Cricket: Gloveman let's bat talk

Dale Smidt says wicketkeeper Kurtis Weeks is the next one to watch. Photo / Warren Buckland

Dale Smidt isn't in the habit of handing out kudos like confetti when it comes to evaluating the worth of emerging talent in Hawke's Bay.

But when the Hawke's Bay Cricket Association administrator and coach singles out someone for special mention then it pays to sit up and take note although, as always, it's always up to the individual to prove him wrong.

This week Smidt underscored the efforts of Kurtis Weeks after he carved up 149 runs from 96 balls for the Napier Technical Old Boys (NTOB) colts team in the year 9-10 tournament, which ended yesterday, of the annual Riverbend Cricket camp in the Bay.

The 15-year-old scored 21 boundaries and four sixes against a composite Rotorua/Tokoroa/Taupo side, Lakes District, at No 5 at Nelson Park on Sunday.

"He's an exceptionally gifted allrounder and a very powerful hitter," says Smidt, of the right-hander who has been studying at Christ's College (Christchurch ) for the past two years on a cricket and rugby scholarship

"He's got class about him and you could say he's following in the footsteps of a few other big names here like Christian Leopard," he says of Leopard who is with the New Zealand age-group team poised to compete at the Under-19 ICC World Cup in Bangladesh from January 27 to February 14.

Weeks, who plays first five-eighth in rugby but puts cricket as his No 1 sport, attended St Patrick's School, Napier.

The Bay under-17 rep says he took a shine to wicketkeeping because his mother, Rachel Weeks (nee Graham), used to keep wickets for the Bay senior women's rep team.

"I'm hoping to be in the Central Districts [age-group] squad next year," he says, attributing his batting prowess to NTON age-group club coach Alex Jones and Smidt.

"Top in maths class", Weeks had been sharpening his takes behind the stumps with the Canterbury Cricket Association academy last winter under coach Fred Anderson.