Marist Harewood Cricket Club I Christchurch I Junior Club

JUNIOR CRICKET

Welcome to Marist Harewood Junior Cricket. We have a proud tradition of being a family friendly club which encourages our young cricketers to enjoy the game and have fun whilst also accommodating the more competitive players. We cater for children aged from just starting school right through to intermediate age.

Many of our young stars go on to play in the Christchurch Junior Cricket Association tournaments (which start at Year 6) and ultimately representative sides.

Whether your child wants to play cricket just for fun or more competitively, we would love to have them join the Marist Harewood family.

Each season we have approximately 18-20 junior teams competing on a Saturday. Below is a quick summary for each grade for the 2025/26 season.

We also have an introduction to cricket for 4 and 5 year olds on a Friday evening (see below - Smash Play)

For a full explanation of the new rules please refer to the CJCA rules tab below

SEASON STARTS
Saturday 11th October 2025

Smash Play Cricket

is held on a Friday night at the Redwood Park MHCC clubrooms from 5.30 pm-6.30 pm starting Oct 17th. The aim of SMASH PLAY is to get 4-6yo children involved in Cricket or Sport in general and to build a new generation of cricketers by helping children discover, explore, and learn to love the game and sport in general. For the Adults accompanying the kids – The bar in the clubrooms is open and we have ordered the sun! The perfect way to finish off the week.

FIND OUT MORE

Kiwi Cricket (Year 1 & 2)

Games start at 9:30am and should finish by 11:00am at the latest on a Saturday morning though some games may be on a Friday night at 5:30pm. Teams of 6 play on a 12m pitch using plastic Kiwi equipment and yellow plastic ball. One innings of 12 overs for each team ensure each batting pair face 4 overs (12 balls each) and each child bowls 2 overs. If a player is out (caught, bowled or run out) they keep batting but the fielding team get a bonus 3 runs for each wicket taken. If a no ball or wide is bowled the batter gets to hit a ball off a tee as a free hit.

16:16 Softball (Year 3 & 4)

Games start at 9:00am and should finish by 11:00am at the latest on a Saturday morning though some games may be on a Friday night at 5:30pm. Teams of 8 play on a 14m pitch using wooden bats and wickets and a red 86gm Incrediball. One innings of 16 overs for each team ensure each batting pair face 4 overs (12 balls each) and each child bowls 2 overs. If a player is out (caught, bowled or run out) they keep batting but the fielding teams get a bonus 3 runs. If a no ball or wide is bowled the batter gets to hit a ball off a tee as a free hit.

Year 5 Hardball

Games start at 9:00am and should finish by 11:30am at the latest. Teams of 8 play on a 16m pitch using full cricket gear including pads, a box and helmet (compulsory). One innings of 20 overs for each team, batters bat in pairs of 5 overs each (15 balls each). If a player is out (caught, bowled or run out) they keep batting but the fielding teams get a bonus 3 runs. Each bowler bowls at least 2 overs each. If a no ball or wide is bowled the batter gets to hit a ball off a tee as a free hit. The softball grade uses a 142gm ‘plastic’ Incrediball which is the same weight but softer than a leather cricket ball. The hardball grade uses 142gm leather cricket balls.

Year 6 Hardball

Games start at 9:00am and should finish by 11:30am at the latest. Teams of 8 play on a 16m pitch using full cricket gear including pads, a box and helmet (compulsory). One innings of 20 overs for each team, batters bat in pairs of 5 overs each (15 balls each). If a player is out (caught, bowled or run out) they keep batting but the fielding teams get a bonus 3 runs. Each bowler bowls at least 2 overs each. The softball grade uses a 142gm ‘plastic’ Incrediball which is the same weight but softer than a leather cricket ball. The hardball grade uses 142gm leather cricket balls.

Year 7 Hardball

Games start at 9:00am and should finish by 12:30pm at the latest. Teams of 9 play on an 18m pitch using full cricket gear including pads, a box and helmet (compulsory) and a red 142gm leather cricket ball. One innings of 30 overs for each team. Batters who are dismissed within the first 6 balls they face in their innings will not be fully out instead they shall remain “IN” and the bowling side shall receive a bonus 3 runs to be added to their batting score.

Year 7 Hardball Premier

Games start at 12:30pm and should finish by 4:00pm at the latest. Teams of 9 play on an 18m pitch using full cricket gear including pads, a box and helmet (compulsory) and a red 142gm leather cricket ball. One innings of 30 overs for each team. Batters who are dismissed within the first 6 balls they face in their innings will not be fully out instead they shall remain “IN” and the bowling side shall receive a bonus 3 runs to be added to their batting score.

Year 8 Hardball

Games start at 9:00am and should finish by 12:30pm at the latest. Teams of 9 play on an 18m pitch using full cricket gear including pads, a box and helmet (compulsory) and a red 142gm leather cricket ball. One innings of 30 overs for each team. Batters who are dismissed within the first 6 balls they face in their innings will not be fully out instead they shall remain “IN” and the bowling side shall receive a bonus 3 runs to be added to their batting score.

Year 8 Hardball Premier

Games start at 12:30pm and should finish by 4:00pm at the latest. Teams of 9 play on an 18m pitch using full cricket gear including pads, a box and helmet (compulsory) and a red 142gm leather cricket ball. One innings of 30 overs for each team. Batters who are dismissed within the first 6 balls they face in their innings will not be fully out instead they shall remain “IN” and the bowling side shall receive a bonus 3 runs to be added to their batting score.

JUNIOR CRICKET SEASON 2025/26

Please see below all you need to know about our Junior Season

IMPORTANT DATES

Saturday Cricket Season Starts 11th October
Smash Play Friday Nights starts 17th October
No Cricket Labour Weekend or Show Weekend
Last game before Summer Break -13th December (Club Day)
First game back - 31st January 2026
Last game 15th March 2026

Save the Date:
- Team Photos Wednesday 3rd December 2025
- Junior Club Day - 13th December 2025
- Prize Giving - 16th March 2026

CANCELLATIONS:

All Cancellations will be posted on our Facebook Page (for both Saturday Cricket and Friday Night Smash Play (https://www.facebook.com/maristharewoodcricketclub)
Cancellations will be made by 7:30am Saturdays or 4:30pm Fridays (Smash Play)

UNIFORM and GEAR:

Year 1 to Year 4 School Ages - Green Polo (from Cricket Express) and white shorts. Year 3 and 4 should wear cricket gloves when batting.
Year 5 to Year 8 School Ages - Green Polo (from Cricket Express) and white pants. All batters MUST wear a cricket helmet, Pads and gloves (+preferably and box and thigh pad)
All gear can be purchased at Cricket Express Mandeville Street, Riccarton.
Polos https://www.cricketexpress.co.nz/product/marist-harewood-junior-cricket-club-shirt/crsimaristha.aspx