A chip off the old block: Thomas O’Connor outdoes dad Shayne O’Connor in Plunket Shield

Left-arm seamer Thomas O’Connor produced the second spectacular bowling performance in the sixth round of the four-day Plunket Shield, after Brett Randell’s five in five, which ended on Thursday. Thomas, the 21-year-old son of former Black Cap Shayne O’Connor, followed up figures of 7 for 58 in the first innings for Otago against Auckland with 6 for 27 in the second to carry his team to a crucial victory inside three days at Eden Park Outer Oval.

Thomas’ first-innings figures of 7 for 58 is the best for Otago in the Plunket Shield since Neil Wagner claimed 7 for 46 against Wellington in Dunedin in 2011-12. Thomas’ match analysis is the best for Otago since 1989-90 and seventh best overall for the side in the Plunket Shield.

Along the way, Thomas rewrote family history, outdoing Shayne’s career-best first-class figures of 12 for 122 in 1998-99.

Thomas is a chip off the old block. His action and ability to generate inswing, especially, are strikingly similar to Shayne’s. One of those hooping inswingers knocked Auckland No.3 Harrish Kannan over in the first innings. Thomas also got the inswinger going against right-hand batters, pinning Dale Phillips, the brother of Glenn, for 3 in the second innings.

Though Thomas is only four first-class games old, he’s no one-trick pony. Against the left-handed Lachlan Stackpole, the left-arm seamer got the ball to dart away from over the wicket and had him caught behind by keeper Max Chu.

“I think, yeah, our actions are similar, so people have told me,” Thomas said after wrapping up the win for Otago. “But I think the most important advice he [Shayne] has given me is around the mental space, not necessarily anything technical, but to enjoy it, go out there, have fun. We’re pretty lucky to do a job that we love, so enjoy it, enjoy being around your team and contributing to it.

“I think it’ll take a while to sink in. Obviously, you don’t play the game for the milestones, but it’s pretty special to get one. It’s icing on the cake to get a win as well, so yeah, pretty proud and pretty pleased.”

So, does Thomas get to claim bragging rights in the family after toppling his father’s best match figures?

“There’s not a whole heap in terms of banter, but we get on good and I’m sure he’ll be proud,” Thomas said. “He’s definitely got me on wickets and he’s played international cricket, so he’s definitely got me there too. I think as it got, as the pitch aged a little bit, it was a little bit less assistance for the seamers, but I think this plan is to stay the same, as clichéd as it is, try and hit the top of the stumps and play the patience game.”

When Thomas was breaking records in Auckland, Shayne was officiating as a match referee in the third ODI between New Zealand and Zimbabwe in Dunedin. Shayne was promoted to the ICC International Panel of Match Referees last year. During his playing career, Shayne was a potent swing bowler for New Zealand and is known for yorking Steve Waugh for 96 in the WACA Test in 1997. Shayne took 99 international wickets for New Zealand between 1997 and 2001.

Coincidentally, umpire Billy Bowden, who was an umpire in this Plunket Shield game, had also officiated in the Shell Trophy game (now Plunket Shield) in 1999 when Shayne bagged a 12-for.

“No, I didn’t know that,” Thomas said.

Thomas should know that he has a bright future ahead of him. Even before he broke records in the Plunket Shield, he was signed by Leinster club in Ireland as their overseas player for 2026. Thomas also played against the touring West Indians in November last year in Lincoln, where he picked up the wicket of opener John Campbell.

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