The Preview: BWCUCC Masters Foxes
Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club | September 17, 2025
The Foxes are preparing to bounce back in 2025/26 after a testing campaign last year. Injuries struck hard, with as many as five core players sidelined for much of the season, leaving the squad short-handed and forcing casual players into permanent roles.
Despite the setbacks, the squad grew in depth, and the side is now set to reap the rewards with a return to full strength this season. With over 1,700 games of experience across the squad, plus players pushing for over-age representative honours, the Foxes have no shortage of skill, knowledge, and motivation.
We sat down with captain Mike Wheeler to hear about the team’s goals, the players to watch, and how they’ll turn last year’s near-misses into wins.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
We’re excited to finally have a full-strength squad back on the park. Last year we were hit hard by injuries — five of our core players were out for most of the season, which left a big hole in our strongest XI. It also meant the wider squad of casual players had to step into permanent roles. The upside is that our player group has expanded, which should serve us well going forward.
What do you see as the team’s biggest strength this year?
Experience, without a doubt. Between us we’ve got 11 players who have each played more than 100 games for the Foxes, totalling over 1,700 appearances. That kind of knowledge of the grade and the opposition is a huge advantage. We’ve also got variety in the squad — quality spin from Barry Cross and Dean Roulston, swing and seam options in Hamish Kember and Gareth Gibson, and then plenty of stroke play, power, and aggression from Chris Kennedy, Martin Conway, Matthew Everest, and Dave Robertson. It’s a really well-rounded unit.
Any players supporters should keep an eye on?
The great thing about this group is that everyone has the ability to step up. Most of the squad have played at a high level, and while the average age is a bit higher, the drive is still very much there — especially with the rise of over-age representative cricket. Guys like Chris Kennedy and Matthew Everest are already at New Zealand rep level and will be looking to pile on runs, while Gareth Gibson is targeting wickets to keep his Mainland spot. Beyond that, there are fringe players who are hungry to make higher sides. Bhushan Thakriya could be a real surprise package with his left-arm orthodox and aggressive batting, and it’s also exciting to have Simon Carmont back at the club after a long break from the game.
What lessons did the team take from last season?
Our finishing position didn’t reflect how close we were in a number of games. There were six or seven matches — including a tie — that came down to one or two wickets or 20–30 runs. We just needed a little bit more from everyone across the board to turn those results our way. That could be someone going from 20 to 40 instead of getting out softly, a bit more discipline with the ball, holding that extra catch, or putting in the dive to save runs. Those small efforts make a big difference.
As captain, what goals have you set for the side this year?
First and foremost — have fun, keep things positive, and enjoy playing together. The results will come if everyone digs a bit deeper and contributes, but there’s no point if you’re not enjoying it. This group has played together for a long time and we’ve got the determination to succeed, but the mateship is just as important. Performance-wise, it’s about winning those little battles in games, because they’re often the difference between winning and losing. If we all chip in and give that little bit more, we’ll be right there.
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