David Craig Tour manager’s report

It began as a trickle; one arriving early with family in tow, a son departing Brisbane to join his father in Auckland. Then there was a flood: seven tourists boarded the obscenely early Jetstar flight to Hamilton, cricket on our minds, hope in our hearts and spikes in our boots. Depleted by an alarming sequence of late withdrawals, our touring party of ten gathered at the hotel and quickly demonstrated we could still rack up a decent bar tab and food bill at the excellent Italian restaurant across the road. We welcomed a number of first-time CCNSW tourists, and I suspect many of them will be valued participants in future festivities.

New Zealand, not so much land of the long white cloud, more apparently land of the persistent drizzle interrupted periodically by heavier rains. Would we get any cricket in at all? As the match reports attest, where there’s a will, there’s a way, and with our host clubs bending over backwards, and in some cases sideways as well, we were able to squeeze 2.25 games of cricket in during some of the lighter rain periods! Our hosts were enthusiastic, generous and on the whole annoyingly youthful, demonstrating some excellent cricketing skills. I’m sure some of them will be seen representing NZ in future Masters cricket tournaments. While results on field did not go our way, the camaraderie and spirit in which all games were conducted was first rate.

Off the field, the Waikato region offered many attractions, and our touring party were able to experience some of the premiere local tourist destinations – blackwater rafting in the Waitomo glow-worm caves, touring the remarkable Hobbiton village where the Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit movies were filmed, mud spas and geysers at Rotorua, the Hamilton Gardens (almost a museum/gallery really) and the ever present golf courses. Personally, I was a little disappointed the Tipsy Putt indoor mini-golf didn’t get more of a workout, but there’s only so much time in a week. After sundown there were plenty of craft breweries, taverns and excellent restaurants, and the hospitality of these venues was pretty well explored during the week.

I would like to extend my thanks to the teams from Morrinsville, Cambridge, and Kaipaki, and to all of our guys for making this another highly enjoyable CCNSW touring experience. Captain Ahab signing off!

NEW ZEALAND TOUR GAME 1 v MORRINSVILLE CREAMERS AT  MORRINSVILLE RECREATION GROUND, CURETON STREET,  MORRINSVILLE ON TUESDAY20 JANUARY 2026: REPORT BY DAVID POTTS

An overcast and drizzling day greeted the CCNSW for our match against The Morrinsville Creamers. Thankfully the locals had covered the pitch the night before to give us some hope of playing. The removal of the hessian prior to play revealed a pitch with longer grass than an MCG day one wicket!

Despite the constant drizzle the captains decided to toss and start the game on time. Captain David Craig called incorrectly and lost the toss, with the Creamers deciding to bat. The captain’s agreed for a 40 over game to be played in four quarters, with a break in each side’s innings after 20 overs.

Jason Keane was thrown the ball to start up from the northern end. Pace and bounce greeted the opening bat who gallantly survived a maiden over from Keane. Sittampalam Ragavan (“Raga”) then took the ball to open from the southern end. Again the batters were forced to acquit themselves defensively to survive.

Ragavan was the first to strike and was rewarded for some good swing bowling, snicking off the open bat with a sharp catch behind to David Potts. Not to be left out of the wicket taking column, Keane took the next 2 wickets, clean bowling the next 2 batters. One being a text book dismissal, hitting the top of middle stump and breaking the bail.

The rain continued to fall and made conditions for both bowlers and batters challenging. Great fielding from Josh Heldarskard and poor running from the batter saw a run-out to Potts at the keeper’s end, taking the score to 4-24 in the 10th over.

The deteriorating conditions saw play suspended for about half an hour until the rain eased. Resuming play, some good batting from the Creamers saw them take the score through to 4-80 at the scheduled 20 over change of innings. Some good bowling from Helderskard, Joe Scarcella and Craig was unable to get the break through before the innings break.

It was a tough period for the bowlers with the constant rain making the ball impossible to grip. The Kookaburra ball was no match for the wet Kiwi conditions!

Showing his immense versatility and ability with both ball and bat, Keane was thrust into the opening bat position along with Malcolm Freame.

The Creamer’s opening bowers started well, making use of the wet pitch and skidding the ball on. Keane and Freame were impenetrable and negotiated a challenging 4 overs before the weather again made play impossible. 

An early lunch was called before the captains, due to the constant rain, made the decision to abandon the match with CCNSW 0-8 in reply with both Jason Keane and Malcolm Freame 3 not out each.

A disappointing and frustrating start to the tour, but plenty of enthusiasm and bonding shown by CCNSW. Jason Keane was undoubtedly the CCNSW player of the day, starring and dominating with both bat and ball.

Promising signs ahead for the team for the rest of the tour!

The Team was: –Malcolm Freame 3*, Jason Keane 3*, David Craig (c) dnb, Frank Baliotis dnb, David Potts (w) dnb, Sittampalam Ragavan dnb, Joe Scarcella dnb, Peter Willis dnb, Joshua Heldarskard dnb, Thomas Willis dnb and Francisco Gallardo dnb (12^th manOscar Heldarskard aged 9)

No result– Match abandoned as a Draw – rain

Morrinsville Creamers: – 4-80 (20 Overs)

Drew with

C.C.N.S.W.: – 0-8 (4 Overs) – rain

The Bowling was: – J. Keane: 5-2-7-2; S. Ragavan: 5-0-23-1; J. Scarcella: 5-0-25-0; J. Heldarskard: 4-0-23-0; D. Craig: 1-0-2-0

The Fielding was: –

Stumpings: – Nil

Catches: -One to D. Potts

Run outs: – one to J Heldarskard

MoM: J. Keane

NEW ZEALAND TOUR GAME 2 v CAMBRIDGE ANTIQUES  ATJOHN KERKHOF PARK, VOGEL STREET, CAMBRIDGE  ON FRIDAY 23 JANUARY 2026: REPORT BY MALCOLM FREAME

Our second tour game was against Cambridge Antiques. Scheduled for the turf of Victoria Square, due to the condition of the pitch the game was moved to the synthetic pitch at Vogel Street. The match day had already been moved from Thursday to Friday in the hope of finding some dry weather- our thanks to Cambridge for working so hard to get the game on.

Captain David Craig called correctly and won the toss, deciding to bat. The captains agreed on the game conditions, including retirement after 30 runs or 30 balls, and at the request of the locals, no lbws!

The Antiques’ opening bowlers started well, bowling tightly and limiting opportunities. Peter Willis and Frank Baliotis negotiated a challenging attack before Baliotis hit a well struck drive, unfortunately caught in the covers. Willis was struck a nasty blow in the ‘groin’, which was subsequently found to have cracked his protector – memories of Thomson to Lloyd in 1974. Willis and David Potts made good progress, with both players retiring at 30 balls. Joshua  Heldarskard was unluckily caught and bowled, but Sittampalam Ragavan pressed on to 14 from 30 balls. Tom Willis made an encouraging start but was caught on the boundary.

Then followed an excellent partnership between David Craig and Joe Scarcella, with Craig showing some of his unique reverse shots and Scarcella consistently scoring singles until, unfortunately, being run out, after which Craig retired at 23. A massive 6 from Jason Keane was followed by his departure. Peter Willis and Potts recycled and supported by Malcolm Freame were able to score 40 in rapid time, taking the total to 171.

Keane was thrown the ball to start up from the southern end and with a following wind showed good pace. Ragavan then took the ball to open from the northern end, and it was then that the power of Cambridge’s openers became apparent with three fours off four balls. They were 50 after 5 overs before Ragavan captured the first wicket.

Scarcella and our guest player Rudie Swanepoel were able to slow the run-rate, and Craig was unlucky not to have a wicket off his first ball. Craig then made the brave decision to bring on Willis (T), who had not bowled for some time (decades?!). It proved a masterstroke with Tom Willis taking 2-12 off 3 overs including a sensational caught and bowled.

The excellent fielding of Potts and Heldarskard was a feature of the innings. CCNSW continued to compete hard, but despite a brilliant run-out by Heldarskard, Cambridge was able to pass our score within 30 overs.

A disappointing result for CCNSW, but some good individual performances and commitment shown by CCNSW right to the end. Willis (P) was the CCNSW player of the day,  with his courageous batting under some duress. Looking forward to our final game of the tour against Kaipaki on Sunday, 25 January 2026.

The Team was: – Peter Willis  (w) 25, Frank Baliotis 2, David Potts 22*, Joshua Heldarskard 15, Sittampalam Ragavan 14* ret not out, Joe Scarcella 17, Thomas Willis 3, David Craig (c) 23* ret not out, Jason Keane 6,  Malcolm Freame (w) 18*, Rudie Swanepoel 4 (guest from Cambridge Antiques)

The Result was: –

C.C.N.S.W.: – 7-171 (40 Overs)

Lost to

Cambridge Antiques: – 7- 180 (29 Overs)

By 3 wickets.

FoW: – 1-4 (F. Baliotis); 2-50 (J. Heldarskard); 3-61 (T. Willis); 4-111 (J. Scarcella); 5-125 (J. Keane); 6-131 (R. Swanepoel); 7-162 (P. Willis).

The Bowling was: – J. Keane: 6-0-39-0; S. Ragavan: 4-0-38-2; J. Scarcella: 4-0-27-0; R. Swanepoel 3-1-15-0; D. Craig: 3-0-11-1; T. Willis 3-0-12-2; J. Heldarskard: 4-0-22-1; D. Potts: 2-0-11-1

The Fielding was: –

Stumpings: – Nil

             Catches: – Twoto J. Heldarskard; one to each of D. Potts, R. Swanepoel and T. Willis

Run outs: – One to J. Heldarskard

MoM: Peter Willis

NEW ZEALAND TOUR GAME 3 v KAIPAKI CC AT KAIPAKI ROAD, OHAUPO, WAIKATO VALLEY  ON SUNDAY 25 JANUARY 2026: REPORT BY JASON KEANE (in the style of ‘Moby Dick’-(and apologies to Herman Melville!)

We needed a mission. And for our sins we were granted one. Kaipaki – not so far behind lines; a place where- we were told- we can control the country, or at least that part of it within 50 yards either side of the road. We arrived as a force of nature, great with conviction of victory. Surely this ragtag band would provide no match, fallen leaves to be swept away on the hurricane of our mastery.

And yet. And yet. And yet, a sense of foreboding lingered as white broken men paraded onto the ground beneath the white broken sky. The rain fell or didn’t fall the sun shone or didn’t shine and all the while we were stared down upon by a Great Pavilion- either old and in decay or new and abandoned unfinished. None could say. Atop of which, the unblinking eye of a handless clock. Implacable in its gaze, a clock with no hands, timeless. No time and no age, it bore down upon men with no time and no age.

Keane swung one to the fence then departed. Freame – unmovable, entrenched. Waiting, always waiting. The Potts surged- swinging here a six, there a four- and it seemed for a time that destiny beckoned. But he too fell, and others. But Heldarskard held firm with Ragavan, and suddenly a surge.

A mysterious stranger- “H”- no one knew for sure his true name or whence he came. Yet suddenly there he was – wild of eye and shaggy of mane he rose and with each resounding blow we rose with the hope of deliverance.

Freame returned, and Scarcella, and somehow 168 was the tally.

We told ourselves this was sufficient. Yet we approached the field warily, like ghosts treading upon our own unmarked graves. Toes were poked into the unyielding green plastic of the pitch; worrisome meaningful glances as though this implacable deadening of the soul and legs would yield to the power of our will and the conviction of our mastery, sprout fresh green springs and be transubstantiated to a fresh green nibbler with a good coating of live grass.

Balls were swung to the boundary. Or over it. Balls beat edges. Catches were dropped.  Heavy with the realisation that in this land, victory is an illusion.

The score mounted. Craig our leader searched here and there for the breakthrough to turn the tide. Bowlers were offered up for their sacrifice- Keane, Ragavan, Helderskard, Baliotis. Only H- the wild stranger- offered much thought of victory as the score mounted and the rain fell or didn’t fall and the sun shined or didn’t shine.

Eventually even young Oscar was offered up for sacrifice- a cricketing Isaac torn between pleasing his father and pleasing the Lord. His over was possibly the best of the day.

As grizzled men looked down upon grizzled ground and looked up at the  white dome of the sky and at the winds that blew or didn’t blow and the rain that would or would not fall, Craig- our Ahab, our Captain upon this sea of madness emerged one last time to rail against the dying of the light.

Grey and ghostly, he marked his run- those six paces the distance between glory and vainglory. The ball was delivered, and with it, we were delivered. Robert Heke stepped and unfurled his soul at the ball- a mighty Queequeg launching a leather harpoon across the White Whale of the sky.

The ball travelled beyond the boundary beyond, the flowers, beyond the trees. Beyond reckoning and time and memory and dreams. It landed lost upon those parts of the Earth marked Here be Dragons.

Thus it ended and the white shadows of men under the white shadows of sky departed, relieved of the twin burdens of triumph or despair, watched always by the unblinking handless clock that marked not time nor progress.

The ball was never found. Perhaps in some remote age it will be found. Archaeologists and philosophers from that distant world will ponder this strange circle of earth, white-fenced from reality. Observe its strange markings and ponder its purpose. They shall pore over this strange sphere of red leather and speculate the unknowable rituals that once occurred here, and they may consider whether this strange blood red orb contained within it the souls of men- timeless, eternal- bound together by leather, stitching and unfathomable yards of twine and tears.

The Team was: – Malcolm Freame 21, Jason Keane 5, David Potts (w) 21, Sittampalam Ragavan 14, Frank Baliotis 4, Peter Willis (w) 2, Josh Heldarskard 20, Joe Scarcella 18,  Aaron Hills 17, Harman Hishon 31* and (Oscar Heldarskard 12^th man)

((New Zealand Cambridge Antiques) guest players Harmon Hishon and Aaron Hills)

The Result was: –

C.C.N.S.W.: – 10-168 (39.3 Overs) (H. Hishon 31*)

Lost to

Kaipaki CC: – 1-172 (27.1 Overs)

By 9 wickets.

FoW: – 1-8 (J. Keane); 2-31 (D. Potts); 3-61 (F. Baliotis); 4-65 (S. Ragavan); 5-85 (P. Willis); 6-94 (J. Heldarskard); 7-105 (D. Craig); 8-160 (A. Hills); 9-166 (J. Scarcella); 10-168 (M. Freame).

The Bowling was: – J. Keane 6-0-34-0; H. Hishon 6-0-28-0; S. Ragavan 4-0- 21-1; D. Craig 3-0-19-0
A Hills 3-0-25-0; Oscar Heldarskard 1-0-1-0; Josh Heldarskard 2-0-15-0; M. Freame 1-0-11-0; F. Baliotis 1-0-16-0.

The Fielding was: –

Stumpings: – Nil

Catches: – One to A. Hills

Run outs: – Nil

MoM: M Freame