Jono Boult was an accomplished all-rounder who played over one hundred games in the uniform of the Northern Districts Cricket professional team.
 
However, it was his association with Bay of Plenty Cricket that stretches back over two decades, which has allowed him to know the Bay Oval as well as the back of his hand. Allocated  BOPCA Player Number 467, against Poverty Bay on the 2nd February 2003, the elder Boult brother would go on to play 86 games for his province.
 
On the way to his last Bay outing in 2019, Jono would post 2440 runs and capture 155 wickets. He is a member of a rare band of Bay of Plenty warriors with a century and six wickets (x three) on the Bay honours board.
 
His introduction to the newly minted Bay Oval came against Counties Manukau in a two-day encounter, played 2nd & 3rd February 2008. He scored a modest 10 runs in his side's first innings, before flexing his shoulders in the Bay side's second turn at bat, to hammer an unbeaten 65 which included 10 fours. 
 
Three seasons ago he put his hand up to coach the Bay of Plenty senior men's team. His first season was a solid learning curve, and the team ended the cricket year with the ND two-day prize of the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl.
 
Season two, the Bay coach applied all the lessons learnt from his first time in charge of the Bay troops. A remarkable ten wins and a solitary loss propelled the team to the ND one- and two-day prizes. They had an unbeaten record in the ND Super Smash tournament at the Bay Oval but saw the trophy awarded to Waikato Valley, by way of a superior run rate. 
 
The 2025/26 season produced an exceptional achievement when Bay of Plenty travelled to the Naki to relieve the home side of the BNZ Hawke Cup. A Niven Dovey century gave the team the big prize in provincial cricket. However, the tenure was short-lived when Canterbury Country took the Hawke Cup home just two weeks after the Bays' big win.
 
The 2025/26 season also gave the Bay of Plenty the only trophy missing from Jono Boult's time in charge, when they literally smashed the opposition to win the ND Super Smash title with an unbeaten record. 
 
Can you remember your best playing performance on the Bay Oval?

There haven't been too many individual highlights that stand out for me. If anything, the bigger highlights have been team achievements. One that definitely stands out was winning the Hawke Cup off Manawatu (Editor's note: v Manawatu at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui 8/10 February 2013: Manawatu 275 & 188 - Bay of Plenty 256 & 209/3). Those are the moments you remember because it's about the whole group and what you've achieved together, rather than one individual performance.
 
That's probably also how I look at cricket in general. The team achievements mean a lot more to me than individual stats or performances.
 
Does the Bay Oval favour batters or bowlers?

I think it's probably a little more batter-friendly when the conditions are good, but I wouldn't say it's purely a batting ground.
 
What are the keys to posting big scores and taking significant wicket hauls on the Bay Oval?

With the bat, it's about partnerships. You don't necessarily have to go out and score at ten an over. If you build a good partnership and get yourself in, there are opportunities to put a big score together.
 
With the ball, I think you've got to be prepared to attack. The dimensions of the ground mean you can put pressure on batters if you get your fields right and bowl to a clear plan.
 
The biggest thing is probably discipline and patience. You can't get caught up in the fact that it's a good batting ground. If you stick to your plan, wickets will come.
 
How difficult was it to make the transition from playing to coaching? 

It was probably harder than I expected.
 
As a player, you're responsible for yourself. As a coach, you're trying to get 11 different people performing at their best, and everyone needs something slightly different.
 
The biggest lesson for me was that coaching isn't about having all the answers. It's about understanding your players, giving them confidence and putting them in positions where they can succeed.
 
I've always been pretty competitive, and I hated losing as a player, so learning to take a step back and not try to control everything has probably been one of the biggest adjustments.
 
What are the skills needed to become a competent cricket coach?

You need to understand cricket, obviously, but I actually think the people side is more important.
 
You've got to be able to communicate, listen and build relationships. You need to understand that what works for one player might not work for another.
 
You also need to be organised and prepared, but you have to be adaptable because cricket doesn't always go to plan.
 
And you've got to genuinely want your players to improve. If the players know that you care about them and their development, you get a lot more out of them.
 
What are the biggest lessons that you have learned as the Bay coach?

You can have the best game plan in the world, but if you don't have the trust of your players, it doesn't mean much.
 
I've also learnt that you've got to give people responsibility. Players need to feel like they're part of the team rather than just being told what to do.
 
The other big thing is being prepared to change. Every season is different; availability changes and players develop at different rates. You have to be able to adapt while still keeping the standards high.
 
Tell us about the big call to appoint Ollie White the Bay of Plenty Captain two years ago, when he had played just two Bay games, in the 2021/22 season?

It was a big call, but it wasn't a decision we made without a lot of thought.
 
I'd seen enough of Ollie to know what sort of person he was and what he could bring to the group. He had the cricketing ability, but more importantly, I thought he had the personality and leadership qualities to take the team forward.
 
Tell us your thoughts when Ollie was named ND District Association Player of the Year at this year's ND prize giving. 

I was really pleased for him.
 
When we decided to give Ollie the captaincy, we were backing him not just as a player but as a leader. To see how he's developed since then and receive that sort of recognition is pretty satisfying.
 
What's impressed me most is that he's continued to improve. He's taken on responsibility, he's become an important part of the Bay group, and he's shown that he belongs at that level.
 
And for a coach, that's one of the most rewarding things — seeing someone you've backed go on and prove themselves.
 
Who has become your team nucleus over the past three seasons?

The key to this group is that it isn't just a few players. It's the whole group. That's probably been one of the biggest reasons we've had the success we've had.
 
We've got experienced players who lead by example, but we also expect everyone in the group to take ownership and be a leader in their own way.
 
For me, the key is creating a really strong culture where everyone feels responsible for the team and understands the standards we're trying to set.
 
That also makes bringing new players into the group easier. If you've got 11 players all taking responsibility and looking after each other, rather than relying on two or three leaders, it creates a much stronger team environment.
 
What are the equations you must make when the Bay professional players are available? 

It's a good problem to have, but it can be difficult.
 
Obviously you want your best team on the park, and the professional players bring a huge amount of experience and quality.
 
But we're also trying to develop Bay players. If you constantly bring professionals in and local players don't get opportunities, you're not necessarily building the programme for the future.
 
So you've got to look at the opposition, the conditions, the format and the individual players available and work out what's best for that particular game.
 
The goal isn't just to win one game. It's to build a Bay team that can be successful year after year.
 
With your appointment again as the Bay coach for the upcoming season - what are your season goals and how are you going to achieve them?

The goal is to keep up the success we've had over the last few years and continue to compete at the top level.
 
There will be a few personal changes within the group this season, so one of the big challenges will be bringing some new players into the team and making that transition as seamless as possible.
 
We've got a good culture and a strong group already, so it's about making sure the new players understand what we expect, feel comfortable within the environment and can contribute quickly.
 
If we can maintain the standards we've set over the last few seasons while integrating the new players well, hopefully the results will take care of themselves.
 
Tell us how you balance your business of Boult Flooring with the Bay of Plenty coaching duties.

It's definitely a balancing act.
 
I've got a business to run with Boult Flooring, so being organised is really important. I've also got a good team around me, which makes a big difference.
 
The funny thing is that coaching and running a business have a lot of similarities. Both are about dealing with people, building relationships, solving problems and making decisions.
 
I enjoy both, so although it can be busy, I wouldn't have it any other way.