Schoolboy poised to play senior cricket

Press, 30 September 1986, Page 32

Schoolboy poised to play senior cricket

JOHN COFFEY

Lee Germon, the captain of the New Zealand under-18 team last summer, is poised to become the first school pupil to play first grade cricket in Christchurch for many years. An accomplished wicket-keeper and a prolific-scoring batsman for Christchurch Boys’ High School in the 198586 second grade competition, Germon is expected to make his debut for the Burnside-West senior side against East-Shirley at Burwood Oval next Saturday. Aged 17, Germon is the first player to come into an “elite schoolboy” category which the Canterbury Cricket Association chairman, Brian Adams, hopes can be channelled into the top

inter-club grade to assist in their development. A sub-committee, comprising the C.C.A. chairman (or his nominee), the provincial coaching convener, and the delegate from the Canterbury boys’ association, is to be set up to administer the scheme. Germon has his sights set on making a career from his sport, an ambition which will take him and his father, Ken, to England after the New Zealand season. If that expedition takes Lee Germon closer to county cricket, his prospects of finding a permanent place would probably be improved by his carrying of a British passport. That is in the future, but the youngster has an illustrious recent past. He captained Canterbury to victory in the

national under-18 tournament at Palmerston North last season and led the New Zealand under--18 team on its internal tour. Germon is eligible for a fourth season in that age-group, having previously gained South Island under-17 and under-18 selections. A seventh form pupil at Christchurch Boys’ High School, Germon has spent four seasons in the cricket XI. He will leave school at the end of the present term. Although no schoolboys have featured in first grade cricket for many years, it is not an unprecedented situation. Indeed, Christchurch Boys’ High School and Christ’s College fielded senior sides about the time of the First World War. Two outstanding New

Zealand representatives, Roger Blunt and “Curly” Page, were still at school and playing for Canterbury. Blunt did not leave Christ’s until his second season of first-class cricket, while Page was in his sixth summer in the Christchurch Boys’ first XI when included in the Canterbury team against the touring Australians. Much more recently, Glenn Turner and lan Rutherford played for Otago while still at school. A wicket-keeping, vacancy was created at Burnside-West by the transfer of the former club captain, Kevin Collins, to become playercoach of Merivale-Papa-nui in suburban senior cricket. Collins established a first grade record of 332 dismissals.