Joseph Parker came in for his rematch with Derek Chisora weighing four and a half kilograms more than he had in their initial fight back in May. 113.9kg: the heaviest he’s ever been for a fight by a comfortable margin, topping his 111.9kg against Andy Ruiz in 2016
The stuttering start to Women’s Super Smash in Aotearoa has created a weird points table where three teams are undefeated (Otago, Wellington, Auckland) and two teams are yet to win a game (Central, Northern).
As we approach the good vibes only season, we dive deeper into Super Smash. The games flow swiftly and every few days over the peak Super Smash period, I'll pop up with five notes to ponder across both competitions.
Fighters say all sorts of wild things in the lead up to their bouts, particularly when those bouts are on pay per view broadcasts. Gotta take all of that chat with a grain of salt...especially when it’s Joseph Parker.
Ten wickets in a single innings will do some wild things to your stats. Almost a third of Ajaz Patel’s current Test wicket tally was taken in his eleventh match: the (heavy) loss to India at Mumbai, the city of his birth. The West Auckland Prince of Mumbai with 14 wickets in that one.
With a home World Cup lurking on the horizon, it's safe to say that this is a massive summer of Aotearoa women's cricket.
In pondering how to wrap up the Women's Super Smash action from the past weekend, another Otago Sparks win and Central Hinds loss signaled two teams heading in two different directions.
After a gritty draw in Aotearoa's first Test vs India, the trip down to Mumbai for the second Test didn't quite pan out as well.
Earlier this year I wrote about Otago Sparks optimism as they came out of last summer with a 3-17 record across Hallyburton Johnston Shield and Super Smash. This summer the vibe is vastly different and the seed of optimism has started to sprout into a fun kiwi cricket team.
Another game of international cricket and another opportunity to see Aotearoa's Blackcaps showcase all the same traits that have been instrumental in success across all formats.
Two games into the Men's Super Smash and two very different trends popped up as Finn Allen led Wellington to victory over Canterbury and CD defeated Otago thanks to T20 batting from Greg Hay and Dane Cleaver.
Wellington and Otago started the Women's Super Smash with wins this weekend as Amelia Kerr and Suzie Bates continue to bounce back from a tricky starts to 2021.
Northern Districts wrapped up the Plunket Shield's first stanza with a hefty win over Otago and Aotearoa cricket now moves into a limited overs extravaganza.
Ahead of Aotearoa Blackcaps Test series in India, much of the focus has been around the margins.
Each round of Hallyburton Johnstone Shield cricket is introducing something new whether it’s Northern Districts breaking out of northern restrictions to play their first games of the summer, or Abby Gerken scoring big runs for the first time with Canterbury.
Central Districts Stags grabbed their first win of Aotearoa's Plunket Shield, defeating Wellington Firebirds to jump up to 2nd on the ladder.
Northern Districts Knights made their first Plunket Shield appearance of the summer against Canterbury and juicy Tauranga conditions created a funky game in which both teams stacked up wickets.
Three different formats, three finals and Aotearoa's Blackcaps now enter a new phase of trying to sustain their excellence.
What happens when Trent Boult has his most expensive bowling performances of the T20 World Cup without a wicket, while Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson combine for 9 runs? Aotearoa wins!
Otago Volts grabbed their first win of the Plunket Shield season, defeating Central Districts Stags in Nelson and jumping up to 2nd on the ladder.