Papps joined Wellington after 95 First-Class games for Canterbury. In 2006-07 he became one of ten individual players to score over 1,000 runs in a first-class season in New Zealand and has twice hit four centuries in a single domestic first-class season, in 2006-07 and 2009-10.

His career total of 6,663 runs for Canterbury is the second most by an individual player for one province, behind Central Districts’ Matthew Sinclair who has scored 7,693 for the Stags. His 19 first-class centuries for Canterbury are the fourth most for a single province behind Sinclair (22) and recently retired Firebirds player Matthew Bell for Wellington and Craig Cumming for Otago (both 20).

He has played eight Tests and six One-Day Internationals for the BLACKCAPS, making both his Test and ODI debuts against South Africa in the 2004-05 home series.

Name: Michael Papps

Playing Style: Right-hand bat / Wicketkeeper

Nickname: Pappsy, Mick

Secondary School Attended: Shirley Boys High School

Club: Collegians

Earliest Cricket Memory: Backyard cricket with my brother

Favourite Ground to play: Newlands, Capetown

Most memorable cricket moment: First Test Cap

Favourite player growing up: Steve Waugh

The non-cricketing sports person or team I most admire: Liverpool F.C.

If I wasn’t a Firebird I’d be… Professional Baseball player

Favourite superhero: Ironman

Favourite holiday destination: Majorca

In my spare time I like to… Relax on the couch

My favourite song is… Sweet Child of Mine

My signature dish is… Roast Pork

My favourite movie is… TED

Chores as kid: Pizza

My favourite food is… Dishes

Favourite school subject: Geography

Worst school subject: Science

Do you have any pets? No

If I could have anything, I would want… A bach in the sounds

The biggest influence on my cricketing career is… My family

Something you didn’t know about me is… I have a degree in business Management