Young cricket fan pitches in

A 10-year-old from Tauranga got to pitch in at Mount Maunganui's first-ever international cricket match at the Bay Oval this morning when he accompanied the two captains onto the field for the coin toss.

Greenpark School pupil Carter High stood side-by-side with cricketing giants Brendon McCullum and Abraham Benjamin de Villiers ahead of the Black Caps' clash with South Africa.

Proteas captain Abraham Benjamin de Villiers (left) and Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum with 10-year-old Carter High at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval.

Carter won the opportunity through a competition run by ANZ.

Budding fast bowler Carter is cricket mad. When he's not at practice or playing with his school's top team, he's on YouTube watching videos to hone his technique and hopes to play for the New Zealand cricket team when he's older.

'It was awesome doing the coin toss. Unfortunately South Africa won it, which made my dad happy because that's where he's from,” says Carter.

'But the Black Caps are my favourite team and watching them play live in my hometown is so cool.”

Carter was notified of the win by Black Caps batting coach Craig McMillan, who surprised him with the news at school on Monday.

'I was shocked and probably the happiest man on earth when Craig McMillan came to tell me the news at school,” he said.

'He's got diabetes like me and we had a good talk about it. I even gave him some advice – he should get an insulin pump like me because it gives you heaps more control.”

Head of corporate marketing and sponsorship at ANZ Sue McGregor says Carter is one of 14 children being selected to take part in the toss during the ANZ International Series this summer.

'To stand alongside some of the world's greatest cricketers at such an important moment of the match is a dream come true for young fans,” she says.

'It's great to be able to give young players the opportunity to get close to their heroes.”

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