The Taieri junior cricket club will have four representatives at the 2016 South Island Primary School Tournament (SIPST).
Beckham Greenall, Shaedon Miller, Mason Cumming and Finn McDonald-Page were last week named in the 12-strong Dunedin Metro team to compete at the annual five-day cricket tournament, to be held in Dunedin in January.
Taieri junior club president Scott Wilson believed it was the first time the club had provided four members of a SIPST squad.
''We have had no more than three attend the tournament, although four years ago we had a fourth named as a non-travelling reserve,'' he said.
''Beckham, Finn, Mason and Shaedon are dedicated cricketers. They have worked hard for this opportunity.
''In preparing for the cricket season and the SIPST trial, they increased private training sessions and worked to better their skills. I am sure they will perform well.''
Beckham will be taking part in the tournament for a second time. A hard-hitting opening batsman and pace bowler, he was one of the leading performers at last year's event in Blenheim.
Shaedon is a top-order batsman and pace bowler, Finn a legspin bowler and batsman while Mason is a pace bowler.
Alex Wilson, who until this season had played for Taieri, was also selected. He now plays for Kaikorai.
Mr Wilson said Taieri continued to provide coaching for junior players wanting to improve their cricket.
Kieran Wall joined the club last season as a junior coach and has coached three of the selected players.
Phil Morris was also working as a volunteer with the junior teams each week at training.
''We are very lucky to have coaches with their ability giving up their time.''
The SIPST tournament has launched some illus-trious careers, which include those of Sir Richard Hadlee, Stephen Fleming, Craig McMillan and Jeff Wilson.
The tournament has been a regular fixture on the cricket calendar since 1963, when Neville Hoskin had the idea to encourage more children to play cricket.
The Dunedin team will be coached by Gerard Finnie with former Otago and New Zealand cricketer Craig Cumming, who scored three centuries at the 1989 SIPST tournament, the assistant coach.
With Dunedin hosting the tournament, some matches will be played at Brooklands Park, in Mosgiel.
