New Zealand's cricket stars had to start somewhere. And that somewhere was probably endlessly bowling, catching and batting balls in the family backyard, hours and hours of it, rain or shine. Parents suffering broken windows, and loyally supporting endless summer Saturdays at the junior games. And then being laughed at by their junior boys and girls at their inept displays on the beach cricket pitch.
We do what we do to nurture the next generation of World Cup champs, Black Caps and White Ferns. And here are some classic Kiwi back yards that should bring on the champions.
Rohan Thompson of Ray White Royal Oak is asking $849,000 for a solid little 1960s weatherboard house on 11 Carr Road, Three Kings. All the reno work, including heating and modern kitchen, has been done immaculately, he says, giving you ample time for that bowling practice on the fully fenced flat section. Need more room as the batting improves? Mount Roskill Grammar is a 10 minute walk one way, the magnificent Monte Cecilia Park 15 minutes’ walk away.
Start your property search
Diarise the July 23 auction for this 21 Beachlands Road property marketed by Matthew Brown and Stuart Fitzpatrick of Barfoot & Thompson Beachlands. It’s a rare find these days – a full quarter acre (1012 sq m) section, north facing and ringed with trees.
You could have the whole team over, as there are two living areas and a spa pool for post-game soaks. The domain is only up the road, there are the lovely Pine Harbour fresh market and the marina, bike paths and more.
See your classic Kiwi quarter acre
Cambridge is where champions are made, right? It looks like English Counties town, with a club that dates back to the 1870s. The Victoria Square cricket grounds regularly hosts the Waikato Valley championships
Bayleys agent Aimee Belton has a little cracker in the heart of the town, at 9 Bryce St. The beautifully renovated three bedroom villa has been run as a high end BnB, but it would make a lovely family home too. The décor is outstanding, the garden is fully fenced with the established fruit trees and gardens you’d expect on 589 sq m. Replace the pot plants with wickets and you’re set. There’s even a cute little shed (think scoring pavilion), lemon trees for the gins and a deck for taking tea while you watch the kids train.
Find old time character aplenty
Or if you really want the kids to run free, check out Amanda Merrington of Bayleys Cambridge property at 193 Racecourse Road. She’s bringing the 7600 sq m property to Auction August 1. There’s a well-planned two storey 1980s house, a rumpus room for the kids, plus more garaging and sheds (again, a potential pavilion). The huge lawns, surrounded with beautiful trees, have already hosted many a family cricket match or rugby game, night time spotlight and tag.
Classic country character in Cambridge
But to breed your next captain, head to Tauranga. You can’t get more historic properties than this 1880s villa on the Avenues. Jensen Zeng and Carmen Dickison of Bayleys Tauranga are inviting tenders on this two storeyed villa with a Category 2 grading from Historic Places Trust. If the roomy 1135 sq m land isn’t enough (there are beautiful gardens that you may not want wrecked by stray balls) there’s a brilliant long pitch on the street front or the primary school just up the street.
It’s just over 1 km to that breeding ground of champs, Boys High, or 3 km to Girls’ High, and a mere 13 minutes to the local home of cricket, Mt Maunganui’s Bay Oval.
Bring up your Tauranga Black Cap or White Fern
They breed pretty good players in Lower Hutt. Agents Shane Brockelbank, Luke Johnson and Megan Bailey of Professionals Lower Hutt have a super roomy house on 12 Pharazyn Street, Melling, for sale by negotiation. The arts and crafts villa has character galore, but it’s the 740 sq m of flat back yard that is perfect for long summer evenings outdoors. Add in a cute pair of sheds, a shady back deck and your cricket grounds are sorted. It’s an eight minute walk to the train station, an easy 20 minutes to Basin Reserve.
Lock in your Lower Hutt grounds
And then Christchurch. In Halswell, on the edge of town Danielle Evans and Adam Heazlewood of Bayleys Christchurch are bringing a huge house on 2120 sq m to auction August 16. The Deans Ave house is the essence of large-scale, with four living areas, a mezzanine and four bedrooms spread over 300 sq m.
Add in huge lawns, a swimming pool for post-game cool offs, more garaging and studios and you’ll have the whole team camped at yours all summer.
Bring on the Canterbury champions
