Batsman makes the most of opportunities in Southland and Otago cricket

Tuesday, 8 January 2019

Batsman Brayden Thomas scored 104 runs in his debut game for Southland Development recently.

The cricket season is unfolding in an exciting way for 16-year-old batsman Brayden Thomas.

He will long remember chalking up 100 runs in a match for the first time when debuting for Southland Development at Invercargill's Queens Park in December. He batted on to 104 in the match against Canterbury Country Emerging Players before being caught behind.

'There were five Hawke Cup players in the [development] team and to do it in front of them, and on my home ground was really great,' Brayden said.

A fortnight earlier Brayden scored a memorable 96 for the Southland Boys' High School's First XI in a premier league match against Waikoikoi.

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Brayden is also in the Otago under-17 team this season, along with two other Southlanders Benji Culhane and Finn Hurley.

Being in the Otago under-17 team was a help to fulfilling his goal to one day play for the Otago Volts, Brayden said.

Volts selectors and coaches were always on the lookout for future players and some had been spotted in the Otago under-17 team.

'They see you progress … if you keep performing, the opportunities will come,' Brayden said.

'It's definitely improved my game playing with the Otago guys.'

The Otago under-17 team will be competing at the National Districts Tournament at Lincoln, Christchurch, on January 17-24. The Otago team will meet in Dunedin for a training camp and a pre-tournament match, against North Canterbury, in the next seven days.

Brayden played backyard cricket at home before getting more serious about the sport at primary school. When selected for the Southland Primary Schools' team three years ago he decided to commit to the cricket.

The teenager was in the Southland Boys' High School team that spent two weeks in India last year. They were based in Delhi for two weeks, played academy teams and high schools and returned home with two wins, two losses and a draw from five games.

Brayden valued the advice and encouragement he received from Boys' High coach, Ian Mockford.

The junior cricketer's mother, Karen Warnock, also played an important role in his cricket activities.

'Mum's my taxi, she runs me around everywhere.'