Canterbury Cricket celebrated their 125th jubilee at the weekend and as part of their festivities they selected the best men's and women's teams to have represented the province.

The men's team was: Walter Hadlee (captain), Dan Reese (vice-captain), Graham Dowling, Roger Blunt, Brian Hastings, Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns, Richard Hadlee, John Ward, Dick Motz, Tom Burtt. Chris Harris (12th man).

Walter Hadlee represented Canterbury from 1933-52 and scored 3183 runs for Canterbury at an average of 43.6. For New Zealand, in a career that spanned World War 2, he hit one century and two fifties and he lead New Zealand expertly on the famous 1949 tour of England. He captained New Zealand in eight of his 11 Test matches.

Opening the innings with Blunt was Dowling who, from 1958-72 scored 3690 runs for Canterbury at an average of just under 40. In Tests for New Zealand, he scored three Test centuries and 11 half centuries in a career that brought 2306 runs, an average of 31 and a highest Test score of 239 scored against India at Lancaster Park. He captained New Zealand in 19 Tests.

Blunt played 27 matches for Canterbury from 1917-25 and made 1886 runs for Canterbury averaging nearly 38 with four centuries. He had nine Tests for New Zealand, a highest score of 96 and an average of 27.5. A president of the MCC for many years, he was regarded as one of the greatest all-round sportsmen of his time. His selection plaque will be presented to his first school, Waihi School in South Canterbury.

Hastings scored 3540 runs at an average of 31 during 72 matches for Canterbury from 1961-77. He had a highest score off 226 and in his international career he hit four Test centuries and seven half centuries in his 1510 runs posted at an average of 30.

It is a reflection of the pressures of modern cricket that Nathan Astle has scored only 1167 runs for Canterbury, but at the average of just under 43. He made his debut in 1991 and in a prolific international career, to the start of the summer, he had six Test centuries and 12 half centuries.

New Zealand didn't feature in official Test matches when Reese was playing but he was regarded as a brilliant all-rounder in a career that lasted from 1895 until 1921. He scored 2066 runs for Canterbury at 25.5 and in his time played with Dr W G Grace and against Pelham 'Plum' Warner and Victor Trumper.

Cairns is the first of the all-rounders selected. He started with the Canterbury side in 1990 and has a batting average of nearly 29 and he has taken 92 wickets at 21. But he has played much more cricket for New Zealand and hit four Test centuries and 19 half centuries. He should be the second Cantabrian to take 200 Test wickets.

There was never any doubt that Richard Hadlee would be included in the side. He scored more than 2000 runs for Canterbury and more than 3000 for New Zealand. He took 285 wickets at 16 for Canterbury and 431 Test wickets at 22. In a career from 1971 to 1989 he is undeniably New Zealand's finest cricketer.

Sharing the new ball duties with Hadlee and Cairns will be Motz. He played from 1957-69 and took 239 wickets for Canterbury at an average of 19. He was the first New Zealander to take 100 Test wickets and with the bat he hit a century and three 50s for Canterbury. It is said of him that he never turned in a poor performance.

With Blunt's leg-spin and the left-arm slow mediums of Reese, there might have been sufficient slow bowling but the selectors opted for a specialist; they would like to have had room for two, they said.

Their choice was Burtt, who took 241 wickets for Canterbury during his career from 1943-55 at an average of just over 20. For New Zealand, he played only 10 matches, but he had 33 wickets at 35 and he had an outstanding tour of England in 1949 when he took 128 wickets at 23 runs apiece.

The wicket-keeper of the team is Ward. He played 54 matches for Canterbury from 1959-71 and eight for New Zealand. For Canterbury he took 136 catches and had 17 stumpings and, for New Zealand, there were 16 Test catches and 1 stumping. There were injuries and selection disappointments but our selectors agree that he was the best specialist 'keeper ever to play for Canterbury.

The 12th man, who must have been unlucky to miss selection was Harris. He had scored over 3000 runs for Canterbury since 1989 at an incredible average of 61 and taken 64 wickets at 33. His 19 matches for New Zealand were fragmented so he was always fighting for a regular place. But there could be no doubting his value, over a long career, as an irrepressible fielder; he is always a danger to any batsmen and constantly delights the spectators with his special talents.

The women's team named was: Leslie Murdoch (nee Shankland), Pat Quickenden (nee Moore), Shirley Cowles (nee McCaw), Ann McKenna, Debbie Hockley, Phyllis Blackler, Jenny Olson (nee Lowe), Sue Rattray, Sarah Illingworth, Sue Brown (nee Teale), Catherine Campbell.

Murdoch scored 2072 runs at an average of 36.35 with one century and 17 50s. She captained Canterbury for 13 seasons from 1975-1991, of which 12 times were national title winning efforts.

Quickenden played 55 times for Canterbury from 1947-68, scoring 2254 runs with five centuries and 10 50s at nearly 38 while also taking 152 wickets at 13.66.

Cowles hit two centuries and 10 half centuries in a 44-match career from 1953-78.

McKenna played for Canterbury over 17 seasons from 1961 and scored 2759 runs at 28 and hit three centuries and 12 50s.

A 17-season career was also the record of perhaps the greatest cricketer of all that New Zealand has produced in Hockley. Her record for Canterbury was 2827 runs at an average of just under 50. She hit eight centuries and 15 50s.

With a highest score of 202, 18 50s and 3424 runs at more than 40 as well as 312 wickets at 11 made for an outstanding record for Blackler in a career spread from 1935-66.

Olson played 71 matches, hit 2186 runs which included seven half centuries as well as 132 wickets at just over 12 per wicket in 21 seasons spread from 1961-85.

Rattray's leg spinners accounted for 228 victims at an average of less than 11 while with the bat she hit 1754 runs at just under 23 in a span from 1966-85.

Illingworth was quick to make her mark as wicket-keeper and in only 20 matches, during eight seasons for Canterbury from 1986-96 she took 37 catches and 17 stumpings.

Brown's opening bowling was the stuff of legends with 283 wickets at 9.12. She played from 1973-91.

From 1983-2000, Campbell picked up 146 wickets at just over 20 and capped it all with a World Cup for New Zealand in her last season.

© CricInfo