Cricket

The St Paul’s Collegiate cricket programme provides a challenging, supportive and enjoyable environment where students can develop their skills, build confidence and develop a lifelong love of the game.

With opportunities across a range of grades, students are encouraged to develop their cricket at their own level, while players with particular talent, commitment and ambition are supported through specialist coaching and individual or small-group development.

Our Boys’ First XI has a proud tradition of success at the regional and national level, having qualified for the national secondary schools tournament in 1998, 2001, 2004, 2014, 2024 and 2025. The NZ Secondary Schools Boys First XI Cup is contested by the top six secondary school cricket teams in New Zealand, providing our senior players with the opportunity to compete against the very best schoolboy teams in the country.

Our Girls’ First XI is also an important and growing part of the programme, competing in the weekly Waikato secondary schools competition, contesting the Northern Districts regional qualifiers during Summer Tournament Week, and playing traditional fixtures against schools including Takapuna Grammar, Epsom Girls, St Peter’s and Whanganui Collegiate.

Training and facilities

Cricket is played in Terms 1 and 4, with teams competing across Hamilton, Waikato Valley and secondary school competitions.

Students have access to outstanding cricket facilities at St Paul’s, including:

• Three quality playing wickets (grass)
• Grass training wickets
• An artificial wicket
• Five outdoor practice nets
• Two indoor cricket nets
• Bowling machines and specialist indoor training facilities

Training schedules vary across teams and grades, with additional specialist coaching and development opportunities available to selected players.

Competitions & opportunities

St Paul’s cricket teams compete in a wide range of regional, national and invitational competitions throughout the season, including:

• NZ Secondary Schools Boys First XI Cup – national top-six tournament
• Northern Districts regional competitions and qualifiers
• Waikato Valley senior men’s Premier competition
• Waikato secondary school competitions
• Traditional fixtures against leading schools, including Whanganui Collegiate, New Plymouth Boys’ High School, St Peter’s Cambridge, Mt Albert Grammar School and King’s College
• Girls’ First XI traditional fixtures against Takapuna Grammar, Epsom Girls, St Peter’s and Whanganui Collegiate
• Boys’ First XI Quad hosted by St Paul’s, including Wellington College, St Kentigerns and Westlake Boys High School
• Colts Invitational Tournament during Summer Tournament Week, featuring leading schools including Christchurch Boys’ High School, Tauranga Boys’ College, Auckland Grammar School, New Plymouth Boys’ High School and Palmerston North Boys’ High School
• Vettori Shield Year 9–10 Invitational Tournament hosted here at St Paul’s in December, including eight top cricketing schools from across NZ.
• Pre-season tour opportunities, including tours to Hawke’s Bay across multiple grades
• Opportunities for international fixtures and tours

The programme provides a pathway from junior cricket through to our senior teams, with a strong emphasis on player development, teamwork, leadership and a love of the game.

Levies

The levy for Cricket is approvimately $130 per student. Additional qualifying and national tournament fees, together with travel and accommodation costs, are charged to students’ accounts as required.

Contact

Duncan Murray – Director of Cricket

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