top rated players. We just had to go out and do as best we could," John says. "But we weren't used to it because we'd play club cricket, representative cricket and then a gap as they'd come over in March sometime and our season would have finished end of January. Then we'd have a touring team with the fastest bowlers in the world!"…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details