Hamilton Cricket Team – Wikipedia

The Hamilton cricket team represents the city of Hamilton in New Zealand. It is one of 21 New Zealand teams competing in the Hawke Cup. Its parent organization is the Hamilton Cricket Association.

History[edit]

When Hamilton Township was founded in 1864, cricket was already played in the Waikato area. Cricket was soon established in the city. Following several reorganizations of cricket in the area, the Hamilton Cricket Association was formed in its current form, which covers the Hamilton Capital Region and was eligible to compete in the Hawke Cup, in 1975.^[1]

Hamilton started the Hawke Cup in the 1976-77 season.^[2] Waikato had represented the area until 1974-75, and most of the time before World War II South Auckland had done so. The home ground for all three teams was at Seddon Park in Hamilton.^[3][4] Hamilton’s Home Field since 2000 has been at Galloway Park in Hamilton East.^[5]

Hamilton first challenged the Hawke Cup title in February 1978. They won the Cup for the first time when they won Hawke’s Bay in March 2001. They have now won five times, most recently between March 2019 and March 2020.^[2]

Northern Districts, of which Hamilton is one of the member associations, began playing at Plunket Shield in 1956-57. Chris Kuggeleijn, Hamilton’s first captain in 1976-77, was one of Hamilton’s first Plunket Shield players.^[6]

In addition to the Hawke Cup, Hamilton will also compete in the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl, a two-day competition among the six member associations in the Northern Districts, and in the Brian Dunning Cup, a 50-year-old competition.

References[edit]