Youngster scores guest spot with cricket stars

Whangarei cricket fan Joe Trigg with New Zealand XI captain Anton Devich, left, and India's Rohit Sharma. Photo/Supplied

A young Whangarei cricket fan got the chance to walk on to Cobham Oval with international cricket captains at the New Zealand XI versus India warm-up match yesterday.

Joe Trigg, 10, stood side-by-side with Black Cap Anton Devich and India's Rohit Sharma for the coin toss in front of a crowd of hundreds, including his family.

The Hurupaki Primary School student, who plays cricket for the Kamo B-Grade cricket team, says he felt a mixture of nerves and excitement before walking out on the field.

"I was fine right until I had to start walking out there, there were lots of people watching. It was really cool though, you don't get to do things like that much," he said.

"My whole family was there, my Nana and Poppa watch cricket on TV sometimes but they came down especially to see me with the captains."

Joe won the opportunity to accompany the two captains on to the pitch in a competition run by ANZ.

Head of Sponsorship at ANZ, Sue McGregor, said Joe is one of 18 kids being selected to take part in the coin toss that decides which team bats and which bowls during the ANZ International Series this summer.

"Very few people get the chance to stand beside some of the world's best cricketers in front of TV cameras and a live crowd for this critical match moment.

"It's a pleasure to be able to help young fans to get closer to their cricketing heroes, and we hope the experience inspires them," she said.

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