BLACKCAPS Update - Wait, Are NZC Broke?
Wait ... what!? Australia said we've gotta clean their bowling boots as well?
Had you been flicking through your various mainstream media outlets last Friday, you would have probably thought that the BLACKCAPS were about to embark on a mission to save the world. Mike Hesson named a squad that blatantly resembles our strongest collection of cricketers, but the kerfuffle made about the announcement and the headlines that followed made it seem like Hesson had dropped a few bombshells.
New Zealand Cricket are enjoying a nice little run, if they were a batsman then they'd be 'in form' as their PR team tries valiantly to maintain hype surrounding cricket, leftover from the World Cup.
On the surface, all looks well don't it? Somehow cricket grabbed headlines despite the All Blacks dominating headlines with what colour their undies are.
But this came after NZC announced that domestic first-class cricket would no longer have match referees. This was solely because NZC couldn't afford to serve up a match referee at each game - they admitted that they were tight on cash. In isolation, this is odd given that NZC just co-hosted a World Cup which was nothing short of a raging success. I'm not sure how much money NZC put in their stash after the World Cup and how much went into the pockets of the ICC, but you'd have to think that they made enough to fork out for match referees, right?
Our national body can't afford match referees?
That's the match ref issue in isolation, but combine it with the BLACKCAPS summer schedule and there's a worrying smell of 'paper chasing'.
Having your mind on your money and money on your mind is admirable, it's the reason we all wake up before 10am (well some of us/ya'll, tehe). And obviously we are talking about professional sport here where bills and salaries need to be paid as well as making a profit so why do I care? Well there's a whiff of desperation coming from NZC, which is yuck.
The basic premise of the new documentary 'Death Of A Gentleman' is that cricket's evil trio of England, Australia and India are driving cricket towards more limited overs cricket because it makes the most money. The title 'Death Of A Gentleman' refers to the gentlemanly game that is Test cricket, staring an apparent death right in the eyes as cricket becomes all about that dosh.
Now, allow me to look at the BLACKCAPS home schedule this summer - which was announced with a press conference and more kerfuffle. After much of Aotearoa kicked up a fuss about the two-Test series in England earlier this year, NZC opted for two Tests, five ODIs and two T20s against Sri Lanka. There could have easily have been a third Test, just cut out the T20s or two ODIs, simple - but Tests don't make as much money and aren't as sexy to the casual fan.
Pakistan then arrive for three T20s and three ODIs. What kinda fucking series is that?
We then have two Tests against Australia, but that's preceded by three ODIs.
NZC crowed about taking cricket to the regions, clearly a move to cash in on the back of the World Cup. The regions don't see any Test cricket though, in fact, the regions don't get anything that's overly different to how the summer usually looks with Mt Maunganui and Nelson getting a few games while the rest of the games being hosted by Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton and Napier. Nothing new there.
On top of the lack of match referees and a blatant cash-grab with limited overs cricket, NZC were then held to ransom by their Australian counterparts; 'we're going to play a day/night Test and you've got no choice'. Again, NZC's PR department love this and have spun it as 'history making' and so on. I don't doubt that and this may be the way of the future, but that's the case because of financial reasons and Cricket Australia have been trying to push for a day/night Test for a few years now. Because we're all desperate to see the BLACKCAPS go head to head with the Aussies, we've got to toe the line of Australia - who are part of that trio of nations who run cricket.
So NZC can't afford match referees and despite kiwis loving some Test cricket, we'll get fed a diet of limited overs cricket, oh and Uncle Australia said we've gotta do what they say.
I find that all very odd given that the BLACKCAPS are the strongest they have been for 10-15 years. NZC should be in a position of power, but instead it looks like they are just trying to make end's meat.
Yeah, squads. The BLACKCAPS squad to tour Australia is as expected and holds no real dramas, besides Hamish Rutherford once again being picked. Rutherford has enjoyed a nice English summer though with Derbyshire where he hit a century and two 50s in five First Class games plus a century and a 50 in three List A games.
Personally, I find the 'New Zealand A' squads far more interesting. There's two notable inclusions, I consider them to be notable because both Jacob Duffy and Will Young are the most likely youngsters to earn higher honours over the next few years. I also like that Michael Bracewell has earned selection as he's a hard-hitting lefty and when Sri Lanka 'A' arrive in October I'll be very interested to see how these three lads perform.
One-day Squad
Tom Blundell
Michael Bracewell
Jacob Duffy
Andrew Mathieson
Henry Nicholls
Ed Nuttall
Michael Pollard
Hamish Rutherford
Mitchell Santner
Ish Sodhi
Ben Wheeler
George Worker
Will Young
Four-Day Squad
Todd Astle
Michael Bracewell
Dean Brownlie
Derek de Boorder
Jacob Duffy
Colin Munro
Henry Nicholls
Ed Nuttall
Jeet Raval
Mitchell Santner
Neil Wagner
Ben Wheeler
Will Young