‘Backyard’ cricket pitch on sandbar
Anyone for a spot of cricket?
This ‘‘backyard’’ set-up gets top marks for scenery – and Kiwi ingenuity.
Twice a year, the ‘‘Submarine Cricket Club’’ sets up its wickets on a sandbar in Northland’s Bay of Islands.
The club was founded in 2009, but rumour has it cricket has been played on the sandbar for decades, self-styled ‘‘El Presidente’’ Ted Grant said.
He shared an aerial shot of the set-up when former Australian cricketer Dean Jones tweeted asking for photographs of people’s backyard pitches.
‘‘Twice a year in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand,’’ he said.
‘‘Locals constantly refer to the area as our ‘backyard’.’’
The club was started over a ‘‘frosty beverage’’ shared by good friends Michael Champtaloup and Derek Miller, Grant said.
Now, a group of friends jump into boats twice a year for the 30-minute trip to the sandbar. They’re a welcoming bunch – members are always encouraged to bring new people along.
The games have to be organised when there’s a low tide in the middle of the day, Grant said. ‘‘The games are timed so each team gets two, one-hour innings with small drinks breaks in between.’’
The club plays for the ‘‘Submarine Trophy’’.
The island is affectionately known as Submarine Rock because of its shape, Grant said.
It’s officially part of the Ngatokaparangi Islands, a halfhour boat ride from Paihia.