The second decade of Western Bay of Plenty Mini World Cup cricket will be ushered in this week, with 16 teams out for schooling and international dominance.

The 11th annual tournament will see an array of Western Bay Year 5 and 6 primary schools meet at the Bay Oval on Wednesday.

A cricketer in full swing during the 2013 edition of the Western Bay of Plenty Mini World Cup at Bay Oval. Photo: Bruce Barnard

Initiated by Bay of Plenty Cricket in 2004, to introduce the two year groups to the enjoyment of the game, the competition has an international flavour, with all teams representing a cricket-playing nation.

Fittingly, the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy is in town the very same day as part of the build-up to the 2015 tournament.

BOP Cricket Development Manager Tai Bridgman-Raison says the event is well attended each year with schools lining up to fill the hotly contested 16 spots.

Tai says: 'We have never had any problems with filling the 16 spots. The schools love it and the kids love it.”

Discussions are also underway with Tauranga City Council to see whether the trophy can make a brief appearance at the Bay Oval.

Starting on November 6, the trophy begins a nationwide tour of New Zealand, with a stop for every one of the 22 years since the tournament was last here in 1992.

Many of the teams will enter into the spirit of the occasion by dressing up in the colours of the country they are representing.

Outside the championship title, the most sought-after prize is the best uniform award. Last year Pillians Point School showed real ingenuity putting together a rastafarian style to their West Indies uniform.

Last season, the Western Bay Mini World Cup was taken by St Thomas More School from Mount Maunganui, wearing the mantle of India.

They met Greenpark School (aka South Africa), with Greenpark posting 58 points for runs scored and wickets taken.

St Thomas More, went into bat with plenty of enthusiasm and finished their sixteen overs at the crease with 62 points, to narrowly annex the 2013 Western Bay Mini World Cup trophy.

Western Bay of Plenty Mini World Cup at Bay Oval on November 12:

Gate Pa (New Zealand) Te Akau ki Papamoa (India) Tauranga Primary (South Africa) Bethlehem School (Sri Lanka) Pillans Point (Australia) St Marys (England) Greenpark (Pakistan) Pongokawa (West Indies) St Thomas More (Bangladesh) Bethlehem College Primary (Zimbabwe) Papamoa (Afghanistan) Te Ranga (Ireland) Papamoa2 (Scotland) Mount Maunganui Primary (Kenya) Greenpark2 (Canada) St Marys2 (United Arab Emirates)

Previous WBOP Mini World Cup Champions:

2004: St Marys2. 2005: Bethlehem College Primary. 2006: St Marys. 2007: Bethlehem College Primary. 2008: St Marys2. 2009: St Marys. 2010: St Marys. 2011: St Thomas More. 2012: Pillans Point. 2013: St Thomas More.