Carl Huyser: My Greatest White Ball XI

Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club | June 26, 2025

Carl Huyser has pulled on the maroon of Burnside West Christchurch University CC 320 times across all formats and is the club’s second all-time run scorer. He has played alongside some of New Zealand’s greatest players and is now the most successful coach in the club’s history.

Below is his greatest XI in limited overs cricket.

1 - Tom Latham sets the tone. His international record does the talking, but it’s his adaptability across conditions and sheer hunger for runs that make him such a force. Calm and composed, he leads with quiet authority as we see now as New Zealand’s Test skipper.

BWCUCC's Tom Latham led New Zealand to a famous series win in India.

2 - Nathan Astle is the destroyer. When he gets going, his ball-striking could tear games apart in a session. He’s been more than just a player, a mentor to many and the man behind the best slip catch I’ve ever seen.

Few batsmen in the 2000s were as destructive as Nathan Astle.

3 - Scott Janett lives for the big moments. He plays the game with West Indian flair, lights up the field with his energy, and leads the way with enthusiasm. An entertainer and an ultimate team man.

4 - Cam Hawkins is the brains of the outfit. A deep thinker of the game, known for his meticulous planning and theories, he brings stability to the top order. Can slot in anywhere from 1 to 4 and always delivers.

5 - Mitchell Hay (wk) is the safest pair of hands in the country. A world-class gloveman, tireless worker, and proven match-winner with the bat. Unflappable under pressure and a sharp leader behind the stumps.

Mitchell Hay has the best set of gloves in the country.

6 - Matt Hay © bleeds Maroon. As the club’s most successful captain, he leads from the front and changes games with both bat and ball. He sets the tone and embodies what the badge stands for.

Matt Hay in action for Canterbury in the Super Smash, New Zealand's domestic T20 circuit.

7 - Oscar Jackson can take a game away in a short period of time. When he’s on, he’s unstoppable — fearless, inventive, and able to hit the ball to all parts. A selfless cricketer and heart of the team room.

8 - Ben Raine brings grit and versatility. He’s got swing, control, and plenty of tricks with the ball, but don’t sleep on his batting. The Sunderland steel runs deep.

9 - Alex Tait is the man you want in the clutch moments. Lethal with the ball, reliable with the bat down the order, and no one takes more pride in a clean sheet in the field. “Why would you drop any catches?”

10 - Sam Carlaw might own the country’s best arm ball. Every captain’s dream — 10 overs, no fuss, no runs. Consistency personified and a teammate everyone wants on their side.

11 - Will O’Rourke is the enforcer. With pace, bounce, and movement, he can rattle the best. He’s relentless and raw — “better than Morne Morkel,” if you ask the right people.

Will O'Rourke spent time playing for Lucknow in the IPL in 2025.

JJ Naude is our 12th man. The best fielder in the squad, a clean-hitting ball striker, and the first to hand you a cold brandy after a session. Every team needs one.

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