We are pleased to announce that Michael Sharpe will be returning to the Canterbury Country Cricket fold next season following his appointment as coach of our senior representative team.

Michael played the most of his cricket for the Sefton club and 50 matches for our senior team. He sits seventh on the table for the most wickets with 150. Following a playing career that also involved 31 first class games and 33 one dayers for Canterbury, his role turned to coaching which also involved time with the Canterbury side and New Zealand under 19s.

Taking a step back from cricket when his family were young, he is now ready to return to the game and sees the Canterbury Country Coaching role as “a good fit”. Sharpe describes the end goal for the 2017/18 season is “winning the Hawke Cup and defending it”. He noted there is a lot of hard work needed during the preseason and early season which will lay the foundations for success later in the season.

He replaces Shanan Stewart, who as a player-coach in 30 games, won and defended the Hawke Cup and assisted numerous young Country players to gain First Class honours. Shanan will not be lost to the association and will continue to play representative cricket. Michael and Shanan will make a formidable partnership at the helm of a young and enthusiastic representative squad.

We are delighted to regain one of our own for a role that is vital in maintaining our position as one of New Zealand’s leading district associations.