New Zealand cricketer
Gareth James Hopkins (born 24 November 1976) is a New Zealand former international cricketer. A wicket-keeper, he played Test, One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International cricket for the New Zealand national cricket team between 2004 and 2010.[1]
Hopkins was born at Lower Hutt in the Wellington Region in 1976 and was educated at Taupo College.[2] He played age-group cricket for Northern Districts and played for the national under-19 side before making his senior representative debut for Northern Districts against Central Districts during the 1995–96 season.[3]
Cricket career
A wicket-keeper who was described as a "staunch" batsman[4] and as "uncompromising" in his approach to batting, he moved to play for Canterbury for the 1998–99 season.[1] After five seasons he moved to Otago for four seasons before finishing his domestic career playing for Auckland between the 2007–08 and 2013–14 seasons. The side won the domestic List A and Twenty20 competitions during the 2010–11 season and Hopkins finished his career with over 350 top-level domestic appearances.[3]
Hopkins made his international debut in 2004, deputising for Brendon McCullum as New Zealand's wicket-keeper in five One Day Internationals during the tour of England.[1] He spent much of his international career as McCullum's back-up, making his Test debut in 2008 following when McCullum was unable to play due to injury.[1][4] Following a successful 2007–08 season he was awarded a central contract by New Zealand Cricket and played most of his four Test matches, 25 ODIs and 10 T20Is over the following three seasons.[1][3] "Ordinary" form in 2010–11 saw him dropped from the central contracts list and he did not represent the national side after the end of 2010.[1]
Post-cricket career
Hopkins became a financial adviser with his wife since 2014. They have moved to reside in Tauranga.[5]
References
External links