Speech
Governor-General's XI cricket match
I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language. Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the afternoon (Sign)
I then specifically greet you: notable figures in Cricket New Zealand and Cricket Wellington, Don Neely, Bruce Murray and Evan Gray; stalwart supporters of the game at the Basin Reserve, Trevor McMahon, Molly Vance, and Dawn Steele; Wellington Secondary School Principals, Roger Moses, Paul Martin , Ross Sinclair and Murray Lucas; Chief Executive of Cricket Wellington, Gavin Larsen; Captain of the Governor-General’s XI, Corey Larsen, and your team; legendary Blackcaps player and captain, Stephen Fleming, and your team; Umpires, David Brandon and Stu Bullen; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is a pleasure to be able to join lunch at the conclusion of the annual Wanderer's Cricket Club versus the Governor-General's College XI match here at the Basin Reserve.
A game in which 152 played 133 with sixes, fours and some outstanding bowling, we have had an adrenalin charged event to witness, complete with batsman father Gavin lofting son Corey’s bowling for a six over long off – much to everyone’s delight, except yours, Corey! Congratulations to The Wanderers.
New Zealand cricket continues to have highs and lows. For the Blackcaps to come out of the test series with India at home 1-0, after the whitewash against Bangladesh, the supposed minnows of world cricket, was far better than many would have expected or feared.
There were also some positives in Kane Williamson's wonderful debut century, Brendon McCullum’s efforts as an opener and his mighty double century, and of course, Daniel Vettori’s consistent bowling that saw him concede no more than 2.5 runs per over and take 14 wickets - more than any bowler. I am one who hopes that the Blackcaps will have better luck in the one-day games against India notwithstanding the injuries sustained by two of our leading team members.
Lows and highs are nothing new. I was just eleven when on 25 March 1955 New Zealand was bowled out by England for just 26 runs in an innings—a record that still gets press keyboards pulsating.
Lows, however, are often followed by highs and one year and one day later, I was among the crowd at Eden Park on 13 March 1956 seeing New Zealand win its first test match, taking the match by 190 runs. That New Zealand had already lost the series against the West Indies was forgotten, by the media as well as the crowd that swarmed on to the field that day to congratulate the Kiwi cricketers – myself included
Cricket often gets negative press from people who do not understand the game. The American actor and comic Robin Williams, for example, described cricket as baseball on valium while playwright George Bernard Shaw laconically noted that baseball had the advantage over cricket of ending sooner. Obviously neither had ever seen a game of Twenty 20 cricket!
More widely, those comments reveal an underlying lack of knowledge of cricket as a game. The strategy, tactics and leadership skills needed to win 20-20, 50 over, or three or five day tests are more akin to a chess match than any other sport.
Cricket remains a great pastime, because of its intrinsic quality as a sport, and because it promotes and values things like camaraderie, teamwork, and focus. These attributes can be applied in sport, but also in business and in the community generally.
As in life, sport makes us keenly aware that we cannot always win, but that regardless of whether we win or lose, how we play the game is as important as the outcome. While no-one plays to lose, accepting defeat and holding your head high is a virtue that will always be valuable; in sport and in many other aspects of your life.
Through my own fondness for cricket, a game I admit that I played with more attitude than aptitude, I have been delighted to offer encouragement for these annual matches between the Wanderers Cricket Club and some of Wellington’s finest college players who form the Governor-General’s XI.
As my term as Governor-General will end in August next year, this will be the last match between these two sides I will attend in this role. I therefore want to thank the Wanderers Cricket Club and Cricket Wellington for organising and supporting these matches and equally a group called the tight five who helped get things off the tarmac when we started off in 2006.
It was terrific watching the play today, especially in the Twenty20 format. To the Wanderers, I congratulate you on putting up such a fine group for the Governor-General XI to compete against. The symmetry of one team including the Chief Executive of Cricket Wellington and the other being captained by his son says volumes. I also particularly want to acknowledge English cricket international Luke Wright playing with the Wanderers today—thanks for supporting this event.
To the Governor-General’s XI, however, I wish you all the best for your future, both on and off the cricket field.
And on that note I will close in New Zealand’s first language, offering everyone here greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours. No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.