It only happens once every 25 years and the big day is now just three weeks away.

On Friday, 23 January in Hawke’s Bay, Central Districts Cricket will officially mark its latest jubilee milestone, celebrating its 75th season as one of New Zealand cricket’s first-class Major Associations. 

The key event is the 75th Jubilee Long Lunch at CD’s Mitre 10 Park headquarters in a bespoke marquée on the 23rd afternoon, hosted by MC and national funny-man Ben Hurley with guest speakers including CD and New Zealand legends Mark Greatbatch, Tony Blain, Aimee Watkins and Emily Travers — with special guest Ross Taylor.

Tickets are only on sale until 1pm this coming Monday (12 January), so get in fast if you would like to be part of the special occasion - get tickets or a table of eight (unless sold out prior) here.

2000 World Cup: Emily Travers | PHOTOSPORT

The last CD jubilee, 25 years ago, reflected on a significant era of change for the organisation that, along with New Zealand’s other five Major Associations and New Zealand Cricket itself, had morphed from the volunteer-based, board-managed amateur era into the birth of professionalism — both on the field and in the office.

A formal Board or Directors, CEO and salaried managers were appointed, and the merger of men’s and women’s cricket organisations at all levels also brought the sport into the modern era.

The game was also on its way to seeing Domestic players paid to play for the first time (in Cricket Max), and then contracted on retainers for the first time in the early 2000s.

That also propelled the sport into the future, one where white-ball entertainment has become a significant driver in the revenues and sustainability of the game, both locally and globally.

Captain Glen Sulzberger and Coach Mark Greatbatch

celebrate winning the State Shield by 99 runs in 2004

PHOTOSPORT

The “white-ball revolution” is the theme of this summer’s CD Jubilee event as CD casts an educated eye back over the past three decades.

It’s an era in which the introduction of innovative, short-format Domestic cricket — from Martin Crowe’s Cricket Max (alongside David Trist’s early Action Cricket) paved the way to the worldwide T20 phenomenon of today — one that has profoundly changed the game again, on and off the park.

 

Ross Taylor | PHOTOSPORT

During CD’s earlier decades, reverse sweeps, ramps and switch-hitting were concepts yet to be invented, yet now players will dare to pull these out even in Test and first-class (red-ball) cricket. Limited overs cricket is a faster, more adventurous spectacle and kids are growing up unafraid to emulate the audacious hitting they watch on TV in the Big Bash, Super Smash, The Hundred and more.

Greatbatch was recently appointed to a three-year term as President of New Zealand Cricket and has been enjoying getting around to some of his old cricket haunts as a result.

There are many great memories from his own career, including the home 1992 World Cup where New Zealand — before they were called the BLACKCAPS — pioneered the role of a pinch-hitter, left-hander Greatbatch smashing sixes at the top to take full advantage of fielding restrictions early in the innings, the team embarking on a dream run — all the way to a home semi-final at Eden Park.

Aimee Watkins with the silver tray presented for her 100th Central match

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Aimee Watkins, or Aimee Mason as she was back then, made her international debut for the WHITE FERNS a couple of years later, and went on to captain the national team.

Another hugely accomplished left-hander, she has the distinction of being the only Central Hinds captain to have lifted the national T20 and one-day trophies in the same summer, 2009/10, and played 142 international matches for New Zealand, including two one-day World Cups and two T20 World Cups.

World Cup memories feature high on the list for Emily Travers, too — the Manawatū-raised Central Hinds keeper was a member of the very first New Zealand squad to win an ICC World Cup, in 2000 in Lincoln when the WHITE FERNS edged Australia in the most exciting match of the season.

Tony Blain is another CD keeper who went all the way to the top, playing for the BLACKCAPS and entertaining the crowd from the 1980s up until the mid-90s, in the heady days of the Shell Cup.

PHOTOSPORT

A natural raconteur, the tales and stories will pour forth from the stage at the marquée jubilee event and, with all four speakers having kept a keen eye on the evolution of the game, the insights and reflections on New Zealand’s own parts in the white-ball revolution will be intriguing.

Ross Taylor of course needs no introduction and the afternoon will offer a chance to sample his own vintage, primarily Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Central Otago Pinot Noir, as well as to sample the HOWZAT! lager created especially for CD’s 75th Jubilee season by Nelson-based brewer, Sprig + Fern Brewing Co.

The lager even comes in a collectible can featuring the classic CD retro stripes and CD 75th jubilee logo.

A host of current and past players - ranging in age from their teens to their nineties - are gathering for the Long Lunch event and they’ll be on the edge of their seats when the Central Stags and Central Hinds all-time Playing XIs are announced.

A former captain as well as coach for the Stags, Greatbatch said he was very much looking forward to reuniting with so many of his CD family in one place.

“These events don’t come around every day and I’m looking forward to catching up and reminiscing with so many former players, as well as people who set the bar when I was a lad.

“That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?”

Central Districts CEO Lance Hamilton, himself a past Central Stags representative, agreed.

“It’s going to be a special afternoon for the CD Cricket family, and that includes everyone who holds CD close to their chest, whether or not they played for CD themselves. 

“It’s a great achievement to reach 75 years and that’s on the back of some incredible work by our predecessors and the visionary volunteer administrators who literally worked for decades to bring CD into being.

“The CD Cricket story is a really unique one, and we’re looking forward to celebrating our story on the 23rd in Hawke’s Bay.”

Past players will also be making an appearance when the Hinds and Stags play their final home T20 doubleheader at McLean Park on Saturday, 24 January.

The 75th Jubilee season coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Stags' first T20 match, and 15 years since the Hinds won their breakthrough T20/One-Day title in the same season. 

Get Long Lunch Tickets here

(ticket sales deadline:

1pm this Monday, 12 January)

Article added: Friday 9 January 2026