Otago BHS Hunting For National Cricket Success

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 is profiling the six teams involved.


Otago Boys’ High School
Brief: A perennial contender, Otago BHS haven’t won the tourney for a long-time, but bring an experienced side to Christchurch who could cause upsets.

Coaches: Ken Rust , Adam Miles

First XI Squad: Taine Bayly (C), Declan Su’a, Cameron McAuslan, Jarryd Taig, Gus Wood, Jackson Miller, Josiah Turner, Max Chu, Jack Pryde, Hunter Kindley, Ben Lockrose, Tim Horton

Representative Players:  Taine Bayly, Declan Su’a, Cameron McAuslan, Jarryd Taig, Gus Wood, Max Chu, Jack Pryde, Hunter Kindley, Ben Lockrose, Tim Horton

National Champions: 1992, 1993


Verdict
Otago BHS compete in the Local First XI competition, traditional fixtures and some of their leading talent take part in senior cricket. Otago easily won through to the National finals. In the Zone semi-final they defeated Southland BHS and then crushed Waitaki BHS by 247 runs in the Final. Aside from dominating Christ College over two days in the inter-school traditional at Hagley Park, the win over Waitaki Boys’ with opener Cameron McAuslan scoring 156 was Otago’s most memorable performance of the season.

McAuslan is a player to keep an eye on. He has scored 459 runs at 58 this year in inter-school and qualifying games. Wicket-keeper batsman Max Chu has also performed well averaging in excess of 35 at the top of the order. Captain Taine Bayly leads a middle order that includes four players who are performing successfully in senior cricket. Fast bowler Declan Su’a is the team’s leading wicket taker with 36 wickets at 17. Ben Lockrose, Hunter Kindley, and Jackson Miller will be key figures as the tournament develops. All three are capable all-round players.

Bayly also captains the school football 1st XI which includes Taig and Chu. Miller is in the First XV and Kindley is a member of the school’s top basketball team. All-rounder Tim Horton will compete in the National Secondary Schools Athletics finals in the 100 metres and senior relay on the weekend before the First XI Cup Finals. Fellow all-rounder Jack Pryde has played in two Rankin Cup hockey tournaments.



The core of the team have enjoyed considerable success in the past having won the NZCT Cup, toured South Africa in 2013 and Sydney in 2014-15. These trips would not have happened without the on-going support of a committed and hard-working parent group who have supported Otago Boys’ cricket for many years.
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Otago have produced many fine players over the years. The most prominent players from the school in first class cricket at the moment are former Black Cup Hamish Rutherford as well as Sam Wells, Jack Hunter and Josh Finnie.

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