The hard-hitting all-rounder scored two hundreds in two days for Otago Boys' High School at the Gillette Cup in Lincoln during the weekend.
In a withering assault he whacked 103 from 55 deliveries - including six sixes and 12 fours - in an exciting tied match with Hutt International Boys' School on Saturday. And yesterday he was at it again with 106 from 81 deliveries against Christ's College. That innings featured eight sixes and five fours.
"After Saturday's 100 I didn't think I'd see a better innings. But [yesterday's] innings was pretty special as well," OBHS First XI coach Ken Rust said yesterday.
"It was as good as it gets. He didn't give a chance and played one poor shot, and that was with one over to go. It was a faultless innings and he was patient.
"There was a strong wind blowing here and Mike was content to push the ball around when he was hitting into the wind. But down wind he hit straight and at least half of his sixes were straight back down the ground. It was effortless, really."
The 18-year-old is also a talented midfielder. He was the only South Islander to make the New Zealand Schools team this season and helped the Otago Boys' First XV win the Highlanders First XV competition earlier this year.
Australian rugby league club the Melbourne Storm got wind of his skills and flew the teenager over for a trial.
Rugby has won the battle for now with Collins signing a three-year deal with the Otago Rugby Football Union. But that does not exclude him from playing cricket.
"Michael's contract allows him to play whatever cricket he likes as long as that is not during the rugby season," Rust said.
"So he would be available for any Otago rep teams if they want to pick him."
Rust is in no doubt Collins has the skills to succeed in cricket at the elite level.
"If I compared him with some of the young guys who are in the Volts now, he has probably had a more successful career in school cricket than, say, Michael Bracewell. He got 188 against Timaru Boys' in an inter-school this year and that was coming to the wicket when we were two for four.
"And because he is such a good athlete, I suspect he could play first-class cricket if he was given the right pathway."
Despite Collins' effort with the bat, Otago Boys' was unable to defend its total of 215 for nine with Christ's College reaching the target with five wickets and 10 balls to spare.
• Otago Boys' High School 215 for nine (Collins 106) lost to Christ's College 217 for five (Uttley 49, McGoldrick 46, Duncan 43)
• Otago Boys' High School 279 for six (Collins 103, Griffin 64) tied with Hutt International Boys' School 279 for eight (McIlvride 67, Brown 51).
