Heathcote International
It’s April, cricket is finished for the summer right?
The Christchurch season has well and truely wrapped up, prize-giving is done and dusted, Tyler’s even sending out WhatsApp messages planning for next season. You’d be mistaken for thinking the members of Heathcote Cricket club have stowed the cricket bag in the back of the garage and have gone into hibernation for the winter. While this may be the case for some, there are some really exciting times on the horizon for a few members of our club.
We’re fortunate to have 5 players from our 1st XI Squad who have the opportunity to venture overseas, chasing the sun and the sound of leather on willow on the other side of the world. Find out more about what Quinn Bungard, Daniel Stanley, Fraser Bartholomew, Philippe Boissevain & Andre Bradford’s season abroad will look like below.
Quinn Bungard
Club: Kenilworth CC
Playing role: Batting all rounder
Have you played overseas before?:
Have played a tournament in Australia but never in the UK.
What skills do you hope to bring back to Heathcote from the trip?
Ragging off spinners and a strike rate above 50.
If you could pick one person from the Heathcote Club that you didn't want to sit next to on the flight over, who is it and why?
The trio of James Rennie, Shaun Berryman, and Hunter Rowe. Potentially some of the most cricket stiff humans I've ever met and they'd let you know about it the whole way over. Another candidate would be Shaun Stagg, I don't want to explain why.
What tools do you have in place to make sure you don't end up stranded in a foreign country like Jimmy Hunt and Matt House?
I'm yet to book a return flight so no guarantees can be made yet.
What part of the experience are you most looking forward to?
The chance to experience a different cricketing culture, Ashes cricket, travel, and the Blackcaps winning the ODI World Cup while I'm over.
Daniel Stanley
Club: Bracebridge Heath
Playing Role: Batting all rounder
Have you ever played overseas before?
I've played 3 seasons in total. Two in the Liverpool district competition as well as one in the Middlesex league in London. To go with a Willows tour in Sri Lanka and an Under 19 World Cup in Bangladesh.
What skills do you hope to bring back to Heathcote from the trip?
More experience and hopefully some good form to help with winning a title or three.
If you could pick one person from the Heathcote Club that you didn't want to sit next to on the flight over, who is it and why?
Jimmy Hunt as he's a bad influence with his vape and would talk me into having a hoon and we would ultimately both get kicked off the plane as a result.
What tools do you have in place to make sure you don't end up stranded in a foreign country like Jimmy Hunt and Matt House?
I’ve gone over three times before and made it back in one piece, looking to go 4/4.
What part of the experience are you most looking forward to?
The chance to play a lot of cricket and get my strength and conditioning on track.
Fraser Bartholomew
Club: Salland CC ( Netherlands )
Playing role: Opening Bowler / Lower Order Batsmen
Have you played overseas before?
A tour to Vanuatu with Horowhenua Kapiti side back in 2019 but never a full season.
What do you hope the bring back to Heathcote from the trip?
Great opportunity to work on my batting, I would love to come back with the ability to clear the 30 meter circle and be able to handle facing Inderjeet in the nets.
If you could pick one person from the Heathcote club that you didn’t want to sit next to on the flight over, who is it and why?
Tyler Lortan, I would walk off the plane with 15 EV chargers that I don’t need.
What part of the experience are you most looking forward to?
Experiencing Cricket & life in general in a totally new environment. Will be cool to see the differences in how they play the game in Holland compared to how we do things.
What tools do you have in place to make sure you don't end up stranded in a foreign country like Jimmy Hunt and Matt House?
I’ll have to go against my general life philosophy of just trying to do what Jimmy Hunt would do at any given time. I suppose going to the same country as Flip so he can make sure I get on a plane in time for the start of the season back in the Valley will help.
Philippe Boissevain
Club: Voorburg cricket club
Playing role: Specialist fielder
Have you played overseas before?
Yes I’ve been privileged to play in quite a few places around the world like Australia, India, England and of course not to forget NZ.
What do you hope the bring back to Heathcote from the trip?
I hope to bring back some more value with the bat, scoring more than just 20 runs. Also loads of stroopwafels.
If you could pick one person from the Heathcote club that you didn’t want to sit next to on the flight over, who is it and why?
It’s a tough one cause I I’d rather sit next to someone than by myself, but as I like my naps on the plane I’ll have to go for Twinkie cause he’ll chew my ears off nonstop on a 14h flight.
Andre Bradford
Club: Swarkestone CC
Playing role: Opening Batsman
Have you played overseas before?
Yes, I grew up and played school, club and representative cricket in South Africa. I have then played club and Minor County cricket in the UK for 4 summers and I have done one season in New Zealand at Heathcote.
What do you hope the bring back to Heathcote from the trip?
If I come back to Heathcote next season I hope to bring back more information about how other clubs formulate game plans and strategies to win cricket games.
If you could pick one person from the Heathcote club that you didn’t want to sit next to on the flight over, who is it and why?
Dan Stanley because he never seems to stop eating so I’d be worried he’d be after all my meals the whole flight.