AN ex-Godmanchester Town cricketer played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s recent drawn Test series with England.

Mike Hesson, the New Zealand head coach, played two seasons for Godmanchester back in the mid-1990s.

Hess, as he was known to his club-mates, was made coach of the Black Caps in July last year after coaching stints with Argentina and Kenya.

He played for Goddy in 1995 and 1996 scoring 2,900 runs and taking 47 wickets.

Club committee member Jamie Rice said: “Hess was an integral part of the club in his two seasons with us; not only did he contribute massively on the field, he was also heavily involved in coaching and of course with the social side of the club.

“We have many great memories of his time with us but it’s probably better we keep them to ourselves!

“It’s great to see him achieving success as a coach, even if it is at the expense of England.

“I am in contact with him and we are hoping he can come and visit us when New Zealand tour England in May.”

Hesson isn’t the only former Goddy cricketer to go and achieve success at a higher level in international cricket. Henry Davids was the club’s overseas player in the summer of 2005 and he recently made his debut for South Africa in Twenty20 cricket playing coincidentally against Hesson’s New Zealand side in December and posting scores of 20, 55 and 68 in the three-match series.

This season, Godmanchester welcome back Indian Chethan William, who had a successful spell with the Cambs & Hunts TuckerGardner Premier One team in 2011-12, making 1,208 runs and taking 45 wickets.