Todd says a few words at a recent wedding. Photos: Peter McIntosh/supplied.
Then . . .
Greg Todd was one of three players who took a chance to shift South around the same time. He made his way down from Masterton in 2004 having played 10 first-class games for Central Districts. Aaron Redmond made the move from Canterbury the same season and a year later Neil Broom was lured to Otago as well. The three batsmen proved to be excellent servants for the province. They all lived together for a period in a former hospice rumoured to be haunted. Well, it made for a good story at the time.
Todd was perhaps the least glamorous of the trio but he built a reputation as a tough player to pry from the crease. In 45 first-class games for Otago the dogged left-hander scored 2774 runs at an average of 40.20, including four centuries and 16 half-centuries.
When New Zealand Cricket started to take twenty20 more seriously, Todd struggled to adjust to the demands of the shortened format. His opportunities in Otago started to dry up so he moved North to Auckland in 2010-11 and then eventually back to Central Districts.
Todd also played a starring role in one of the most horrific moments witnessed at the University Oval. He broke his right leg in two places and snapped his ankle in a sickening accident while bowling in a one-day game in January 2006.The sight of his foot facing the other way is not something you put out of the mind quickly.
"I just remember Wasa [Warren McSkimming] telling me not to look around because my foot was twisted around the other way."
The rest of his memories from those days are much more pleasant.
"I have very fond memories of Otago. It is more off-the-field memories. We had a great group of guys. We did everything together."
Now . . .
Todd moved to Melbourne five years ago and continued to play cricket in a professional capacity. He did odd jobs but two years ago he joined the police and is a constable working in the central business district.
"I applied for the police pretty much when I arrived here. But it took nearly two years to get in, so I did odd jobs and played cricket while waiting for the police job to come up."
Todd was engaged for three years but is "a free agent" now and still plays cricket every Saturday during the season.
The 34-year-old plays for Bentleigh Cricket Club in a grade equivalent to Hawke Cup cricket.
"Last weekend I had to bowl 20 overs,’’ he laughed.
Todd did not bowl a lot at the top level after his ghastly accident. But he felt it actually helped his career because he was able to concentrate more on his batting.
"It would have been nice to be able to bowl but I wasn’t a great bowler, to be honest."
Todd still keeps in touch with the old gang through social websites and the odd text. And "every now and then I glance on the New Zealand Cricket website to have a look and see what is happening. Obviously times change. Work is a priority now."
