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Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz |
The Tauranga Boys' College first 11 received a rare treat on Saturday, when Black Cap Trent Boult turned out for his club side Otumoetai Cadets, against Tauranga Boys' at Nicholson Field.
Fresh from his heroics in the New Zealand against India match at the Basin Reserve a few days previously, the Black Cap quick-bowler became just another Cadets premier team member, on the field at Tauranga Boys' College headquarters.
While the media are quick to jump on any (so-called) controversial incidents from New Zealand top cricket players, we hardly ever read about contributions the Black Caps make in the wider cricket community, such as playing for their club teams, whenever they have the opportunity.
Trent Boult always jumps at the chance to turn out for Cadets, especially when they're playing at home at the Tauranga Domain. During the years I've had the opportunity to watch Trent play on numerous occasions – however there are two games that will stay in my memory forever.
In December 2006, Trent achieved an unheard of two hat-tricks in an innings, for the Tauranga representative team against Eastern Bay of Plenty. Early in the Eastern Bay's turn at bat, the then-18-year-old rising star removed their top order with three successive balls, before returning a little later to grab a second hat-trick in the innings.
Last February, the Black Cap bowling star made an appearance for Cadets at the Tauranga Domain, with spectacular results. Greerton was in a confident mood entering their turn at the crease after removing Cadets for what looked to be a modest 130 runs.
Trent, opening the bowling, immediately had Greerton's top order in desperate trouble, dismissing the first three batsmen for ducks.
Bay of Plenty representative master-blaster Brett Hampton showed some resistance to Boult, however when he was removed for 20, and Greerton were in a deep hole. Trent continued his express deliveries and finished the match with eight wickets for 37 runs, as Greerton was bundled out for 93
Another local Black Cap to answer the call to duty is Kane Williamson, who turned out for Bay of Plenty against Counties Manukau, just before Christmas. The first innings of the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl match belonged to Kane, who blasted 157 runs. Batting at three, Williamson simply took control to showcase his outstanding batting skills, as he continually blasted the ball to all confines of the Weymouth Oval.
Playing just his 14th game for Bay of Plenty, because of continuing New Zealand and ND commitments, the Black Cap batting star was in sublime touch as he terrorised the Counties Manukau bowling attack. Williamson's big total was the fifth highest score by a Bay of Plenty player since records began in 1932.
Two other recent Black Caps, Graeme Aldridge and current Northern Knights skipper Daniel Flynn, have never forgotten their Western Bay cricket roots either, with Aldridge always keen to turn out in Baywide cricket whenever his ND commitments allow.
This season's Black Cap headline-grabber Cory Anderson is another with ties to the Western Bay of Plenty. After shifting north from Canterbury 18 months ago, the master-blaster joined Otumoetai Cadets; and is another to smash a century for Bay of Plenty, achieving the feat against Counties Manukau last season.