Northland club cricketer Ollie White carving his own legacy

Ollie White (right) is congratulated on his century by former Black Caps Hamish Marshall in the game between the Maori Secondary Schools Xl and the Governor General's Xl. Photo / Photosport

It must be hard dealing with the pressure of having the head of New Zealand Cricket as a father, but Ollie White is making it look all too easy.

The 17-year-old Kaipara Flats Cricket Club member notched up a clinical century as the no 3 batsman and captain of the inaugural Māori secondary schools Xl team in their 50-over game against the Governor General's Xl at Karori Park in Wellington on Thursday.

Despite his performance with the bat, White's team couldn't claim the win, losing in an agonising chase by seven runs. They were on the back foot early after two great innings from opposing batsmen Luke Georgeson with 125 and former Black Cap Hamish Marshall with 99.

This got the Governor General's side to 314-4 after their 50 overs, White's left-arm off spin not having much impact on the game, going for 63 runs for no wicket off his eight overs.

With 10 overs to go and about 100 runs left to chase, White, in partnership with No 5 batsman Ruben Love, gave the schoolboys a fighting chance but eventually ran out of time, finishing on 307-5, Love scoring 77 off 56 balls.

White raises his bat on his way to making 118 in Thursday's 50-over game at Karori Park in Wellington. Photo / Photosport

White, an Auckland Grammar School student, had also been selected in New Zealand's under-19 team to tour Bangladesh leaving on April 10 and returning on April 29. The Kiwi side will play a warm-up 50-over encounter, followed by five one-day internationals against their Bangladesh under-19 counterparts.

In the three day lead up to Thursday's game, the schoolboys stayed at the Tapu Te Ranga Marae in Island Bay, doing cultural bonding activities and connecting as people with Maori heritage rather than a group of players.

White, of Ngāti Apa, said while the team was disappointed with the result, he was glad to have had the experience.

"We were obviously a bit gutted but [the Governor General's Xl] were a pretty strong side so we were happy with how we performed."

White had never stayed at a marae before, much like many of the team who all slept in the same room as a way to bond as a group. Captaining the first full schoolboys team of Māori descent was no easy task for White as it required a different kind of leadership.

"It definitely was a bit different just in the way we did stuff to help us bond which was more focused on the cultural aspect," he said.

"When we did exercises, we would incorporate singing, just getting us out of our comfort zone which helped bond us in the short period of time."

With media presence high in the build-up to this new initiative, White said the attention had been an interesting aspect to handle and one that he had not encountered before.

White, who's father is New Zealand cricket chief executive David White, would play a big role in the tour of Bangladesh as a talented man with the bat, ball and in the field.

White stands with father and New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White. Photo / Photosport

"For me it was a big goal to make the side because, building up to it, I'd put in some good performances to get named in it so I'm pretty excited," he said.

"I pride myself on working hard on all three dimensions of the game because it means you can help more to win the game."

He hoped he could prove useful for the team in foreign conditions where his left-arm off spin could be a threat on dry, turning pitches.

Now in his final year at Auckland Grammar, White was much more than a one trick pony. When winter came around, White traded the helmet for a mouth guard as fullback for the school's first XV.

After winning a national title at under-15 level, White was firm in his belief that his career in rugby was not finished due to his rising commitments in cricket.

"It's pretty tough because nowadays, pre-season starts so early and there are a lot of trainings but it's about balance and my coaches work really well to help me manage both sports."

Two years ago, White's sporting hopes looked slim when he needed surgery after dislocating his shoulder playing rugby and after popping it back in he continued to play, which did more damage than previously thought.

At the time of the surgery, doctors told White he needed to choose one of rugby or cricket to minimise the risk of further damage, but White was convinced he could still compete in both codes.

"Being a bit stubborn, I thought I would do as much rehab as I could to try and get back to full fitness which has been a struggle but I don't get much pain at all now."

Now, with another first XV season on the horizon, White said he won't find it hard coming back to cricket in the summer where he may have to make a decision between the two sports.

"You're always itching to go at the end of the season and you're always coming up against new challenges which keeps you on your toes.

"At the moment, cricket is one I'm excelling in but we will see what happens."

Looking a long way down the line, White said he had his eyes set on representing New Zealand at the top level but that he was taking things one step at a time.

"It's a huge goal for me and it's a long way out but if I keep putting in good performances, who knows what will happen."