See, that could have been my million dollar TV show quiz question, and I wouldn't have had a clue. Every day I lament the 'progressive' world, where we no longer hold onto things that truly meant something to us, but cast them aside if they don't meet the ideals of commodification. This is me talking, the guy who used to wear out VCRs playing old Ranfurly Shield tapes, All Blacks docos, and as late as the end of the 00s, sometimes watched every NPC game on SKY.
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*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread
- Thread starter NZTailender
- Start date
I honestly feel as if we're in for a rude awakening, going forward. From 2015 to 2023, we have been incredibly blessed with the amount of semi-finals and finals we have made. I just can't see how that happens in the next few years. As you say, the WTC is a bridge too far. We don't have the power game for T20s especially, and probably ODIs, either (see 2023 World Cup semi).
This is not a side on the rise. The only hope for it is to find the right leaders, who are prepared to make big calls, invest in the right sort of talent, and ultimately take a different brand to the world. The one we're grimly holding onto might have worked over the 8-10 year period I spoke of, but it required the right sort of cricketers which we no longer have. The IPL signalled a new ridiculous era for scoring in T20Is, as well (yes, I know this wasn't borne out in the World event, but the pitches dictated that) that we aren't equipped for, right now.
Bahnz
Hall of Fame Member
Yeah, Super Rugby became dumb the second they moved away from the original Super 12 format. Now that SA has pulled out it really is stuck in 'why even bother' territory. Can't imagine it's making any money.
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
I'd really like to see Robinson persevered with and hope BJ Jacobs have a big season and het a crack (he has a Tim David vibe imo).
Flem274*
123/5
Super Rugby never had soul. At least now players are used to the idea of living away from home temporarily. When I was young if a Taranaki player got a Super contract then that was it, we would lose that player to a Super Rugby union so he didn't have to move every 6 months.
It was a disgraceful class system that artificially pumped the depth of 5 teams and entrenched them above all others.
The modern, more professional NPC is so much better and I am glad the 90s and 2000s are dead.
It was a disgraceful class system that artificially pumped the depth of 5 teams and entrenched them above all others.
The modern, more professional NPC is so much better and I am glad the 90s and 2000s are dead.
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
???!!!!!!
Latham really shouldn't be in the ODI team. Hay and Chu need international experience before taking the test gloves off Blundell who is 34 in September.
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Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Hard to blame having to play eight T20Is on that. We're the furthest time possible away from another T20 WC, if T20Is were ever going to take up less of the calendar it'd be this season.
8?
In fairness, it would've been 6 had the Pakistan tour not been moved to after the CT. At least the March tour is post-CT, so the next event is the 2026 T20WC.
That's one of the big reasons Stead must go. He's trying to cling to the same old style, but hasn't realised the personnel has changed quite a lot now; it's now at the point where it's become a "square peg, round hole" situation.
You can tell that Wells' selections are trying to nudge the team toward something different, something resembling a new style for a new generation. Don't expect Stead to understand that, though.
Moss
International Captain
Yeah it gives us something to look forward to, but I personally feel it’s come in the way of the team moving forward, as the selectors prefer to stick with the tried and tested in a major tournament. Quite frankly the team seemed to be running on fumes in the 2022 and 2023 WCs, and the semis looked very much the limit. Apart from that @SteveNZ has summed up why the odds aren’t in favour of NZ turning things around anytime soon.
James
Cricket Web Owner
I thought the Super 12 was especially epic, but Super Rugby as a whole was great to watch when South Africa was involved.
Latham as T20 captain would be peak Stead. It could even be Bracewell, which would be probably about as dire.
Who knew we'd get to the end of the performance cycle with this side and be so bereft in so many areas, including leadership? Oh us, yeah CW, we've been saying it for years..
Moss is exactly right, the emphasis on World events is part of why we are where we are. I don't think it's all that, however. Stead has no desire to leave a side for the next guy. He's purely focused on the here and now, keeping his job and bolstering his CV. And he doesn't have the chops to let guys go.
There's the nucleus of a side that could take on Australia in 2026-27 but a few of them won't play enough in the lead up to be ready. Instead, we'll see Southee, Bracewell, maybe Sodhi, Nicholls if we're particularly unlucky, wheeled out another year or two. Even Latham, it's getting to that point where if he averages 25-30, it's time to look elsewhere.
Who knew we'd get to the end of the performance cycle with this side and be so bereft in so many areas, including leadership? Oh us, yeah CW, we've been saying it for years..
Moss is exactly right, the emphasis on World events is part of why we are where we are. I don't think it's all that, however. Stead has no desire to leave a side for the next guy. He's purely focused on the here and now, keeping his job and bolstering his CV. And he doesn't have the chops to let guys go.
There's the nucleus of a side that could take on Australia in 2026-27 but a few of them won't play enough in the lead up to be ready. Instead, we'll see Southee, Bracewell, maybe Sodhi, Nicholls if we're particularly unlucky, wheeled out another year or two. Even Latham, it's getting to that point where if he averages 25-30, it's time to look elsewhere.
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This is a cool perspective from someone in a 'provincial' union as opposed to the five main centres and franchises.
I see it completely differently but I'm from Auckland, so I would. I like the NPC but NZR has made it crystal clear that they don't give a ****. Even the Ranfurly Shield only became relevant for a week last year because a bunch of fwits did blow off it and broke it, then some antique codger said it was very likely dust
Flem274*
123/5
NZR being out of touch with their fans not residing in 6 figure sized cities is not news to me. The NPC has always been relevant outside the Big 5.This is a cool perspective from someone in a 'provincial' union as opposed to the five main centres and franchises.
I see it completely differently but I'm from Auckland, so I would. I like the NPC but NZR has made it crystal clear that they don't give a ****. Even the Ranfurly Shield only became relevant for a week last year because a bunch of fwits did blow off it and broke it, then some antique codger said it was very likely dust
NZR have never provided roughly 2.5 mill of our 5 million people a reason to care about Super. That's a lot of people to not bother engaging.
jcas0167
International Debutant
Not sure if it was the last time but the one off test against India in 1994 was great. Fleming's debut which I was fortunate enough to see live. His back leg seemed to be trembling from nerves before he punched this beautiful cover drive for four to get off the mark. Was at the end of the season after a 3 test series against Pakistan along with an ODI series that ran into April.
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Moss
International Captain
Yeah, there were a quite a few of those in the 90s. Most famous one was probably Wasim and Waqar defending 127 on the final day at Hamilton in 1993. They played another in 1995 in which Mushtaq bowled really well. Maybe Pakistan would've liked to resurrect this for next season based on the memories, ha ha. Can remember tests against South Africa (during that terrible centenary 94-95 season) and Zimbabwe (during a brief phase when Boxing day at the Basin Reserve was a fixture). They even happened as recently as 2010 (Bangladesh) and 2012 (Zimbabwe).
It was before the time I started getting into cricket as a kid, but there was a one-off test in 1990 (probably RJ Hadlee's last home test?) in which NZ beat Australia at the Basin, must be a great memory for those who watched it. Saw the highlights on YT and RJH's ball to clean up Steve Waugh was pretty insane.
Neil Young
State Vice-Captain
I went to the last day of that 1990 game v Aus, to see Wright and Jones knock off the runs. Can't remember the overnight score but seem to recall the game may have been still in the balance.
Though it's entirely possible we only needed 8 to win with 10 wickets in hand, and I was just extremely pessimistic.
Good times, though. Love the Basin Reserve. So many good memories.