Gizzy teen showcases cricketing potential

Gisborne’s David Gray (standing, second from left) and his Seddon Cricket Club under-17 teammates outside the Sir Richard Hadlee Sports Centre at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The Seddon team were an 11 selected by the club and Northern Districts Cricket Association for a tour which featured a game against a Willows club development side. Picture supplied

Gisborne Boys’ High first 11 player David Gray showed his potential in front of some of New Zealand’s cricketing royalty before a dramatic end to a match in Canterbury recently.

Gray, 16, was in the Northern Districts under-17 boys’ squad selected for a tour set up by Seddon Cricket Club in conjunction with Northern Districts Cricket Association.

Hamilton-based Seddon, of which former New Zealand international Daniel Vettori is patron, is actively involved in the growth and development of the game.

Part of this ongoing support was the u17 tour for which 11 players from smaller areas of the ND catchment were chosen.

“All players have exciting talent but don’t necessarily get exposed to quality cricket coaching or opportunities because of the location they live in or the lack of resources that are offered to them,” Seddon said on its Facebook page.

“It was an amazing experience for the young players. They were exposed to the life of a travelling cricket player and endured some of the challenges that playing cricket on the road present.”

The travelling 11 were accompanied by former New Zealand internationals Mark Bailey and Lou Vincent — who co-coached the team — and long-time ND rep Joey Yovich.

They got to train on grass pitches at the back of Hagley Oval in Christchurch, then were given a tour of the Oval including the changing rooms being used by Pakistan and the Black Caps for their fourth T20 clash, match official rooms, corporate facilities and the Sir Richard Hadless Sports Centre.

The tour culminated in a 110-over match against a Willows Cricket Club development XI at its famous Round Hill Oval ground near Rangiora in north Canterbury.

Sir Richard Hadlee and fellow New Zealand great and ex-Northern Districts and Poverty Bay representative John Wright attended, with Wright passing on some of his extensive knowledge and stories to the players.

Gray was the pick of the Seddon bowlers as Willows scored 235 in 45 overs.

He picked up three wickets for 30 runs off eight overs.

In reply, Seddon Cricket Club were going well but activity outside the ground was to bring an early end to the day.

Police entered the ground and instructed players and supporters to evacuate due to scrub fires that ended up covering 10 hectares and destroying homes and a church.

“It was like a war zone,” said David’s father Deevon, who was at the game with wife Rebecca.

David, one of the quickest bowlers in Poverty Bay Premier club cricket, comes from a talented cricketing family.

David, older brother Te-Reimana and younger brother Johnathan were in the Poverty Bay team who competed at the Northern Districts Emerging Rangatahi (under-19) competition in Gisborne in December.

Te-Reimana was also called into the ND team for a recent T20 tournament in Taupō involving top association players and national age-group representatives.

Another brother, Marcus, has played first 11 cricket for GBHS and last year, at 14, became the youngest player to represent Tairāwhiti (formerly Poverty Bay-East Coast) at the national men’s interprovincial golf tournament.