A BRIEF HISTORY OF GRAMMAR 1ST XI CRICKET
Former Grammar Headmaster, Henry Cooper, wrote a history of Grammar cricket from 1880-1988, titled Boys in White. In it, he notes that the first game of cricket played in New Zealand was at Waimate in 1835 and that the game was firmly established at Grammar by 1880. Since then the school has produced 26 New Zealand cricketers – more than any other school. This long and proud tradition began with Hugh Lusk and Douglas Hay in 1896 later included names like John Sparling, Ross Morgan, Terry Jarvis, Mark Burgess, Hedley Howarth, Geoff Howarth, Jeff Crowe, Martin Crowe, Mark Greatbatch and, most recently, Blair Pocock, Dion Nash and Matt Horne.
Numerous players have come from out of the Grammar ranks Aand made their first-class debuts, most recently Craig Pryor (1997/98), Matt Cairns (2001/02) and Keely Todd (2004/05), all for Auckland.
The Heathcote-Williams Shield was donated for the first match against Christchurch Boys High School in December, 1910 and has been contested ever since. The first challenge was a high-scoring affair but thanks to a second innings 6 for 55 by Andrew Jackson, Grammar triumphed by 33 runs.
Regarded as the finest schoolboy team of all time, the Grammar 1st XI of 1961 won every game of the season outright, losing only one second innings wicket in the process (when they reversed the order needing 11 to win against Christchurch). It contained 3 later test players, in captain Howarth, Burgess (who debuted as a 3rd Former) and Jarvis, and two later Auckland players, Dykes and Carson. A lesser known name, John Millener, was a star for the team with his medium-fast outswing. He took 5 bags of 6 or more, including 3 bags of 8, and had a best match return of 13-16 in the game against Otahuhu College when they were bowled out for 16 and 22!
Later that decade, Peter Whitcombe, an off-spinning all-rounder in the 1st XI from 1968-71, returned some outstanding figures. He captained the side in ’71 and 7 bags of 6 or more and three bags of 10 (including 16-65). His 15-65 is a Grammar match-figures record (Nick Cammell’s 14-60 in 1994 might be good enough at most other schools).
The Grammar teams from 1975-1985 played in the Auckland Cricket Association 2A and 2B Grade from and it was in this time that Martin Crowe (1977-80) recorded the highest innings in 1st XI history – 247 against Papatoetoe in 1978. At any other school, again, Justin Hatch’s 211* against Christchurch might also top the pile. Martin and Ross Morgan (1958-61) hold the record for centuries with five. Daniel Lucas’s (1991-93) 3 centuries in 1993 is the best return in a season.
Two day success has deserted Grammar in since 1992, when Grammar last won the 1A Championship under the captaincy of Kyle Walton. There has been one day glory since then, however, when the most recent piece of Grammar legend was put in place by the 2000 1st XI. They won the prestigious Gillette Cup under the captaincy of Sam Burgess. One player who stepped up in the big match situation in the tournament was Mark Pearson, who took 7-32 from 10 overs against Wanganui Collegiate, which are the best one-day bowling figures for the school.
Which individual, or which team, will write the next chapter for the ‘boys in white’?