But what has really boosted his career is living in Gore - a small Eastern Southland town with a population of about 10,000.
"It would have been tougher for someone my age somewhere like Dunedin, because there is so much more competition up there," Hamish says.
"Southland cricket is going forward and is providing many development programmes for all age groups, as well as providing good coaches and good facilities."
Hamish's early playing career began at Waikaka School and later Gore High School.
But he did not get serious about the game until he competed at a Southland Districts under-16 tournament.
"That's when I realised that I really liked cricket and would like to go further in developing my game."
Soon after, Hamish was selected for the Southland under-17 team, before jumping to the under-23s which was "quite an eye-opener", he said.
It was where he saw what could happen if he really focused and got serious about cricket.
While playing for the Gore High School 1st XI at the Gillette Cup schoolboys' competition, Hamish was spotted and asked to attend a practice for the Southland Hawke Cup team.
"Being the young one in the Hawke Cup team can be challenging, but means that I am constantly improving my game, because I'm playing against men who have played cricket for years."
The left-arm fast bowler has now played two seasons for the Metro Tigers.
Hamish said he had been lucky because his parents had been very supportive of his passion for cricket.
Next year, he plans to apply for a Willows Scholarship to go overseas and play cricket for a club for a year, although he has not ruled out the possibility of gaining a cricket scholarship to study at Lincoln University.
By Caroline Morton
Year 12, Gore High School
