In memory of a passionate young cricketer, Central Districts Cricket will present a new award tomorrow at the CD Cricket First XI Boys’ Cup Finals.

The Micky Peacock Medal will go the MVP (most valuable player) at the annual tournament underway today at Levin’s Donnelly Park.

Micky Peacock left an indelible mark on the CD cricket community before he passed away from brain cancer at just 17, in September 2024 at his family home in Waipukurau. 

Micky had marked himself out as a promising and inspiring player from an early age.

He was himself awarded the tournament MVP trophy after representing Havelock North’s Hereworth School at the national finals of the 2019 NZC National Primary School Cup.

Micky with his MVP national trophy and medal after Hereworth School

had finished as runner-up at the 2019

NZC Primary Schoolboys' nationals 

PHOTOSPORT

Micky went on to represent Whanganui Collegiate School, captaining the cricket First XI as well as playing rugby and hockey for the school.

His alma mater is one of the four school finalists competing this week to be Central Districts’ representative at next summer’s NZC First XI Boys’ Cup Finals in Lincoln — where the CD winner will go up against the other five qualifying First XIs from around the country.

Whanganui Collegiate has been joined by Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Nelson College and Lindisfarne College (Hawke’s Bay) at the CD finals and CD Cricket Manager, Community and Capability Aidan O’Connor said it would be a special moment when the inaugural Micky Peacock Medal is presented after the last matches tomorrow.

“Micky was an exceptional person, and many of our cricket community had the honour of meeting him,” said O’Connor.

“We have received the blessing of Micky's family, Marcus, Georgie, Hana and Jimmy, to bestow this fitting honour upon him and have his name adorn our MVP medal.”

Marcus Peacock will present the inaugural medal tomorrow to the Most Valuable Player across the two days.

Georgie Peacock said the family was overwhelmed by an honour that recalls Micky’s own attributes in sport.

“Micky was a natural leader and player who always thought of others and how he could bring out their best, while going about doing his best for them,” said Georgie.

“He had a quiet strength, always encouraged others and embodied the spirit of the game – and his teammates loved that about him, as did we."

Cricket has been Micky’s number one sport from a young age.

“He loved playing, he loved watching it, talking about it, thinking about it – it was his passion.

“Marcus and I know Micky would be very proud, in his humble manner, of this honour in his memory, and we are so proud of him as a family.”

Whanganui Collegiate is playing Lindisfarne College, and PNBHS playing Nelson College, in today’s one-day semi-finals. 

The respective winners meet in tomorrow’s final while the beaten semi-finalists play off for third place, both matches from 10.30am.

Following the conclusion of the CD Cricket First XI Boys’ Cup, it’s the turn of CD’s top secondary schoolgirl cricketers to shine in the QBE First XI Cup that starts on Wednesday, also at Levin’s Donnelly Park.

The QBE First XI Cup has a different structure to the schoolboys’ finals, with eight First XIs from across CD splitting into two pools to compete in three T20 matches across the first two days of the tournament.

The top teams progress to semi-finals on Thursday afternoon, with finals and minor placing playoffs on Friday morning.

Palmerston North Girls’ High School won this CD title last season and went on to a memorable week at December’s NZC First XI Cup Finals in Canterbury, lifting the national title undefeated.

PNGHS is back for more as one of the eight CD finalists in this year’s QBE First XI Cup, alongside New Plymouth Girls’ High School, Wairarapa College, Whanganui Collegiate School, St Matthew’s Collegiate School from Masterton, Sacred Heart Girls’ College (New Plymouth), Woodford House (Hawke’s Bay) and Paraparaumu College.

Paraparaumu College has entered a composite team featuring players from other schools. As girls’ cricket continues to grow at all levels across the CD region, composite teams are permitted to compete in the QBE First XI Cup national qualifiers, however First XI team members progressing to the NZC nationals must be from the same school.

It’s been a big month already for secondary schoolgirls’ cricket in the CD region already, Central Districts Cricket’s having won NZC’s 2025/26l award for Outstanding Women and Girls Initiative for the new Kotahitanga competitions — a collaboration between the CD Cricket, Wairarapa, Taranaki, Horowhenua-Kāpiti and Manawatū Cricket Associations, with Whanganui schools also competing.

CD’s Kotahitanga Trophy and Shield provide a meaningful framework for more secondary schoolgirls’ First and Second XIs, bringing more schools together and helping more young women to stay involved, develop their skills, and grow their love for the game of cricket.

The full schedule, livescoring and results for both the CD First XI Boys’ Cup and QBE First XI Girls’ Cup are available at CD PlayHQ. 

Article added: Monday 23 March 2026