John Wright has lauded Bay of Plenty's contribution to the national set-up, saying it was no fluke five players born or raised in the region had pulled on the black baggy in the last six months.
Speaking at the minor association's annual prizegiving and launch of Caught Wright Bowled Beard - 80 years of cricket in Bay of Plenty at Mills Reef Winery, the Black Caps coach praised the contribution of Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Graeme Aldridge, Doug Bracewell and Daniel Flynn to the national team.
Aldridge, Flynn and Boult, as well as women's White Ferns international Anna Peterson, were at the book launch. Williamson, named Bay of Plenty cricketer of the year for the second consecutive year, is in Bristol playing for English county side Gloucestershire.
"Bay of Plenty over many years has a proud performance-based history, and with the cricketers you're now producing something's happening and something's going right," Wright said.
His laconic, dry wit was a perfect fit for Friday's function, with the 150-strong audience sprinkled with current and former Bay of Plenty players, although anyone hoping for insight into whether Wright will re-sign with New Zealand Cricket or whether Jesse Ryder has an immediate future with the team was at the wrong function.
Recalling his battles with Bay of Plenty while turning out variously for Poverty Bay, Franklin and Counties, Wright said his last clash with the province, a Hawke Cup Challenge, stood out for its testiness.
"Bay of Plenty were heavily favoured and were a cast of stars - (Geoff) Howarth, (Andy) Roberts, John Carson, Mike Wright, Stewy Harris and Ian Mason, who topscored. Bill Aldridge got 4-37 and Pete Anderson took 3-49, we struggled to 209,and Bay of Plenty got 189 in a real testy affair played with a bit of niggle.
"I'll never forget Tubby Carson's eloquent and direct after-match speech, in which he thanked the ladies for the delicious afternoon teas and lunches, thanked the umpires for being better than expected, but not the groundsman - it [the pitch] was a bloody sh**heap! When you put together a book like that those are the things that count for us old blokes that have played and have memories, seeing the figures and those games, the memories come flooding back."
Wright, who together with Bruce Edgar formed New Zealand's most durable opening partnership, brought the house down recalling his test debut against England at the Basin Reserve in 1978.
"I opened with Jumbo Anderson, who very kindly handed me the strike on debut against Bob Willis bowling with the wind. I'd wanted to play for New Zealand all my life and Willis came in - I can still see it if I shut my eyes - and bowled a ball short of a length which I played a backward defensive prod to.
"The [England] wicketkeeper was my Derbyshire colleague Bob Taylor, and as I've said over the years it was only a faint nick anyway! The first ball I ever faced in test cricket I nicked and was given not out. I still send Christmas cards to the umpire!"
Willis was so enraged he came steaming in at Wright even quicker, bolstered by a strong Wellington northerly at his back. He proceeded to bowl a couple of bouncers that went to the boundary as byes and then ended with a no ball. My first over in my test career, we were nine without loss and officially I still hadn't laid bat on ball. It was probably the fastest start to an innings I'd ever been involved with."
Meanwhile at the other end, Chris Old was struggling into the wind and Anderson was dining out, hitting the ball to all parts. "Jumb and I kept meeting in the middle and he told me I was doing a great job. I told him I'd love a go at his end at some stage."
2011/12 Bay of Plenty cricket awards:
Player of the Year: Kane Williamson.
Senior men's representative team: Mike Wright batting trophy: Peter Drysdale. Derek Beard bowling trophy: Jono Boult. Brendan Bracewell most promising player: Joe Carter.
Bay women:
Player of the Year: Anna Peterson. Mike Nitz most promising player: Jacinta Coleman. Batting trophy: Megan Murphy. Bowling trophy: Megan Murphy.