Youth

Sydenham Cricket Club is pleased to promote the Sydenham Youth section for high school aged boys (school years 9 – 13) in its club. Sydenham Youth enters youth teams into the Christchurch Metropolitan Cricket Association (CMCA) youth competitions. Girl’s cricket is catered for by other sections of the Club. Sydenham Youth attracts high school aged cricketers that are looking to play club cricket on a Saturday in Metro’s competition. These cricketers will likely attend local high schools that do not currently provide cricket programmes that are played on Saturdays. Teams are currently made up of players from Cashmere High School, Hillmorton High School, Middleton Grange, Catholic Cathedral College, Te Aratai College, and other schools, including Lincoln High School. We hope that this continues. Sydenham Youth is not constrained by any geographic boundaries and will accept interest from any player that wishes to play in Metro’s Saturday competition that may not otherwise be able to. To check out the details for the Youth Registrations for 2026, visit Sydenham Youth Registration Information Pack.

Sydenham 1st XI

The 1st XI currently plays in the Championship grade, which is the elite grade of youth cricket in Christchurch.

Eligible years: Year 11-13 (+ year 10 for exceptional players)

Playing formats: 2-Day (term1), 1-Day (term 4)

Playing times: Saturday matches starting at 10:30am

Practices: Tuesday & Thursday starting at 4pm. Sydenham Park outdoor grass nets, or if wet, the Sydenham Indoor Centre astro nets

Sydenham 2nd XI

The 2nd XI currently plays in the Cup grade, which is the second highest grade of youth cricket in Christchurch.

Eligible years: Year 11-13 (+ year 10 in no Colts team)

Playing formats: Declaration cricket (term 1), 1-Day (term 4)

Playing times: Saturday matches starting at 10:30am

Practices: Tuesday & Thursday starting at 4pm. Sydenham Park outdoor grass nets, or if wet, the Sydenham Indoor Centre astro nets

Sydenham 3rd XI

The 3rd XI plays in the 2nd grade youth competition. 2nd grade cricket is less competitive than 1st XI cricket and ideally suited to older boys (Year 11+) that are still developing their skills and/or wishing to play a more social format of cricket.

Eligible years: Year 11-13 (+ year 10 in no Colts team)

Playing formats: 40-over cricket

Playing times: Saturday afternoon matches starting at 12:30pm

Practices: Wednesdays starting at 5:30pm. Sydenham Park outdoor grass nets, or if wet, the Sydenham Indoor Centre astro nets

Colts

The Colts play in the Colts grade, which is for the highest level for Year 10 teams in Christchurch. The Colts grade is typically used as a launching pad for playing 1 st XI grade cricket from Year 11 onwards.

Eligible years: Year 10 only

Playing formats: Declaration cricket (term 1), 1-Day (term 4)

Playing times: Saturday matches starting at 10:30am

Practices: Tuesday & Thursday starting at 4pm. Sydenham Park outdoor grass nets, or if wet, the Sydenham Indoor Centre astro nets

Sydenham Year 10

The Year 10 team plays in the Year 10 grade. Similar to the 2 nd grade cricket, the Year 10 grade is suited to boys that are still developing their skills and/or wish to play a more social format of cricket.

Eligible years: Year 10 only

Playing formats: 40-over cricket

Playing times: Saturday afternoon matches starting at 12:30pm

Practices: Wednesdays starting at 4pm. Sydenham Park outdoor grass nets, or if wet, the Sydenham Indoor Centre astro nets

Sydenham Year 9A

The Sydenham Year 9A team plays in the Year 9 Red competition, which is the highest level of cricket for year 9 boys. The Year 9 Red competition is great transition grade from premier level junior cricket and excellent preparation for Colts grade cricket in Year 10.