Cricket

Craig McMillan

Craig McMillan was at Shirley Boys’ High School from 1990 through to 1994. He was a member of the First XI Cricket team from 1990, First XI Football Team, captaining the side in 1993, and was a Prefect in 1994.

Craig was an incredibly talented sportsman from the day he entered Shirley Boys’ and made the First XI Cricket Team in his first year at school. 

After school he went on to a very successful career as a cricketer with Canterbury and New Zealand playing 55 tests and 197 one day internationals. 

Upon his retirement he initially went into commentary on the radio and with Sky Television, and in 2014 was appointed as the batting coach with the New Zealand Cricket Team. After almost five years as the team's batting coach, Craig has stood down from his role in the Black Caps set-up. The gruelling travel and work schedules that require him to spend so much time away from home have caught up with him and he feels it is time to spend more time  with family. He has been involved in an incredibly successful time with the Black Caps, as they have made the last two World Cup finals, and he has finished on a high with an amazing game against England in the recent World Cup in England. 

Craig will continue to be involved with coaching with a role with the Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League for the next couple of years.

We congratulate Craig on a successful career to date and wish him all the best for his future.

Gary Stead

Gary Stead was at Shirley Boys’ High School from 1985 through to 1989. He was a member of the First XI Cricket team from 1986, captain from 1988, First XV Rugby, winning the secondary school competition in 1989, and was Deputy Head Prefect in 1989.

Gary was always destined for high achievement while at Shirley Boys’. 

He was a top sportsman but his all-round leadership was already well developed and was always on show as he led cricket and rugby sides, and fulfilled his responsibilities as Deputy Head Boy at a high standard. This quality of leadership carried on through his cricketing career as he captained Canterbury in the early 2000’s, and went on to a variety of coaching roles. 

He started with the Canterbury Magicians women's side in 2007, progressed to head coach of the White Ferns women, before taking on the Canterbury men. He guided them to three Plunket Shields and a one-day title in his six-year stint. 

In August 2018 Gary was appointed Head Coach of the New Zealand side and led them to the final of the World Cup in England last month. 

Those who know Gary well describe him as meticulous, a brilliant cricket mind, and excellent man manager. This was clearly evident in the way New Zealand played during the World Cup, but also in the way they conducted themselves after losing the final in such devastating circumstances. The was a depth of character on display from the whole team and it is pleasing to know that two of our old boys took a lead role with that group. 

It is with great pleasure  we advise Gary will be welcomed as a speaker at our SBHS  2019 Sportsman of the Year dinner later this year.