SMASHER: Rod Bannister, professional player Christi Viljoen, Petera Hudson and Latu Unga at the launch of the 2016 Cricket Nation Super Sixes on Sunday. Unga is modelling the tournament's playing strip.PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY 290315WCBRCCRI01
SMASHER: Rod Bannister, professional player Christi Viljoen, Petera Hudson and Latu Unga at the launch of the 2016 Cricket Nation Super Sixes on Sunday. Unga is modelling the tournament's playing strip.PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY 290315WCBRCCRI01
While the goodwill he was after from a Black Caps ICC World Cup victory didn't eventuate on Sunday evening, the co-organiser of 2016's Cricket Nation Super Sixes tournament believes they can still piggyback off the nation's renewed passion for the sport.
The invitational tournament, scheduled for January 1-3 at WanganuiCollegiate, had its public launch by partners Rod Bannister and Petera Hudson at the Stellar Bar on Sunday, shortly before the World Cup final hit the big TV screen.
They unveiled the playing strip for the Super Sixes - which will consist of an Elite grade for former top-class players, plus Premier 1-2 men's and women's, and a 40+ Masters division.
Bannister, the Active Physio Wanganui coach, said increased excitment around the sport would help pull teams to play, with Sixes cricket having been popular in the 2000s. .
"Our next move is to officially launch it off the back of this, when the Black Caps play their first game for the conventional [2015-16] season," he said.
Helping them in their plans is Queenstown lawyer Russell Mawhinney, former president of Hong Kong Cricket which hosted the International Sixes from 1992-2012.
Bannister said their competition ambassador, former Black Cap Mathew Sinclair, who missed the launch, had told him the Sixes was his favourite event to attend.
"All you need to do to keep the event here is to get local support from businesses."
