Tomato stakes to developmental stakes

Cricket legend and one of the original organisers of the Gillette Cup Finals, Alec Astle, celebrates 20 years with the tournament today at Fitzherbert Park in Palmerston North.

Astle cultivated a fondness for cricket and holds it dear to his heart after learning to play using his Dad’s tomato stakes and bits of wood as wickets.

A member of the core crew that initiated the inaugural Gillette Cup Finals in 1990, Astle has been with the tournament ever since, taking it from strength to strength.

“It feels magnificent to be back here twenty years later,” says Astle. “The Gillette Cup provides so much opportunity for schools to be involved. This year we had 201 teams enter, which is the most we’ve ever had.”

Former Palmerston North Boys High school teacher and cricket coach, Astle recalls winning the tournament in 1990.

“We set out to win that year, I sat down with the team and we set the goal together, so it felt amazing to be in that final with Otago Boys’ High School.”

During the golden years of the 90s, Astle coached Palmerston North into the finals four times before taking the title again in 1998.

In 1999 his success rate and commitment to school cricket were recognised with a job offer in National Development at New Zealand Cricket.

Astle’s passion for ‘grass roots’ cricket has undoubtedly encouraged many young players over the years, some of who have become today’s professional cricketers.

“This event is a great stepping stone into professional cricket,” says Astle. “More than 60 players who have made the finals (at the Gillette Cup) have gone on to play first class cricket, with 14 eventually playing for the Black Caps. That’s a fantastic achievement and we are looking forward to adding to this number in the future.”