Trophy to honour Dykes’ ‘huge contribution’ to game

Ross Dykes at the University Oval in 2015. PHOTO GERARD O'BRIEN (file)
Ross Dykes at the University Oval in 2015. PHOTO GERARD O'BRIEN (file)
The Otago and Auckland cricket associations will honour the late Ross Dykes with an annual game.

The first one-day fixture between the Otago and Auckland each year will have the Ross Dykes Memorial Trophy at stake.

Dykes, who died in November last year, was one of the great servants of cricket.

Outside Dunedin, the former Auckland wicketkeeper is best remembered for his long service as a national selector. He was in the role from 1990-91 until he moved south in 2005 to take up a role as chief executive of the Otago Cricket Association.

The OCA had already shifted from its previous base at Carisbrook to the University Oval when Dykes took over the reins.

But he played an instrumental role in helping develop the ground as a international venue and was a passionate advocate for the sport.

The University Oval hosted three ICC World Cup matches in 2015.

That was one of the highlights for Dykes. He also made two trips to India for the Champions League T20 with the Volts.

OCA chief executive Mike Coggan said Dykes did a lot of work to improve Otago Cricket and build the association’s reputation.

"Ross was immensely proud to work for Otago Cricket and he loved our Otago teams," Coggan said.

"Even when he had moved back to Auckland, he would quietly say to me, each time he was in Dunedin, that he would love for Otago to win the fixture."

Auckland Cricket Association chief executive Iain Laxon said his organisation was pleased to honour Dykes with a trophy.

"Ross made a huge contribution to the game in so many ways and especially in the two associations he had the closest connection with - ourselves and Otago.

"We hope that contesting this trophy each season will be a way of remembering the person that he was and the lasting effect that he had on the game in New Zealand."

Dykes played 31 first-class games and eight list A games for Auckland between 1967 and 1977.

Otago and Auckland are scheduled to play a one-dayer at the University Oval on February 11.

• Former Black Cap and Otago all-rounder Nathan McCullum and accountant Alice Hunter have been appointed as aspirational directors of the board of the Otago Cricket Association. It is essentially an apprenticeship scheme and neither will have voting rights.

 

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