Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

Sideline Sid was overjoyed to see one of the most outstanding cricket players to come out of the Bay of Plenty selected in the best New Zealand Minor Association Cricket team of the last 100 years.

Bay of Plenty wicketkeeper and batsmen (and Tauranga resident) Mike Wright has been named in the Hawke Cup Team of the Century that was selected to celebrate 100 years of Hawke Cup Cricket.

The Hawke Cup, which is the symbol of New Zealand Minor Cricket Association supremacy, was first contested in 1911 as a tournament trophy.

Since 1913 the Hawke Cup has been played on a challenge basis – with the holders accepting direct challenges during February and March of each season.

Michael John Edward Wright, who was born in Whangarei, became one of the true great players of Bay of Plenty cricket.

The bare statistics of Mike Wright 25 year service to Bay of Plenty cricket provide just a small insight into his illustrious career.

102 games from the 1966/67 to the 1991/92 season produced 3960 runs at an average of 33.00, with a top score of 179 not out.

In addition Mike played 65 first class games and numerous one-day encounters for Northern Districts.

A measure of Mike Wright's longevity is provided by the names of some of the players he started and finished his career alongside.

In his first season in Bay colours he played alongside such as Eric Petrie, Blair Furlong and Eric (Ted) Hipkiss.

Eric Petrie was one of New Zealand's best-performed wicketkeepers playing 14 test matches for his country. His Bay of Plenty career spanned five seasons in the mid to late 1960s.

Blair Furlong, who won All Black honours played a solitary season for the Bay in the 1966/67 cricket year, while Eric Hipkiss played for the Bay for a decade after making his debut in 1964.

As Mike Wright wound up his long Bay career, his contemporaries were such as Mathew Hart, Grant McKenzie, Roydon Hayes and the other Bay centurion Derek Beard.

There was a very different attitude prevailing in representative cricket, when Mike made his debut in January 1967.

As a young newcomer to the team, he addressed the captain as Mr Blake, and accorded the same respect to several of the team's senior players.

Mike blasted four centuries in has career to equal the record set by Richard Shrimpton in the 1970s. His four tonnes came in the second half of his long career with his earlier selections being primarily as a wicketkeeper.

Mikes first two centuries came in quick succession, in back-to-back games against Midlands and Poverty Bay in November and December 1980. His maiden century was 101 against Midlands, followed by 102 runs in the encounter with Poverty Bay.

The following season he recorded 129 not out in the match with Thames Valley; this also saw New Zealand player Andy Roberts reach the magical three figure total in the same innings for the Bay.

However, Mike saved the best for last, blasting a Bay of Plenty record of 179 not out against Counties in the 1983/84 season. His score obliterated the previous highest total of 148 set by Bruce McIntosh set three years previously.

The record stood until Simon Winter smashed 181 against Central Otago when the Bay held the Hawke Cup in 1997.

While Mike is remembered as a prolific batsman, he was one of the best keepers in the country for over two decades, and in today's era would have certainly worn the Black Cap of his country.

Seeya at the Game.