But Jack should have been getting the bigger helpings of Christmas pudding during the past few years.
And John, well, he is lost at the airport. More on him later.
Otago are hosting Canterbury in a Plunket Shield match at the University Oval this week.
It is a chance for the Boyle brothers to reset the bragging rights.
Jack, 29, scored a patient 156 for Otago to help set up a seven-wicket win against Wellington at the Basin Reserve last week.
Matt, 22, also scored 156, for Canterbury, but he was not out, so he should get the comfy seat and TV remote the next time the pair are at home.
Jack has been keeping it warm for him, though.
He has come out on top in the Boyle family battles.
The first time the two played against each other at the elite level was in the Ford Trophy final in March 2023.
Jack was playing for Central Districts and they won by six wickets. And last season, the Stags beat Canterbury in the T20 final.
It is 2-0 to Jack in finals.
"Yeah, I certainly pushed for it [the bigger helping of Christmas pudding], but Mum and Dad are pretty unbiased when it comes to favouritism and that," Jack said.
Matt was gracious about it.
"I’d prefer his team won if we’re not getting them," Matt said.
Actually, there was a distinct lack of hostility between the brothers. They laughed their way through the photo shoot and were complimentary of each other.
Matt described Jack as "very supportive growing up" before having a wee chip at his older brother’s efforts at wrist spin back in the day.
"He bowled leg breaks and had quite an interesting run-up. He sort of chicken-winged his way up to the crease."
"I felt like I was probably more dominant then," Jack joked.
"But he’s certainly evened the odds a little bit in recent times."
Jack was in awe of the undefeated 156 Matt scored to help Canterbury edge Northern Districts by five wickets in Rangiora last week. The home team was set 370 to win.
‘’To do that in the fourth innings, chasing a big total, that was seriously impressive. I think he showed a lot of maturity in his knock.
"It’s cool because he’s had a lot of success in T20 cricket last year and it’s great for him to show how good he is in the red-ball format as well."
Jack had an outstanding one-day and T20 campaign for Central Districts last season, swatting almost 700 runs across both formats.
Given that he played so well, it was somewhat surprising he opted to transfer to Otago.
"I think it was probably a few things," Jack said.
"There’s a bit of movement around the traps in Otago, having lost a few batters. I felt like there was a good opportunity down here.
"I really wanted to progress my bowling as well, and so it’s been nice that I’ve had a few opportunities to bowl already down here.
"And I suppose being closer to home was probably a big thing as well for me.
"We often fly through Christchurch, so the opportunity to pop in and see a bit more of the family, see the parents, see Matt and my sisters a bit more as well, was certainly a big reason for it."
John, by the way, is Jack’s name on his birth certificate. It can create confusion at the airport, where it is always handy to have the same name on your ticket as the one on your passport.
"There has been one overseas trip where they had to get a name change, which cost a bit.
"But it’s an old-school thing. My grandfather was a John/Jack as well, so yeah, that’s essentially where it comes from."
Jack’s father, Justin, who was principal of St Kevin’s College in the 1990s, and uncle, David, both played first-class cricket.
David spent his career with Canterbury but Justin played for both Canterbury and Wellington.
The Boyle family have played for five of the six major associations.
• Canterbury have been deducted one point in the Plunket Shield.
They initially gained 17 points from their outright win over Northern Districts in the opening round, but they have been penalised a point for a slow over rate.
Plunket Shield
Dunedin, 10.30am
Otago: Jack Boyle, Jacob Cumming, Tom Jones, Thorn Parkes, Glenn Phillips, Max Chu, Luke Georgeson (captain), Ben Lockrose, Danru Ferns, Matt Bacon, Jarrod McKay, Troy Johnson.
Canterbury: Rhys Mariu, Tom Latham, CJ Bowes, Henry Nicholls (captain), Cole McConchie, Matt Boyle, Mitch Hay, Ish Sodhi, Angus McKenzie, Michael Rae, Fraser Sheat, Sean Davey.
