Alexander McKenzie (17) spent a term at Winchester College as the third annual recipient of the scholarship, which is funded by the Mark Parker Memorial Trust.
However, the cricketing allrounder, who made his school's first XI while in year 10, was chosen on the basis of an interview and academic results, as well as his sporting ability.
From April 20 to July 1, he joined the ranks of 700 boys at the 625-year-old public school, which is situated in the city of Winchester, Hampshire.
Now back at home in Timaru, Alexander said he felt satisfaction at making the most of the opportunity, and was ‘‘chuffed'' with his performances on the cricket field.
Playing two games a week, he finished as the school's top run scorer with 630 from 13 innings, at an average of 44. His aggressive approach as an opening batsman also netted him three centuries and three 50s.
He also opened the English school team's bowling, capturing 22 wickets at an average of 22, and narrowly missed out on being the team's top wicket-taker.
Compared with schoolboy cricket in Canterbury, he found the quality of opposition teams more variable.
At the high end was Harrow, another famous public school, the first XI of which contained two boys on county contracts and three with international experience at under-19 level.
The fact that his predecessors in the scholarship had succeeded meant he was embraced by the school but also had high expectations to live up to.
‘‘There was a lot of pressure on me.
‘‘I just wanted to be a good representative for Mark Parker and make a good name for our school.''
Because of his relatively short stay, he was given assignments from his Timaru Boys' High teachers to work on during his time in the classroom.
However, Winchester College was rated among England's top three academic schools and he felt its studious atmosphere had rubbed off on his own work ethic in the classroom.
During his stay, he had made friends whom he hoped would be friends for life.
Alexander said he realised how lucky he was to be chosen for the scholarship, describing it as ‘‘the chance of a lifetime''.
‘‘You get to go to England for three months and do something you love. I loved it, it was amazing - the best time of my life.''
The sudden change from playing cricket in the stately, lush green environs of Winchester College to the muddy rugby fields of South Canterbury have not been too much of a shock.
The first five-eighth said he was ‘‘so keen to get into the rugby'', even though he had missed two-thirds of the season with the Timaru Boys' High first XV.
However, he would keep practising cricket indoors through the remainder of winter.
As for the future, he intends to begin a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Otago next year and play Dunedin club cricket.
He had not set himself any specific goals for achieving higher honours in the sport.
‘‘I'll just do my best and see what happens.''
- The Mark Parker Memorial Trust was formed after the death of Timaru Boys' High School old boy and first class cricketer Mark Parker, at age 27, in the terrorist bombings in Bali in October, 2002. Through fundraising, grants and scholarships, the trust assists young people with leadership ability to fulfil their potential and contribute to New Zealand society.
