Christchurch Metro Cricket Association

Christchurch Netball and Christchurch Metro Cricket are excited to have united in an innovative staff secondment which will strengthen opportunities for women and girls across Christchurch sport.

The partnership is designed to strengthen collaboration, build workforce capability and support the continued growth of women’s and girls’ sport across Christchurch.

Under the partnership, Christchurch Netball employee Jess Littler will join Christchurch Metro Cricket on a summer secondment as Game Development Officer – Women and Girls.

During the peak summer period, Jess will be fully seconded to Christchurch Metro Cricket. At the beginning and end of the secondment, she will work across both organisations through an agreed work allocation, helping maintain continuity with Christchurch Netball while transitioning into and out of the Cricket role.

The arrangement provides Christchurch Metro Cricket with an experienced staff member to lead and support its work within the women’s and girls’ game, while also offering Jess a valuable professional development opportunity.

Christchurch Metro Cricket General Manager Mike Harvey said the partnership demonstrated what could be achieved when sporting organisations looked beyond traditional boundaries and worked together.

“We are delighted to welcome Jess to Christchurch Metro Cricket for the summer. Women’s and girls’ cricket is a significant priority for us, and having someone with her experience, relationships and understanding of community sport leading this portfolio will be incredibly valuable. This partnership is also a great example of two organisations sharing expertise and resources for the wider benefit of Christchurch sport.”

The secondment will focus on growing participation, strengthening connections with clubs and schools, supporting existing players and volunteers, and helping create welcoming and sustainable cricket opportunities for women and girls.
Christchurch Netball Centre General Manager Angela Pryor said the partnership reflected a shared commitment to staff development and collaboration.

“We are proud to support Jess as she takes up this opportunity with Christchurch Metro Cricket. The secondment will allow her to broaden her experience, develop new skills and contribute to the growth of another major sport for women and girls. We believe sporting organisations are stronger when they collaborate. By sharing talented people, knowledge and ideas, we can create greater benefits for our staff, our participants and the wider sporting community.”

The partnership recognises that community sports often face similar opportunities and challenges, particularly in areas such as participant recruitment and retention, volunteer support, club capability and the development of positive sporting experiences for women and girls.

Jess said she was excited about the opportunity to work across both sporting communities.

“I am really looking forward to joining the Christchurch Metro Cricket team and contributing to the women and girls portfolio over the summer. Netball and cricket have strong communities and a shared desire to provide positive sporting experiences for women and girls. I am excited to learn from both organisations, share ideas and help create opportunities that encourage more people to get involved and stay involved.”

Both organisations hope the initiative will provide a model for further collaboration across the Christchurch sporting sector in the future.

The secondment will begin on 14 September 2026, with Jess working full-time for Christchurch Metro Cricket from 1 November 2026 to 31 January 2027. She will progressively transition back to Christchurch Netball across February and March, returning to her full-time Netball role from 1 April 2027.

Development Coaching Course

Help your players thrive this season.

The Development Coaching Course gives youth coaches practical tools to develop skilled, connected and engaged players.

📅 Sunday 20 September | 9:00am–3:30pm
📍 Christchurch Boys’ High School Artificial Nets

🔗 Secure your place: https://forms.gle/wzpjUpDUBRvaYKJ39

St Albans Premier Men's Preview

You can hear now from St Albans Coach Blair Franklin, about what the squad has been up to during pre-season.

St Albans Cricket Club - Pre season chat with coach, Blair Franklin St Albans Cricket Club - Pre season chat with coach, Blair Franklin

When in Doubt, Sit Them Out - new concussion course on Sport Tutor

How confident are the coaches, managers, volunteers and whānau in your network when it comes to recognising and responding to a possible concussion?

Sport NZ Group and ACC have recently launched When in doubt, sit them out, a free online course designed for adults supporting young people in sport.

The course brings trusted concussion information together in one place and provides practical guidance on:

• Recognising the signs and symptoms of concussion
• Knowing what to do if a concussion is suspected
• Supporting a safe return to sport

The course takes around 30 minutes to complete and can be revisited anytime.

Remember that the CMCA also has concussion protols and replacement regulations. Check section 3.9e in our Handbook;

www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=ce6ace5f-3ab9-4e3d-b44d-7753fea2c152

Heathcote Premier Preview

This time our roving report Alex caught up with Philippe Boissevain and Tyler Lortan from the Heathcote Premier squad to chat about thier plans for the season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucHdtsUuRSU

Burnside West Premier Preview

During the week our roving report Alex Mackay caught up with he captain of the Burnside West Premier Men's team Matt Hay, to chat about their pre-season plans.

https://youtu.be/YHRdKkXArps

Old Boys Collegians Premier Men's Preview

We can now hear from Old Boys Collegians Premier Men's Coach Richard Pithey, about what the squad have planned for pre-season, as they build up to opening day on 3rd October.

https://youtu.be/n6R43By0D1s

COMMUNITY UMPIRING WORKSHOP

Next Monday night at Edgar McIntosh Park will see the first of our Community Umpiring Workshop sessions held.

Led by experienced umpires David Henderson and Matthew Hill, with support from other members of the Umpires Association, these interactive sessions are designed to help players improve their understanding of the Laws of Cricket, decision-making, game management, and on-field conduct.

This year's workshops will feature a combination of video analysis, presentations, practical field craft, and small group discussions covering common umpiring situations such as wides, no balls, and player conduct before finishing with a communal discussion session.

Workshop Dates and Venues
Players can attend the workshop most convenient to them:

Monday 7 September, 5.30pm to 7.30pm – Merivale Papanui
Monday 14 September, 5.30pm to 7.30pm – East Shirley
Monday 21 September, 5.30pm to 7.30pm – Sydenham
Monday 28 September, 5.30pm to 7.30pm – Burnside West
Tuesday 13 October, 5.30pm to 7.30pm – Old Boys Collegians (Women and Girls Only)

More information and to register-

COMMUNITY UMPIRING WORKSHOPS TO RETURN Christchurch Metro Cricket, in conjunction with the Canterbury Umpires and Scorers Association (CUSA), is pleased to...

Congratulations Graham Harris

Christchurch Metro Cricket wishes to acknowledge the significant contribution made by Graham Harris during his tenure as Sydenham Cricket Club President, not only to the Club itself, but to the wider cricket community and within the group of Club Presidents and Chairs where he showed great leadership and outstanding knowledge which he freely shared with others.

Graham is the longest serving President in Sydenhams’s 131-year history, having held the role for 16 consecutive years. He was also recognised for his services to cricket by Christchurch Metro Cricket when he became a Life Member in 2023.

Graham has now handed the reigns over to Tom Agnew but will continue in a mentoring role in the short term. Tom is a hugely respected figure both within Sydenham and across Christchurch cricket. A current Premier Men’s player, he has amassed more than 250 Premier appearances and 500 wickets.

You can read more about Graham's contribution to Sydenham by clicking here;

https://sydenhamcricket.co.nz/2026/08/27/a-tribute-to-graham-harris/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUC8WxwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMWlxandRM1NITW9zc0xoT0FzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeo52f5VBv4pVBUWLiRlMKVinfq2eLANIB6KBRFWUW8VDTNYnc2x-5pwuTZcI_aem_yzMbsz95QKIocdm0l-Wv9A

A Tribute to Graham Harris A Tribute to Graham Harris At the Club’s AGM on 25 August, President Graham Harris formally tendered his resignation from the role. It marks a significant moment in the history of the Club when one…

Twilight Cricket Entries now open

Christchurch Metro Cricket, run the popular Robbie's Riccarton Twilight Cricket during the warm summer months starting in November.

Played on a Monday evening at Hagley Park, the competition is the chance to get some friends or workmates together for a 90 minute game of fast and exciting cricket.

Games commence at 6pm, with 8 players per team and everyone getting a bat and bowl. A soft ball is used so no protective gear is required. The competition is suitable for the beginner or the seasoned pro, everyone can give it a go.

Umpires are provided, with all games and stats recorded live on the CMCA Website so you can match yourself with other players.

To register a team contact Mike Harvey - [email protected]