Sports 🏏 Black Caps

[CWC]

I couldn't understand why Kane Williamson would relinquish the Test Captaincy and keep the white ball captaincy.

Williamson is the best captain for Tests and surprise surprise is now going to play Tests only for NZ.

Unless of course he doesn't want the test captaincy, but if that were the case you wouldn't keep the short form captaincy either.

NZC seems to be in a pretty messed up place. It really feels that all the while we have had the best part of 15 years of success, they have not been re-investing in the grass roots, eroding it more like.

Now the golden generation has come to an end (and make no mistake, it has ended, a while ago) there is bugger all coming through.

They just messed around with Sky to make deals with Spark to get that $ and now it's ending up on TVNZ with different broadcasters for domestic and overseas NZ games

When they gave the rights to Spark where the ratings were so bad that they could only brag about how many social media youngsters watched 20 second clips on FB, you know the game will die in this country the way they run it

I couldn't find Ross Taylor's last game (think it was exclusive on Spark) then you see the way Wagner got dumped, and Boult retiring from T20 world cup like this, and I'm a long time fan.

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

Even if NZC were on top of their game, the environment is so difficult, it’s indias world when it comes to cricket we are just living it, and they don’t care enough about us to invite us into the party.

The national team is really the springboard into mindless T20 garbage, but that’s what pays, even if we unearth the next Shane bond he would disappear to play in those comps - and he’d be right too, fast bowling is terrible for you physically.

So then your largely left with toilers and grinders who love the game but don’t have that magic dust that makes cricket worth watching as a broadcast product

 

[Ever Hopeful]

I couldn't understand why Kane Williamson would relinquish the Test Captaincy and keep the white ball captaincy.

Williamson is the best captain for Tests and surprise surprise is now going to play Tests only for NZ.

Unless of course he doesn't want the test captaincy, but if that were the case you wouldn't keep the short form captaincy either.

NZC seems to be in a pretty messed up place. It really feels that all the while we have had the best part of 15 years of success, they have not been re-investing in the grass roots, eroding it more like.

Now the golden generation has come to an end (and make no mistake, it has ended, a while ago) there is bugger all coming through.

I was talking to a domestic selector and stalwart of NZ cricket last week. He had a different perspective (and not one I'd considered).

He believes that NZC has had a blinkered approach where they are seeking and only investing in youth, leaving others to drift out of the game. He correctly pointed out that young prodigies are once a generation if you are lucky, and the late twenties are when a player really starts to hit their straps.

Think of the years of Australian dominance when you'd break into the team at closer to 30 on the weight of consistency in domestic cricket where you have had trials and tribulations and worked your game out. He said we used to be much more patient, knowing that development is a long game.

The likes of Mitchell, Jamieson, Henry, Conway etc. all required a longer bake in the oven.

I'd hazard a guess that the glitzy player is favoured over the hardworking, more dour and less adaptive stalwart in today's world too. Players that ultimately have little substance.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

The Afghani openers are doing to Aussie the same as what they did to us on a difficult pitch.

Their batsman might stand up though.

 

[CWC]

I was talking to a domestic selector and stalwart of NZ cricket last week. He had a different perspective (and not one I'd considered).

He believes that NZC has had a blinkered approach where they are seeking and only investing in youth, leaving others to drift out of the game. He correctly pointed out that young prodigies are once a generation if you are lucky, and the late twenties are when a player really starts to hit their straps.

Think of the years of Australian dominance when you'd break into the team at closer to 30 on the weight of consistency in domestic cricket where you have had trials and tribulations and worked your game out. He said we used to be much more patient, knowing that development is a long game.

The likes of Mitchell, Jamieson, Henry, Conway etc. all required a longer bake in the oven.

I'd hazard a guess that the glitzy player is favoured over the hardworking, more dour and less adaptive stalwart in today's world too. Players that ultimately have little substance.

Unless they’ve changed tactics recently I thought they have been doing exactly that in the Stead era, before that our golden gen got their starts around 2010 (Kane, Boult, Souther, Anderson, even Guppy and Ross got early starts), then we had Henry who debuted at 21-22 hence he’s already played 3 world cups ODI, and Latham was a baby when he started test cricket and was in the 2015 world cup squad, Nicols was 23 when selected.

Then since 2016 the best the youngsters could do was the T20 (Seifert, Chapman) and everyone else were held back till they are past 24-25, Philips, Mitchell, DeGrohomme, Blundell, Fergey, Jamieson

Even Ravindra was lucky to start at the world cup due to injuries and Allen still is not a regular ODI starter. And our guys are now not durable for 2-3 world cups in peak condition

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Afghanistan have beaten Australia.

Both teams that NZ lost to, now in with a fair shot of being in the last 4.

The start of this comp was a real ambush for the Kiwis.

 

[Inruin]

 

[Ever Hopeful]

And the death of test cricket. Three likely rain affected games as would be usual for December.

I could understand if we were leading into a World Cup or something...

I'm really sad about all of this. We're not getting to watch the late careers of some of our players.

Think of all of the records that Kane should have broken.

And still teal...NZC is playing silly buggers at the moment

 

[jonesy101]

And the death of test cricket. Three likely rain affected games as would be usual for December.

I could understand if we were leading into a World Cup or something...

I'm really sad about all of this. We're not getting to watch the late careers of some of our players.

Think of all of the records that Kane should have broken.

And still teal...NZC is playing silly buggers at the moment

On the one hand I'm stoked we are getting a 3 test series against a decent side. On the other hand I am devastated that there is no test cricket in February and March as it's the perfect end to the summer and has been a tradition for so many years now. Is this a result of the South African and UAE T20 leagues taking over?

 

[jonesy101]

I've just read that there is an ICC Champions trophy in February. This is the likely answer for no tests in the usual window.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

On the one hand I'm stoked we are getting a 3 test series against a decent side. On the other hand I am devastated that there is no test cricket in February and March as it's the perfect end to the summer and has been a tradition for so many years now. Is this a result of the South African and UAE T20 leagues taking over?

I didn't really give enough credit for the three test series - NZ v England has had a good thing going for a while now.

England will be coming off a packed itinerary. NZ go in with virtually no cricket in many months. We might be ready come game 3.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Further to earlier discussion about the Afghani women's team.

New Zealand and Australia asking the ICC to set aside money for them.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/...nue-to-fund-afghanistan-women-players-1443845

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Just read that the 3 home tests this year are no anomaly. It looks like 25/26 has just a two test series against the West Indies for the summer.

 

[WA Warrior]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Didn’t even know this was happening.

I see you both sides but I’m pretty happy the Black Caps are sticking strong.

No problem Kane getting the casual contract but I don’t think Conway should receive one to be honest.

 

[mrblonde]

Nah, stuff anyone who wants to feck around with IPL/Whatever T20 League Is On That Month...
New Zealand really needs to decide which format it's prioritising (and if that's T20, that's fine, not the one I'd pick, but fine, just pick one!) and go with that.
I honestly think cricket's screwing itself up in terms of growing the game internationally by allowing so many formats (T10, T20, ODI, 2 Day, 3 Day, 4 Day, Test is that all??). Which one is The One?
Rugby League has yet to fall victim to "let's create new formats!" craziness, the 9s they rightly kept as a pre-season Weekend Tournament...

 

[Inruin]

Another test fifty for that bum Daryl Mitchell

 

[Riz]

Another test fifty for that bum Daryl Mitchell

Such an overrated cricketer, aye Wrighty

 

[miket12]

O'Rourke and Phillips to bat through the day and create a new 10th wicket partnership record of 200 not out surpassing Root and Andersen's record!!!

 

[miket12]

O'Rourke and Phillips to bat through the day and create a new 10th wicket partnership record of 200 not out surpassing Root and Andersen's record!!!

Or maybe not!!!

 

[Funky Ed Koosie]

I think SL are going for 1000