Now, the two cricketers – who live in the United States but are originally from South Africa – are playing in the Metro club premiership this season.
Matt and Josh, both 20, have joined Sydenham and Old Boys Collegians respectively as part of an effort to develop their cricket skills in foreign conditions.
They made immediate impacts in the opening round. Matt took 3-14 while opening the bowling against Riccarton, while Josh scored an unbeaten 39 as Old Boys chased down 199 against St Albans.
“We managed to get over the line pretty comfortably in the end,” said Josh, who scored Old Boys’ winning runs.
The brothers learned their craft in South Africa, where they lived until they were 17.
Their father Brett, a chartered accountant, then accepted a job in Austin, Texas, and the family relocated from Johannesburg to the US.
Not knowing much about cricket in North America, the twins were initially sceptical, but Matt said the sport there is on a rapid rise.
“A lot of owners of big companies decided they’re going to invest in cricket in the US, and now with Major League Cricket (MLC), it has just shot up a bit and infrastructure is growing.”
The MLC competition, launched in 2023 to grow the game in the US, has already attracted some of the world’s best players.
Matt, who plays for the LA Knight Riders, shared a dressing room this year with West Indian stars Andre Russell and Sunil Narine.
Josh’s team, the Texas Super Kings, is coached by former Black Cap Stephen Fleming, and he played alongside Kiwis Devon Conway, Mitchell Santner and Daryl Mitchell.
Both brothers saw success against the San Francisco Unicorns in this year’s competition, which featured stars such as Cummins, Rauf, and Plunkett.
Matt made 41 on debut, hitting three sixes, while Josh scored 56 not out in the semi-finals in a century partnership with Conway.
It was the Kiwi connection which brought the brothers to Christchurch.
Said Josh: “I mentioned to Flem and Daryl that I was looking to go play a season overseas and I was looking at Australia. They were like, ‘you should come to Christchurch, it’s a great city. The cricket will be good, you’ll love your time.’
“They sort-of set everything up. Daryl got me in contact with someone from Canterbury Cricket and then they got me in contact with OBC, and it went from there.”
The twins are currently training in the nets at Hagley Oval, playing plenty of golf, and completing online finance degrees through Liberty University.
Now USA-eligible after three years of residency, Matt is hopeful of an international call-up.
“International cricket is awesome. That’s why I think we all play cricket – to play internationally,” he said.
In other premiership results, Heathcote chased down 110 against Lancaster Park, while Burnside’s clash with East Shirley was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch.
This weekend Josh’s Old Boys take on Riccarton at Upper Riccarton Domain in the second round of two-dayers, while Matt’s Sydenham side host defending champions Burnside at Sydenham Park.
East Shirley plays Heathcote at Burwood Park and Lancaster Park will meet St Albans at the Nursery Ground by Hagley Oval.
All matches start at 10.30am and will continue across the next two weekends.
