Hineura are CHAMPIONS!

WAIKATO VALLEY CRICKET MAGAZINE Spring 2012

STAYING CONNECTED

+

JIMINY CRICKET

STOP PRESS

Win Prizes!

Daryl Mitchell

Bring it on...

‘Have a Go’Cricket!

CONTENTS

Looking for local photos and stories... share the memories Page15.

A WORD WITH DARYL MITCHELLon his return for the season. Page 4.

JUNIOR CRICKET

15. VINTAGE CRICKETTRIP TO PORT MACQUARIE NSW IN MARCH 2013

Great cricket gear from Gray Nicholls and Gunn & Moore

1. INTRODUCING NEW CEO Trevor Gill

2. HAVE-A-GO CRICKET IS HERE!

8.10. SENIOR CRICKET HINUERA & CRICHQ 12. KEITH VINCENTS’ o� season, overseas

6. GRANT BRADBURN The man lives and breathes cricket.

Page 13.

Hi everyone, We have chosen to publish WVC as an e-magazine, as it allows us to continue operating within the funding and guidelines of a not-for-pro�t organisation, minus printing costs. With the link arriving via your email there’s no big download �les (it’s hosted in the clouds!) and the 'live' links within the articles and sponsors adverts means you are just a click away from their websites. With a distribution area that encompasses 18 clubs, over 150 schools and 300 kms, we’re able to stay connected more e�ectively.

We're very pleased to introduce our new CEO Trevor Gill who’s expertise we are currently sharing with Counties Manukau Cricket and no doubt he'll become a familiar face around some of the games and association events.

I was lucky enough to gain an 'exclusive' interview from one of New Zealand's promising cricketers, our own WVC star Daryl Mitchell. And we're looking forward to his return this season.

Regular commentator, Jiminy Cricket, has given us his ‘must-read’ predictions on the upcoming season, plus player and team performances. Debate it amongst yourselves but I'm picking that by the end of the season there'll be considerable truth in his spin!

In the following pages we have struck a balance to include all ages and stages of cricket and we'd like to get your feedback on the mix or just what you think overall. We welcome your commments: o�ce@wvc.co.nz

Enjoy the read and share with friends and family by emailing them the link. The team here at Waikato Valley Cricket wish all our members a FANTASTIC season. Let's show them Waikato!

Yours in cricket, Anna Peterson

WVC Editor,Waikato Valley Cricket.

WELCOME TO THE FIRST EDITION OF THE WAIKATO VALLEY CRICKET (WVC) MAGAZINE, WHERE WE ENDEAVOUR TO KEEP YOU UP TO DATE ON ALL THAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN OUR ASSOCIATION.

facebook/waikatovalleycricket

14. CRICKET KAIPAKI STYLE!

WIN Page 7.

GET THE SPIN!

HELLO EVERYONE AND THANKS FOR THE WARM WELCOME TO WAIKATO VALLEY.

One thing I need to clear up from the outset is that I actually live in the Waikato. After the municipal boundaries were redrawn in 2010 our RD2 Pukekohe address is two kilometres inside the North Waikato frontier. And what is the most noticeable di�erence between the two locations I work in? The view. The elevated WVCA o�ce looks over one of the �nest test cricket grounds in the world. It’s hard to beat even in the winter! The window in my sea-level Manurewa o�ce has been boarded up for the last four years. It helps me to concen-trate. I’m looking forward to working with the WVCA Board and the clubs, schools and players in the region.

There are only a few more sleeps until the cricket season starts. I sincerely hope that preparations, be they individual, team, or club, are going according to script. Some kids will be playing in a cricket team for the �rst time in their lives. I just love kids sport.

I went to the All Blacks versus Argentina rugby test match in Wellington a couple of weeks ago. The weather on the Saturday morning was so bad that the two Auckland to Wellington �ights before us were turned back to Auckland. They were the lucky ones. The game was the most boring international sporting event (in any code) that I have ever witnessed. It was so boring that I hoped that they were still playing during the blackout. To me international sport has lost its entertainment factor. Give me the under 12’s any day. In terms of excitement kids sport is a far more reliable product (even in bad weather) than senior sport is. Let’s hope there’s another Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori or Nicola Browne in the making when the boys and girls come out to play on opening day! Thanks,Trevor M GillWaikato Valley Cricket Assn (Inc)

FROM THE CEO

Best ever sports event I attended... World Super Bikes – Phillip Island

Best advice I have received... “Even a broken watch is right twice a day”

It’s a bit daggy but I really like… Writing poetry

The person in my �eld I admire most… Sir Alex Fergusson (Man. United)

What I like to do on my days o�…Writing stories and poems, and I love gardening.

My secret skill is... Bringing up really good kids – it’s a shared skill!

The single thing that would improve my quality of life is…Being more patient.

in the slips with TREVOR GILL

Page 1

Vivamus fermentum suscipit enim. Pha-sellus interdum laoreet metus

Having a go is fun!

Have-A-Go Cricket (previously sponsored by Milo) is an introductory programme open to all 5-7 year old boys and girls playing cricket for their �rst time. More than 27,000 children have been involved in the programme since its beginning.

Kiwi Cricket is for 7-10 year olds. This provides a chance to experience a cricket competition using the skills learnt through Have-A-Go Cricket. Not only will children learn the essential skills of the game and use them in a real game situation, but they will also have a lot of fun. A Summer Squad of cricket development o�cers has been set up throughout the country to deliver cricket skills awareness lessons in primary schools and to conduct holiday clinics.

Resources:Coaching manuals and videos have been prod- uced and are distributed free to primary schools visited by the Summer Squad and to coaches trained by them.

The videos are also free to Have-A-Go Cricket and Kiwi Cricket Centres set up in schools and clubs, along with a starter kit of Kiwi Cricket equipment.

Join us this season!

Have-A-Go Cricket Age Range: 5-8 years boys & girls

Skill Descriptors:• Basic skill development - batting, bowling, stopping, throwing, catching• Play activities and games• Encourage Fair Play• Play with modified, safe, plastic equipment

Objectives:• To provide a stimulating environment that allows basic cricket skills to be taught• To emphasise fun & participation • To create an awareness & interest in the game of cricket• To get parents & teachers actively involved in the game of cricket• To provide the positive first step in a child’s long term participation and involvement in cricket

Outcomes:• To provide participants with opportunities:• To have fun and enjoyment• To participate in a variety of play activities and minor games• To have a ‘fair go’• To learn some new basic cricket skills

Has your schoolregistered for 2012?

Left: Have-A-Go Cricket Summer Squad members Kerry and Carl seen here with aspiring cricketers at Pukenui School, Te Kuiti

Left: Enthusiastic pupils from Pukeatua School after recieving their Have-A-Go Awareness prize packs.

Page 2

KIWICAP bene�ts

•Exclusive website

• Your own cricket diary

• Chances to win great prizes,

• Games, great downloads

• Opportunity for your cricket

team to become �ag bearers at

BLACKCAPS One-Day Internation-

als and Twenty20's

• The chance to represent your

country at the coin toss for all

home One-Day Internationals

• Win spot prizes at International

cricket if you wear your KIWICAPS

membership card

We occasionally send out gifts,

e.g. player cards.

KIWICAPS is the official junior

supporter club of the BLACKCAPS and

White FernsMembership is FREE

and you get loads of benefits.

What are you waiting for… Sign up today!

Great Stuff!

SIGN UP NOW!

visit www.kiwicaps.co.nz

L I M I T E D O F F E R

w w w.gothek nights.co.nzPage 3

We caught up with Daryl in Perth where he spends winter time with his family.What were your season highlights playing with Waikato Valley?

I thoroughly enjoyed my �rst season with the mighty ‘swamp foxes’. It was awesome to come into the group and to be able to make some close mates straight away and enjoy watching a young group grow as cricketers throughout the season. It was pretty special.

A personal highlight has to be the win over counties. The guys put everything into that victory and the changing room celebrations will be a memory that will stay with me for a long time to come!

Tell us how you felt debuting with the Northern KnightsPlaying for the knights is pretty cool to be honest. To have the opportunity to train and play cricket everyday is something I still pinch myself about just in case I'm dreaming!

“ Just keep putting run

Ever since Daryl Mitchell was a young boy he’s dreamed of playing for the Knights and New Zealand.

So when the opportunity came up to come back home and play first-class cricket, he jumped at the chance.

Photo courtesy of The Waikato Times www.stu�.co.nz/waikato-times

Page 4

Hey Kids!

My one day debut and my �rst-class debut were pretty special to be honest. For the one day debut I actually got pulled out halfway through a Valley game in Gisborne and �own to Mount Maunganui to play the next day for the Knights. It was all a bit of a rush, and de�netly a thrill to have your name and number on your back. My �rst bat in �rst class cricket my mum actually �ew over from Perth to suprise me. Pretty special moment for both of us and seeing her smile that day is something I will always treasure .

Any noticeable di�erences between cricket in Western Australia and New Zealand?I think for me WA was an awesome learning experience and something that Iwill always be grateful for. Playing cricket over there during high school and grade cricket years de�netly helped me learn to play the game a little di�erently. As the youngest contracted player in the Knights last year, any advice for young cricketers wanting to succeed at a high level? I think honestly your dreams can come true! You don't have to be the mostgifted athlete to make it. You just have to practice and practice and practice. Those times that no one else would go and have a net session or do some extra �elding, make sure you’re the one that does it, because it all adds up in the end. And always have a smile on your face!

Where do you want cricket to take you career-wise?It's de�netly my dream one day to play for New Zealand. Most kids dream of wearing the silver fern growing up. I got to wear my old mans All Black jersey when I was young and it didn’t really sit on me properly! So hopefully one day I’ll get my own black cap!

Where's home for you, Australia or New Zealand?At this stage a bit of both. Obviously I spend the summers now in Hamilton with cricket. But also spend the winter months back in Perth with my mother and little sister. Its nice to come back and spend time with them, because my family is very important to me. I think having both allows me to have agood balance in life and always brings things into perspective.

You can follow Daryl on Twitter:dazmitchell47

s on the board...”

Below: Proud Northern Knights team members holding the trophy after winning the 2011/12 Plunket Shield. From left to right, James Marshall, Daryl Mitchell and Brook Hatwell.

Page 6

THIS IS THE ONE QUOTE that comes to mind when I think of Grant Bradburn, and the coach of the Northern Knights believes in it through and through. It’s a quote he told me about when we were having a chat about cricket. It’s some- thing he feels, any athlete must believe in to succeed in sport, and the Knights have taken this on board.

The Northern Knights have two goals: one is to create Blackcaps and the other is to win trophies. It’s a simple philoso-phy that has proven its worth. This season six Knights were given New Zea- land Cricket contracts, only recently Kane Williamson became the youngest ODI Captain in NZ history, and last season the Knights won the Plunket Shield, making it 4 trophies in 4 years of coaching the team for Grant. We had the chance to chat with Grant about coaching, cricket, and his shop...

Before he became the main man for the Northern Knights, Grant was the Cricket Development O�cer here at Waikato Valley Cricket. “I really enjoyed my time working for the Valley, together with some awesome people dedicated to growing the game in the region. I learned so much in my role with the association and feel I’m a better high performance coach having had that grounding of game development with Waikato Valley.”

The way Grant talks about coaching shows that it is his absolute passion. “I love coaching. I’m privileged to be working with some incredibly gifted players and in an environment of really passionate and fun people. Challenging people to be the best they can be is a real buzz and bringing a tight team

together and working hard to win is awesome.” He also sees coaching as a viable career path for those who want to stay involved in the game.

Grant has coached for over 26 years and says “you need to coach because you love it and because you want to make a di�erence.” He believes the

“THE FIGHT IS WON OR

LOST FAR AWAY FROM

WITNESSES - BEHIND THE

LINES, IN THE GYM, AND

OUT THERE ON THE ROAD,

LONG BEFORE I DANCE

UNDER THOSE LIGHTS. “ - Muhammad Ali

THE MAN THATLIVES AND BREATHES CRICKET

P L AT I N U M S P O N S O R

Photo: The Avenue- Wikipedia

Twenty20 game is an important format, and wonders why it’s not being played at DA level. In his opinion this would develop skills and provide more opportunity for specialist players to emerge. He hopes there may be a push for it this season.

With the switch to player contracts in recent years it has meant the domestic game has become far more professional. But for Grant, he believes the DA competitions are a breeding ground for new talent “It’s great to see the Fergus Hickey competitions being hard fought over the past couple of seasons. There are no easy beats and every team has some quality players, pushing hard for higher selection. Personally I would like to see a week long tournament, with a full round of 1 day games.”

Not only a world-class coach, Grant is also the owner of the Waikato’s leading cricket retailer, Grant Bradburn Sports, and now the proud owner of the Grant Bradburn Sports Mobile Shop. “Myself and the sta� are very excited about our new mobile store. We’lll be in the schools, clubs and around the grounds in the Waikato area. Our simple plan is to take our experience and knowledge together with great gear at the right price, to our customers.”

When it’s all packed away it looks like a small furniture trailer with hockey pictures on it, but when it opens up, there are rows of the best hockey sticks, shin guards, mouth guards, socks, shoes, you name it, they’ve got it. In summer the graphics will be changed to cricket players and the hockey sticks will be replaced with cricket bats and gear, grips and spikes, every-thing you need for a day at cricket.

Our �nal question to Grant was about the Blackcaps coaching role. “While I’m disap-pointed not to be named this time round, I still have a passion for cricket in this country and I will be looking to add more experience so I can have a realistic chance of coaching our team in the future”

WIN Prizes from GB SPORTS

Senior Cricketers Junior Cricketers

PRIZE PACK

Grant Bradburn Sports LtdSeddon Park, Seddon Road, Hamilton 3240Phone: 07 838 0912 Mobile: 021 724 839 Email: grant@gbsports.co.nz

Store Trading Hours: Monday - Thursday: 9.00am - 5.30pm Friday: 9am - 6pm Saturday: 9am - 1pm Sunday: Closed

www.gbsports.co.nz

GRANT BRADBURN SPORTS new mobile shop will be bringing a great range of cricket gear to schools, clubs and cricket grounds in the Waikato area during the 2012 / 2013 season. Take advantage of the crews years of experience. Great range for all sizes and ages Expert staff and customer support Waikato’s leading supplier of cricket gear Specialist stock Best performing brands

A Prize Pack full of quality Gunn & Moore accessories.

One full size Gray Nicholls

cricket bag.

Enter by clicking here to send us an email: o�ce@wvca.co.nz Type ‘Junior’ or ‘Senior’ in the subject line. Enter full name, phone contact,team name.

Prizes drawn1st November 2012. Winners noti�ed by phone and on the website.

Page 7

WAIKATO VALLEY REGIONAL ROUND-UP

JUNIOR CRICKET

Be our Junior sports writer!

C O M P E T I T I O N Simply tell us in 150 words or less about a cricket story you were either involved in or observed. It might be a dramatic comeback, a or a fun time you had at cricket with your friends or it may be a family story that has become ‘legendary’ in your home! It can even be a great game you’ve watched on television.

Cricket reporter for The Waikato Times, Aaron Goile will judge the young writers competition, and the winner will have his/her story published in the next issue as well as receive a great prize from Grant Bradburn Sports. Runners-up and high achievement prizes will receive game tickets.

WAIKATO VALLEY CRICKETin association with

Waikato Times

Earlier this year the St Peters Year 9 & 10 team quali�ed for the �nals of the NZCT Junior Secondary Boys Competition at Palmerston North. Coached by Valley Mens and Northern Spirit Coach, Owen Stevenson, the team �nished in seventh position in the competition which began with162 School’s across New Zealand. At the �nals St Peter’s recorded 2 wins from the 4 matches.

Click here for more details and entry form.

www.waikatovalleycricket.co.nzEmail us your photos (1mb at least): o�ce@waikatovalleycricket.co.nz Don’t forget to include team/game details including player names (optional)

After a long winter it’s time to dust o� the cricket boots, re-grip the bat and get the zinc ready for an exciting summer of cricket! Our junior rep squads have been training hard over the last couple of weeks in preparation for their Northern Districts Tournaments; we’ve had great success with our Have-A-Go Cricket programme and recently completed a Coromandal Cricket Roadshow with the help of Kiwisport O�cer Carl Schwarz.

Junior cricket is growing the Waikato, this is thanks to some hard work done by junior cricket associations, schools and parents. This year, in conjunction with Cambridge Junior Cricket, we have created a pathway for junior cricketers to go from Have-A-Go Cricket – Kiwi Cricket – Friday Night Cricket – Junior Saturday Cricket and then into school cricket. We believe this is the best way to grow cricket in our many communities, by involving the junior and senior cricket clubs and working together.

If you’re not playing cricket but would like to give it a go then contact Garry Webb on 021 242 0956 or email garry@wvca.co.nz

Cambridge Junior Cricket

Sign Up! Want to play Friday

night cricket? Sign up by emailing

d-scarter@xtra.co.nz.

Page 8

The Smiling Assassins! Grins all round (left) for the Primary

South team from Waikato Valley. Despite not notching up a win over the season they managed to nail a

team victory in the �nal game at the Primary Boys tournament last year.

The team fought hard and managed to bat through the entire whole 40

overs, with Jake Russ scoring the teams �rst 50!

Cambridge Knights were all �rst time cricketers this year and had a fantastic season, winning 12 games in a row.

All of the boys love their cricket and now can't wait to give Saturday cricket a go this season. This was their last game of the season, at the University grounds and photos below are from left:

Sam Walker - bowling, Ethan Barlow- batting, Tom Louden - bowling.

Page 9

LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET, CONSECTETUR ADIPISCING ELIT.DOLOR SIT AMET, CONSECTE-TUR ADIPISCING ELIT.

ncidunt id. Curabitur rhoncus accumsan augue, vitae sollicitudin augue feugiat i

Theres a lot to be said when a club wins 3 competitions in one season. For Hinuera it was a season three years in the making.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO HINUERA WAS A ‘MIDDLE OF THE LADDER’ CLUB. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY AND YOU HAVE THE BEGINNINGS OF WHAT COULD BE ONE OF THE STRONGEST CLUBS IN THE WAIKATO VALLEY.

It’s fair to say that Hinuera started the season with a bang, winning the T20 trophy in emphatic style against the domineering Cambridge. Next trophy to come along was the Mike Cotter Cup which Hinuera and Te Aroha shared. Then the biggie, the Champi-ons Trophy, having to beat OTC Otorohanga.

For Hinuera there has been a lot of hard work put into creating a championship winning team “The nucleolus of our A’s team have been together for 3 years now and have picked up some very handy cricketers from Matamata College College over the last

couple of seasons.” Says club captain Sheepy . “Both teams train together which has meant a great unity within the club. Sheepy says the B team is a feeder to the A’s. “This way, if you’re a bit out of form in the A’s you can come back to the B’s and regain some con�dence playing B grade cricket. It also means if you’re performing at B level you will get the chance to play in the A team creating a pathway between the teams. This is important because we are a club with three teams and every player in our club is treated equally “

Hinuera has also put emphasis on helping coach the next generation of young cricketers. Players from Hinuera took over the reins and ran the Have-A-Go Centre in Matamata, as well as coaching junior teams in the area. “Coaching our local juniors gives the club an identity in the community” says Sheepy. “The junior players see that if they continue to play cricket they can

play senior cricket in Matamata and don’t have leave town to do so.” Training with Matamata College players at the college grounds has also paid dividends for the club building a strong relationship with the school leavers and having them join our club once they leave school.

The bowling for Hinuera this season has been outstanding, with an average of 10 wickets taken nearly every game and this is always going to be a team hard to beat. Opening bowlers, Andrew Tiddy and Jason Rusk, have both taken early wickets putting teams under pressure thereby removing the oppositions best batsmen and restricting their scoring rate.

Hinuera are also lucky enough to have a team where everyone can bat. On many occasions during the season numbers 9, 10 and 11 batsmen were called on to get the team home or were counted on to put the extra runs on needed to �nish an innings o�. From the B team players it was Neil Bell leading from the front, scoring runs on a consistent basis, with back up from Bernie Leadbeater who consistently took wickets every week. But the biggest factors were team spirit coupled with the outstanding individual performances that gave the club the amazing season. Sheepy sums up the main reason this team is so successful in their �rst season is the teams’ strong camaraderie (and that they also all enjoy a couple of ‘cold one’s’ together after the game!).

Sheepy concludes that a championship club can’t operate without some champion people behind the scenes running it. And Hinuera have two top men in A’s captain Josh Robb and B’s coordinator Simon Reed. “Without the work these two do behind the scenes, organising training and phoning players to make sure they are available, things just wouldn’t work as well as they do.”

BIG FUN!

FOR MORE INFO/BOOKINGS/REGISTRATIONCHECK OUT www.cookislandcricket.com

JANUARY 2013UNDER 19 BOYS & OPEN WOMENS

CricHQ i s h e r e !You’ll be able to log-in and see your own scores, schedules, rankings even a map to where you’re playing next Saturday! By becoming part of CricHQ, the worlds most advanced cricket community, you’ll keep your �nger on the pulse of cricket anywhere in the world...especially here in the Waikato Valley!

Visit www.CricHQ.com and register. There’s a step by step tutorial on how to enter your teams scores at the conclusion of each game.

www.cricHQ.com

Otorohonga Mens Cricket Team - Runners-up in the Champions Trophy.

Fitness for batters: 3km, 4km, 5km runs -Running, unless you’re Chris Gayle and can hit most balls for six, you’re going to have to run a lot while batting. Having a good base �tness is key to any sport, most batsmen can run any- where from 5km-2 5km a game!Intervals: A good cricket-speci�c training to try is the Mike Hussey specialty. Set up cones the length of the pitch (he did this on the golden beaches of WA but anywhere is �ne). These must be done at a sprint and run with your bat if you can. Start by running a 1(set), then a 2, then a 3, then a 4 and after each set have a quick rest then work your way back down to 1. Each set of four is 10 runs; if you do �ve sets you’ve got your 50. Work your way up until you eventually reach your 100!

Fitness for bowlers: Fartlek: Ignore the name; fartlek is the reason behind John Walker’s world record run. Fartlek means speed play. When going for a run, you mix up your speeds for various amounts of time. An example for a bowler would be: while on a 5km run, 30 sec e�orts, 30 sec jog x 5, easy jog 5 min, 20 sec e�ort, 10 sec jog x 5, easy jog 5 minutes.

For bowlers to be able to steam in all day, a good level of aerobic and anaerobic �tness needs to be achieved, fartlek caters to both.Plyometrics: This is fun because you don’t need to run! Plyometrics is simply getting your body �t and ready for the fast, powerful movements required for bowling.

Ankle Taps (jump & touchyour feet with your hands behind your backside)

Side Jumps over cone

Front & back jumps over cone

Push up with clap

Burpees

10 times

10 times

20 times

20 times

10 times

High Intensity

High Intensity

Med Intensity*

Med Intensity*

High Intensity

Crickettraining NOW!

*correct technique

Going to play cricket in England is a great experience. The culture and people are inviting and friendly. They all enjoy their cricket, many of them playing into their 40s, 50s and even 60s. It’s cool playing with people of that age range and often you’ll join with the opposition team for a beerpint or two after the game. I play for Camden, the oldest club in Cambridge and our home games are played on university college grounds, as we have no home club. There are three senior teams playing Saturdays at di�erent levels and casual Sunday and Thursday XI teams team that have a variety of �xtures throughout the season.

The standard of cricket is on a par with Waikato Valley Club association games, so its a pretty decent level, most teams have an overseas pro and there are plenty of strong teams with some good players. The league is made up of 12 teams, 22 games home and away, with a break in the middle for Christmas so its 22 weeks of straight cricket.

Living in Cambridge means there’s loads of tourist-type things to do: tours of some of the historic university colleges as well as punting along the river in Cambridge and with London just an hour away I’ve seen the city from the London Eye and of course I’ve been to Lords Cricket Ground; self-guided tours are a fun experience too!

I have been here for three seasons and it’s been an amazing and worth-while experience and I have met many awesome people and forged friendships that I will have for a lifetime. Some of the highlights include winning the league in my �rst year at Camden in 2010 and most of my team mates had played for many years hoping to win the league. I have travelled at the end of the season to places in Europe and experienced di�erent cultures. In three hours you can be almost anywhere in Europe; from NZ three hours gets you to Australia!

There is a sponsor at the club who set me up with a place to live, in a village outside Cambridge and helped me get a couple of jobs - groundkeeping at the college ground in which we play our home games - and I have use of a car for the time while I’m in the UK.

This year I’ve been involved with the colts section of our club, assisting in training for the U11, U13 and U15 teams and taking them for 20/20 games in the evenings during the week. - KEITH VINCENT

Off-season overseasWaikato Valley cricketer Keith Vincent is in his third year of the English league.

Page 12

JIMINY CRICKET

STOP PRESS

Auckland Aces (3rd Place last season)Squad: D. Bartlett, M. Bates, L. Ferguson, C. de Grandhomme, G. Hopkins, A. Kitchen, B. Martin, M. McClenaghan, T. McIntosh, C. Munro, B. Singh, D. Tu�ey, L. Vincent, R. Young. Contracted: M. Guptill, C. Martin, K. Mills.Some changes at the helm for the Aces. A lot of experience, and I mean a lot. Some utter star-power here, and they get boosted by the fact that only Guptill is a full-time Blackcap. Their struggles will be with Colin Maiden Park, which is gen- erally a road. De�nite upgrade on last season, but they'll need to �ght hard to get near the top.

Ones to watch: McClenaghan was a freight train at the end of last season, more performances like that will get him knocking on the test team door. Reece Young has a point to prove. He made it to the Blackcaps on his merits, now desperate to get back.De Grandhomme's had a taste of inter- national cricket, albeit not successful so far, but he's one of the cleanest strikers in the game here in New Zealand.

Canterbury Wizards (6th last season)Squad: T. Astle, H. Bennett, B. Cachopa, P. Fulton, M. Henry, R. Hira, T. Johnston, T. Latham, W. Lonsdale, R. McCone, H. Nicholls, S. Stewart, L. van Beek, G. Worker. Contracted: D. Brownlie, A. Ellis, R. Nicol.Pretty simple for the Wizards - win matches. Only 1 win last season, that won’t win you a Plunkett Shield. Plenty of �re power and some of the best young talent �oating around the country. All round a very well balanced side.

Ones to watch: Dean Brownlie's hurt on the back of a harsh dropping from the Blackcaps. He's

First class Cricket2012/13

got skills, and he will punish bad bowling. Hamish Bennett's coming o� a series of injuries, will his raw pace still be there and hurrying batsmen into false shots? Matt Henry's a star, he needs another good performance to keep him in the minds of Blackcaps Selectors.

Central Stags (2nd Place last season)Squad: R. Badenhorst, C. Cachopa, J. How, M. Kain, A. Mathieson, A. Milne, K. Noema-Barnett, J. Raval, D. Robinson, M. Sinclair, B. Small, B. Smith, B. Wheeler, W. Young. Contracted: D. Bracewell, T. Nethula, J. Oram, K.van Wyk, Life's great when you have the cream of the bowling crop in NZ cricket. Michael Mason has departed, cult status intact, and the future looks great. Bracewell is already plying his trade for the Blackcaps, and he will form a great bowling line-up with Wheeler, Small and Mathieson.

Ones to watch:Ben Wheeler had a promising season cut short by injury, but he'll play Blackcaps one day - mark it on the calender.Andrew Mathieson was given a bit of a rough ride by ND. He'll be looking for ‘payback’. Jeet Raval moves after being unable to secure game time at the Aces. Coupled with Robinson, they will form a great opening partnership. How at 3, Sinclair 4, some big runs in the Stags.

Northern Knights (1st Place last season)Squad: G. Aldridge, C. Anderson, B. Arnel, J. Baker, A. Devcich, B. Hampton, J. Marshall, D. Mitchell, B. Scott, I. Sodhi, S. Styris, A. Verma, B. Wilson, J. Yovich. Contracted: BJ Watling, K. Williamson, D. Vettori, D. Flynn, T. Boult, T. Southee. Reigning champs have a battle on their hands alright. They will have a big chunk of skill and experience away on Blackcaps duty, so will have to get some big contributions from the up and comers. Still, class is right across the side. A very well balanced squad.

Ones to watch: Corey Anderson will be looking to really stamp his mark after a disappointing �rst season with the Knights. He is a great, power stroke player, expect to see a lot of it this summer. James Baker's worked his way into ND, and done a fantastic job. Good pace, hitting the right areas, he's growing in stature with every game.Bradley Scott will be looking to regain a spot after a dip in form last season. He's a class player, and has a lot to o�er the the Knights this season.

Otago Volts (5th Place last season)Squad: D. de Boorder, N. Beard, M. Bracewell, D. Broom, N. Broom, I. Butler, M. Craig, J. Du�y, J. McMillan, J.Neesham, A. Redmond, H.Rutherford, N. Wagner, S. Wells Contracted: N. McCullum, B. McCullum,For the �rst time in many years, Otago will head into a season without Craig Cumming. They have some good up and coming talent, but a lot will rely on key players - Redmond, Broom, Wagner.

Ones to watch: Sam Wells is a classy all rounder - as evidenced by him being included in Blackcaps squads against Zimbabwe. He is a solid middle order, and more than capable bowler too. Nick Beard's been ear-marked for future greatness at youth level. Talented left arm spin bowler, needs to make a �st of things after a di�cult last season. Derek De Boorder - rough not to get a look-in over Van Wyk. A far superior batsman and glove- man, it's only a matter of time before higher honours catch up to him.

Wellington Firebirds (4th last season)Squad: H. Boam, J. Brodie, G. Elliott, T. Friday, M. Gillespie, S. Kuggeleijn, S. Murdoch, M. Papps, A. McKay, J. Patel, Michael Pollard, L. Ronchi, J. Ryder, L. WoodcockCentral Contracts: James Franklin

Wellington loaded up in the o�-season, albeit through interesting circum-stances. Ryder's return to Wellington has gained a lot of press, but Luke Ronchi is the one who's slid under the radar. He's come home to New Zealand to chase international cricket, and he's de�nitely good enough. A great squad, plenty of talent.

Ones to watch: Scott Kuggeleijn was very successful last season, and will look to continue on from good form and skill which saw him plucked from ND. Jeetan Patel's had a fantastic county season, culminating in his selection in the Indian tour squad. He has potential to do some serious damage with the ball, and an able batsman. Luke Ronchi is all power. Really strong all around the park and a terri�c gloveman. He wants international cricket and if he plays to his potential, he'll get it.

- Jiminy Yours in cricket,

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John Parker

Chairman

Kaipaki Community Centre

The biggest news in Kaipaki was the opening of the much anticipated Kaipaki Centre earlier this year. Countless working bees, NZCT funding, kind donations from local businesses all culminated in a fantastic community centre that is the envy of all others. The Kaipaki Centre runs athletics, tennis, chip and putt, hockey, netball, pilates, petanque, bowls, and is obviously home to the Kaipaki Cricket Club. The oval has recently had a new addition with the old Seddon Park score-board �nding a new home on the grassy bank. With two mens teams playing club cricket and a girls/womens team is in the pipeline, the tradition of playing cricket for Kaipaki is alive and kicking again. - John Parker, ChairmanKaipaki Community Centre.

6 February 2012 KAIPAKI COMMUNITY CENTRE OPENING - a great celebration with ceremony, music, 6-a-side cricket, netball, tennis, petanque, chip ‘n’ putt golf...and all day scrumptious

Big News from Kaipaki Cricket:

Photos: www.kapaki.com

Kai!

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It may be from a previous generation - the 70s and 80s, or even further back! Maybe you know someone without access to this newsletter that has memorabilia. All photos will be returned. Please Email us on o�ce@wvca.co.nz or mail us at P O Box 1347 Hamilton Central Hamilton, Waikato.

We would like to share the stories from your club and cricket playing days with our members of all ages.

Send us your Club stories and photos from the past

Following the success of previous Carnivals in Rotorua, Armidale and the Gold Coast, the vintage cricket o�ce is excited to announce the opening of bookings for 4th Trans-Tasman Cricket Carnival!

in and around the beautiful coastal city of Port Macquarie in NSW Australia17th - 23rd March 2013

For more details: programme, packages and registration visit

http://www.vslcricket.com

Get a team together for a truly memorable event...

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Right:As the sun sets on Seddon Park, a day / night game is under-way between the Blackcaps and South Africa early in 2012.

Photographs courtesy of cricketer Ronnie Kurian of RN Creations.

Below:Ron’s teamate showing o� his new adidas bat.

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Waikato Valley CricketEmail: o�ce@wvca.co.nzPhone: 07 838 1311Fax: 07 838 1633www.waikatovalleycricket.co.nz

Location: Suite 2, Level 3, Seddon Park, Seddon RoadHamilton Central, Hamilton WaikatoPO Box 1347 Hamilton Central Hamilton Waikato, New Zealand.