The third edition of the annual Māori Secondary Schoolgirls and Schoolboys teams will take place in Wellington this week with seven young CD representatives selected.

With 12 returning players overall in the teams, as well as two sets of siblings, this year's teams will have a whanau-like feel as they ready to take on the Governor General’s XI.

Seven players from the NZ boys’ team return including CD's Curtis Heaphy and, in the girls’ side, five players return including Ocean Bartlett - who made her debut for the Central Hinds during this season's Dream11 Super Smash.

OCEAN BARTLETT IN ACTION FOR THE MAORI SECONDARY SCHOOLGIRLS TEAM LAST SEASON

Players from both teams assemble in Te Whanganui-a-Tara this Tuesday and will stay at the Pipitea Marae for the remainder of the week. 

Boys' coach Duncan Murray said the marae offers players a chance to engage in many activities, with a focus on connecting with tikanga.

“Staying on the marae offers a vast point of difference to the other cricket tours these players have experienced. The chance to connect with their iwi and ancestors makes it unique and special, building a strong team culture in the short time we spend together.”

NZC Network and Participation Advisor Andrew Tara said the NZ Māori Schools programme is helping give cricket more visibility to Māori communities.

“NZC’s overriding strategy is for cricket to be a game for all New Zealanders, irrespective of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation,” he said.

“We’ve noticed over the three years an increasing buzz around the matches. They are something players want to be involved with and represent their whanau, iwi and school.”

The teams will play a T20 doubleheader at Wellington College this Wednesday 10 February and 50-over matches at Karori Park the following day.

Both Māori teams were selected by Northern Districts selector Pat Malcon.

Māori Secondary Schoolboys

Shale Foy • Tainui & Ngā Puhi • New Plymouth Boys' High School

Curtis Heaphy • Ngai Tāhu • Palmerston North Boys' High School

Bayley Latter • Ngāti Toa • Palmerston North Boys' High School 

Angus Lyver • Ngāti Toa • Palmerston North Boys' High School

Lachie Bailey • Ngāti Kuia • Hutt International Boys School

Anthony Bolton • Ngāti Tūwharetoa • Sacred Heart College, Auckland 

Elias Falanitule • Te Rarawa & Ngā Puhi • Sacred Heart College, Auckland

Henry McIntyre • Ngāti Raukawa & Ngāti Toa • St. Patrick's College Wellington 

Kuwyn Price • Ngāti Porou & Ngāti Hauā • St. Paul’s Collegiate, Hamilton

Payton Spencer • Ngati Kāhungunu & Muaupoko • Hamilton Boys' High School

Alex Thompson • Ngā Puhi • Onslow College

Jamal Todd • Ngāti Whātua • Auckland Grammar School

Māori Secondary Schoolgirls

Ocean Bartlett • Ngāti Porou, Ngā Puhi • St Matthew's Collegiate 

Olivia Clark • Ngai Tāhu • St Matthew's Collegiate

Reese Drager • Ngāti Kāhungunu • Taradale High School

Dayle Anderson • Tainui • Rosehill College 

Kiri Anderson • Tainui • Rosehill College 

Elle Archer • Tainui, Ngāti Māhanga • Tauranga Girls' College

Waimarie Carter • Tūhoe, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Manawa • Onslow College 

Tessa Dyzell • Ngā Puhi • Diocesan School for Girls  

Ella Gibson • Tūhoe, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou • Riccarton High School 

Jess Smith • Tainui, Ngā Puhi • Kaipara College 

Anika Todd • Ngāti Whātua • Mount Albert Grammar School 

Estella Wallace • Ngai Tāhu • Christchurch Girls' High School

Schedule

Wednesday 10 February 2021

NZ Māori Schoolgirls v Governor General's XI 

Wellington College, 10:30am 

NZ Māori Schoolboys v Governor General's XI 

Wellington College, 2:30pm 

Thursday 11 February 2021

NZ Māori Schoolgirls v Governor General's XI 

Karori Park, 10:30am 

NZ Māori Schoolboys v Governor General's XI 

Karori Park, 10:30am 

All matches are livescored at https://scoring.nzc.nz and on the NZC App

Article added: Monday 08 February 2021