The Gillette Cup began in 1990 and is among the longest-running competitions in secondary school sport for year 9-13 boys.
The competition provides the opportunity for players to compete against some of the best school teams in the country with many first-class cricketers and BLACKCAPS having made their name in this tournament.
The tournament will be held at the picturesque Lincoln University between 13-18 December, offering players first-class facilities that are the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, the Lincoln Green & Lincoln No. 3.
Due to COVID-19, there was no tournament in 2021, building excitement around the tournament ahead. Check out the 2022 tournament preview below!
Christ's College (Canterbury) attend just their second Gillette Cup (first in 2011) after advancing through the Canterbury regional finals.
Christ's College will have the extra motivation of being current holders of the Heathcote Williams Shield, considered the Ranfurly Shield of schoolboy cricket.
The shield was originally awarded in 1908 by the founding president of the New Zealand Cricket Council, E.H. Williams, and was originally played for by all schools in New Zealand.
A joint initiative between Cricket Wellington and College Sport Wellington reintroduced the shield to competition in March 2017 after 30 years on display at the New Zealand Cricket Museum.
Tim Seeto and Harry Sharr will be important figures for Christ's with the bat, while all-rounder Matt Hocquard and captain Nick Gibb will look to contribute with both bat and ball.
Hutt International Boys' School (Wellington) return to the Gillette Cup after a strong run of qualifications in recent history.
HIBS attended four national tournaments in a row from 2014-18, managing to win the 2015 tournament thanks to current Wellington Firebirds; Ben Sears, Rachin Ravindra, and Troy Johnson.
Captain and Wellington U19 representative Lachie Bailey, will be a player to watch with both bat and ball for the HIBS XI.
Fast bowler Nathan Edmonds and spin bowler Soham Rawat both featured prominently through qualifying and will be key to the HIBS bowling unit.
Mount Albert Grammar (Auckland) will also attend just their second Gillette Cup (first in 2013) after beating cricket powerhouse St Kentigern College in their regional final.
All-rounders Malay and Ohm Patel proved to be a big part of the MAGS side through qualifying, both contributing with bat & ball on several occasions.
Right-arm seam bowler Harrison Wills proved to be vital to the team’s success, taking 4-13 off ten overs in the regional final to secure MAGS a trip to nationals.
In recent times, MAGS have seen their players succeed at the next level, including domestic cricketers and former students; Adi Ashok, Brett Randell and Katene Clarke.
Along with Christ's and MAGS, Napier Boys' High School (Central Districts) attend just their second Gillette Cup nationals this year. Their first appearance came in 1991 – at the second ever Gillette Cup national tournament.
NBHS’s journey to the Gillette Cup was a hard-fought one - their qualifying match against Palmerston North Boys High School being decided on the final ball.
Leg-spinner Hamish James was almost unhittable in the final, taking 3-2 off four overs (including three maidens), helping to restrict NPBHS to 125/8.
Opening batsman Andrew Rawnsley (55 runs) set a platform for the Napier Boys run chase, before middle-order batters Zach Forster (16 off 7) and Matthew Marshall (10 off 5) stole the show, scoring 26 runs in the final two overs (including 17 off the last).
Otago Boys' High School (Otago) send a young team to nationals this year, led by former Otago Volts head coach Nathan King.
The appearance will represent the schools 19th appearance at Gillette Cup - the most by any school at Gillette Cup.
Otago U19 representatives Seb Kyle, Thomas O’Connor, and Zac Cumming will have the benefit of attending the 2020 Gillette Cup, all with the potential to be match-winners for OBHS.
O’Connor, a bowling all-rounder (and son of former BLACKCAPS fast bowler Shayne O’Connor), will spearhead the OBHS attack as well as offer valuable runs through the middle order.
Tauranga Boys' College (Northern Districts) have enjoyed success throughout the Gillette Cup, and particularly in developing talented cricketers.
TBC boast many current and former Northern Districts’ players include Daniel Flynn, Joe Carter and John Bracewell.
They have attended seven Gillette Cup nationals, winning the tournament in 2005 with former student and current BLACKCAPS captain, Kane Williamson.
The current Tauranga Boys' side will be led by spin bowling all-rounder Darcy Collett, batter Billy Syme and fast bowler Riley Brady.
All three players featured in the run and wicket columns in their successful regional final against Hamilton Boys' High School.
All matches will be played at Lincoln University, with matches to be live scored on PlayHQ and on www.nzc.nz. All games on the Bert Sutcliffe Oval will be streamed via NZC’s YouTube channel.
View live scorecards here. View full squad lists below:
Christ’s College:
Squad: Nick Gibb (c), Tim Seeto, Ollie Shore, Ben Breitmeyer, Harry Sharr, Matt Lewis, Matt Hocquard, George Ryan, Jordan Braithwaite, Ciaran Huntley, Rob McClean, Hamish Falls-Anderson, Tom Harrison, Ed Cochran.
Coaches: Keryn Ambler, Ryan McCone
Hutt International:
Squad: Lachlan Bailey (c), Ben Wilson, MJ Lazenby, Jack Gaskin, Harry Wall, Archie Wilson, Lucas Jelley, Connor Gatward, Sam Williamson, Will Spice, Nathan Edmonds, Soham Rawat, Luca Siegel.
Coaches: Paul Brennan, Ian Spice.
Mount Albert Grammar:
Squad: Dhruv Patel (c), Max Davison, Wesley Donald, Thomas Iles, Priyam Mistry, Aryan Nigudkar, Toby Naish, Sam Patchett, Malay Patel, Ohm Patel, Ryan Krige, Lukasz Swain, Harrison Wills
Coaches: Tony Sail, Michael Walden.
Napier Boys' HS:
Squad: Oliver Beale, Jacob Cotter, Finn Diphoorn, Monty Field, Zach Forster, Charlie Geange, Thomas Hall, Hamish James, Hunter Kinney, Matthew Marshall, Charlie Pawson, Sacha Pickering, Andrew Rawnsley.
Coaches: Mike Pawson, George Burford.
Otago Boys' HS:
Squad: Seb Kyle (c), Zac Cumming, Lewis Garden, Oliver Garden, Ashton Hansen, Lewis Harper, Daniel Lawrence, Luke Marsh, Thomas O'Connor, Ben Stephens, Oliver Thode, William Thode, Hamish Wilson.
Coaches: Nathan King, Hunter Kindley
Tauranga Boys' College:
Squad: Darcy Collett (captain), Troy Barnett, Riley Brady, Sam Clode (wk), Jack Fitzgerald, Seb Heath, Jack Jones, Loughlin Keaney, Logan Murray, Harsh Patel, Luke Scrimgeour, Billy Syme, Fynn Williamson.
Coaches: Tim Clarke, Charles Williams.
