HIBS Out To Defend National Cricket Crown

The Secondary School Boys’ cricket First XI Cup (First XI Cup) began in 1990 and is among the longest-running competitions in secondary school sport.  Many first-class and international cricketers have made their name in this tournament.
The 2016 national finals are being played at Lincoln University from 5-9 December. College Sport Media profiles the defending champions, Hutt International Boys’ School.


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Hutt International Boys’ School
First XI Squad: Rachin Ravindra ©, Tyler Simpson (vc), Joseph Foote, Matthew McComb, Caleb Hewson, Adam Webster, Jesse Tashkoff, Harry Simpson, Logan Slee, Nathan Watt, Nikunj Patel, Cole Kennedy.
Coaches: Mark Borthwick, Paul Brennan
Representative Cricketers: Rachin Ravindra (NZ Under 19, Wellington Under 19 Captain), Tyler Simpson (Wellington Under 19), Matthew McComb (Wellington Under 19), Jesse Tashkoff (Wellington Under 17).
What are your previous best finishes in the tourney?

• 2015 – Winners of this Tournament.
• 2014- 3rd
• 2011- 3rd
• 2010- 6th

What’s it going to take for your school to do well in the tournament?
It will take a team effort by all the players for the team to have any chance of winning back the 1stXI Cup after winning it for the first time in 2015. The team has New Zealand Under 19 player Rachin Ravindra to lead the side in the batting department and Vice Captain Tyler Simpson who will spearhead the bowling attack. Three spinners in the team have served us well.


What local competitions do your team play in, and how did they go last season/this season?
The team played in the College Sport Wellington Premier Youth Grade and went on to win this competition. This is made up of one day matches home and away throughout the year.  Earlier this year we won our Regional NZSS Tournament beating Wellington College 1st XI by 45 runs in the Wellington Regional Cup Final.  Rachin Ravindra scored 112.There are two pools of Four teams and HIBS beat St Pats Silverstream, St Pats Town and Hutt Valley High School to top the pool and then played Wellington College at the Basin Reserve in the Wellington Final.  HIBS batted first and scored 232/8 in their 50 overs. In reply Wellington College scored 187 all out.


What’s been one memorable match your team has played this year?
Winning the Regional one Day game against St Pats Town. In the second round of matches HIBS batted first and at one stage were 94/9 after 35 overs but managed to reach 123 all out after 46 overs. In reply the strong St Pats Town side battled towards the target only to fall short by one run as the last pair tried to scamper for a single only to be undone by a direct hit.


How many players are returning to your First XI from this time last year (if you played in this tournament in 2015) and what’s the age balance/composition of the side?
We have seven players returning this year with 3 year 13, 4 Year 12’s, 3 Year 11’s & 2 x Year 10’s.


Who is your leading run scorer and wicket taker?
Rachin Ravindra is our leading batsman and leading bowler. He has scored 2464 @ 34.7 and taken 163 wickets at 10.6.


Who are the individuals in your team that are successful in other sports?
Tyler Simpson,( 1st XV Rugby), Caleb Hewson (Senior A Basketball) Nathan Watt (1st XI hockey), Jesse Tashkoff (First XI Football).


Who are the recent former players that have played for this First XI team now playing first-class domestic cricket or for New Zealand?
We have three current contracted professional cricketers. Fraser Colson, Matt Taylor and Iain McPeake who are all contracted players to the Wellington Firebirds.

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