Tournament of Future Cricket Stars this Weekend

Media Information December 5, 2005

Tournament of Future Cricket Stars Starts this Weekend

The finals of the national secondary school Gillette Cup Cricket competition take place at Fitzherbet Park, Palmerston North from Friday 9 Dec to Sunday 11 Dec.

The tournament is seen as the most important annual development series for young cricketers in the country. 159 schools started this year’s competition in January. The top four teams come together this weekend to compete for the coveted Gillette Cup, and gain the title of best secondary school cricket team in the country for 2005.

This year’s top four teams are: Christchurch Boys High School, Rathkeale College, Masterton, Tauranga Boys’ College and Howick College, Auckland.

New Zealand Cricket Development Manager, Alec Astle, says the tournament has grown in strength from its original 75 entries in 1990. He says the tournament has produced nine New Zealand representatives and at least 40 State Championship 1st class cricketers.

“The Gillette Cup has become an important component in the development of New Zealand’s cricketing talent,” says Astle. “The tournament is the primary national focus for secondary school teams now each year. The standard of cricket in the finals weekend is usually excellent. The players themselves thrive on the atmosphere and the added pressure of trying to become the top school side in New Zealand.

“Many of the current New Zealand side have played in the Gillette Cup at some stage in their careers, these include Brendon McCullum, Hamish and James Marshall, Jacob Oram and Scott Styris,” added Astle. “There are a number of young players at this tournament who have very promising futures.

“Young Kane Williams from Tauranga Boys is a very good prospect and is one to watch. Ben Langrope captain of Christchurch Boys High School has had an outstanding year, scoring over 900 runs and taking 70 wickets. From Rathkeale College 15 year old Dougie Bracewell, son of former test bowler Brendan Bracewell has been performing well.

“Howick College is only the second co-ed school ever to make the Gillette Cup final. Thomas Powell and Michael Davis from Howick have been bordering on Auckland Premiere teams now for the last year.

“I think we will see an extremely competitive Gillette Cup final this weekend.”

A summary of the day’s results will be released each evening. Please advise if you wish to attend or require specific cover, images etc.

ENDS

Gillette Cup participants who have gone on to represent New Zealand:
Matthew Bell (Whangarei Boys’ High School)
Robert Kennedy (Otago Boys’ High School)
Hamish Marshall (King’s College)
James Marshall (King’s College)
Brendon McCullum (King’s High School, Dunedin)
Jacob Oram (Palmerston North Boys’ High School)
Andrew Penn (Wanganui Collegiate School)
Mathew Sinclair (Palmerston North Boys’ High School)
Scott Styris (Hamilton Boys’ High School)

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