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Gary Stead's emergence as a test batsman has enhanced Shirley Boys' High School's reputation as a production line for international cricketers.

The Stead call-up was significant for his old school, which in the last decade has overshadowed traditional cricket breeding grounds at Christchurch Boys' High School and Christ's College.

Richard Petrie represented New Zealand in 12 one-day internationals, Darrin Murray was the first old boy to play test cricket in 1994-95, Astle followed in 1995-96, Craig McMillan entered the international arena in 1997-98, and Stead followed them against South Africa.

``It's been a very rich 15 or so years that I have been associated with the first XI,'' said Steve Garland, the master in charge of cricket at SBHS.

He was not surprised Stead's test debut in Christchurch featured a productive fourth-wicket partnership with Nathan Astle.

Stead and Astle shared the biggest stand of New Zealand's disappointing first innings of the second test against South Africa.

Garland remembers both players batting for SBHS. ``Gary and Nathan were in the same first XI, with Gary captain. There were many fine performances, but one game in particular sticks out in my mind.

``On the last day, we had to chase well over 200 runs at Ilam, lost a couple of quick wickets, and knew it was going to be tough.

``When Nathan went out to bat, I told him 'if you're still there at 6 o'clock we might have a chance'. Well, we won the game with 10 overs to spare. Nathan got about 170. Gary scored 70-odd, but every ball he faced he went for a single to put Nathan back on strike. They were a super complementary pair even then,'' said Garland.

But Shirley's influence on the representative cricket scene extends far beyond the national team.

Left-arm spinner Carl Anderson and fast-medium bowler Ryan Burson made their first-class debuts last season, and have recently been joined in the Canterbury Shell Trophy ranks by batsmen Marcel McKenzie and Michael Papps.

McKenzie scored a gritty 43 in his initiation for Canterbury, against Otago at QEII Village Green.

Papps was singled out by former England captain and current selector Mike Gatting as one of three stand-out members of the New Zealand under-19 team after this season's international youth series.