*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[Skyliner]

As for the Weenink interview, I'd have to disagree with Immenso that it was excellent. Unless I'm missing a longer version than the 26 mins?

In terms of a sporting analogy, that was Weenink receiving some nice HVs and a couple of mildly threatening bouncers that passed harmlessly over his head. Or a bit of tee ball when Devlin could have thrown some fast balls. I thought the idea of independent media was to ask hard questions and get what the fans really want, not just a verbal press release? Calling the NZC CEO 'mate' a lot isn't cutting it.

As Immenso said, he touched on Southee but did not go into detail, which is fine because he is the CEO and not a selector (I learned today that Bryan Stronach is, which I find interesting). No one in the public cares about revenue slices. We might care about the position of TVNZ to be able to pick up the next TV detail, without Spark underwriting it as they are now, or as expected that SKY or another online presence may look to outbid them.

We hear that the team culture is 'incredible' - something I'd challenge for the White Ferns who basically didn't win a game outside the World Cup, and the issues the men's side had - and a bunch of other fluff. Interestingly again, he said Lockie would be made unavailable if his ILT20 side makes the final, and replaced by Duffy.

Devlin has often made himself out to be this maverick who doesn't conform to the general way of the media (hence why he worked for The Platform) but that's the same guff we get everywhere else. Why not go deeper on issues? Who is going to be the new coach, or what's that process like? What's the future of the FTP and windows for franchise cricket etc? Should Test cricket be a loss leader for the viability of the game, given that format is all anyone talks about with any depth of interest?

I guess if Devlin doesn't 'play nice' then he loses access to Weenink. Throws the 'mate' stuff out there but also asks directly about Southee which no-one in the MSM would dare do. A pit of grit amongst the fawning. Just raising that with CEO is acknowledgment of the intense public interest there was in that story. Unfortunately everything is totally sanitised and corporatised these days, it's the same over at NZRU. The 'best corporate robot' invariably gets the CEO position and these types are past masters at saying plenty....while saying nothing at all of substance.
NZC should be paying attention to the bumper crowds that attended NZ test matches this year, the renaissance of test cricket in general with the BGT seeing a record crowd for a test in Australia, and the significant success that NZ has enjoyed in this format: winning the WTC and thumping India at home 3-0 are hugely significant results. Weenink and co have recently added another home test against the West Indies next summer, perhaps a sign that the penny is dropping. Now the organisation needs to recognise the paramount importance of the 4 test tour of Australia in 2026. Decisions need to be taken on how to give the team the best chance of success in this most important series. This is a huge chance for NZ cricket to secure further credibility and respect from the 'big nations', not least of which is our near neighbour Australia.

 

[SteveNZ]

Yep, great post. And you're right, it is a fine line to tread with asking hard questions and losing access, and also the human tendency to want to be socially righteous. Unfortunately (to a point) that's symptomatic of NZ sport - too small, too close, too nice. Hard to put pressure on, slightly different in rugby but not by too much.

 

[SteveNZ]

To be fair, most of my questions I'd have asked weren't 'tough' questions but a bit more relevant and engaging than the stuff Devlin used

 

[Immenso]

As for the Weenink interview, I'd have to disagree with Immenso that it was excellent. Unless I'm missing a longer version than the 26 mins?

I think that there is even a 25 minute interview with our nzc CEO is interesting in itself, tbh.

In a previous era, e.g. hayday of the 7pm current affair shows etc. You might get harder hitting interviews, but they would only be 5 minutes long etc fitting into ad breaks and so on.

 

[Immenso]

I thought the treatment of Fergusson's casual contract compared to the batsmen (Williamson and Cnway) was interesting. Expectations around preperation time for the freelancers for the CT tournament. I didn't catch it all as was doing breakfast routine stuff at the time, and will need to re-listen to that.

Adding an extra (third) test v Windies was interesting info.

The revenue slices:
- 25% Spark/TVNZ. (This deal ends in 18 months)
- 25% Sony (India). This is a 7 year deal, and still 6 years to go.
- other major slice being ICC distributions (but didn't put a % on it)

 

[Immenso]

So, on the Ferguson v Conway/Williamson casual contract.

My understanding from that interview is that Conway & Williamson each have a casual contract with NZC, while Ferguson does not.

This was based on working out their franchise commitments and seeing the percentage of clash of expected blackcaps commitments. For WIlliamson and Conway. They basically only were unavailble for the Sri Lanka JAM homes series, so were available for 90% of fixtures.

For Ferguson. As a while-baller (and whatever franchise leagues he was committing too) He was going to miss basically everything (or too much) of what they would want to give a casual contract for.

So, Fergusson is 100% operating on franshise money (plus match fees when he plays for NZ in the CT).
While Conway and Williamson, sounds to me, they have some sort of nzc retainer - despite not being on 'central contracts'.

 

[capt_Luffy]

I really was scared **** less of the bashing that list would receive when athlai posted it here (FP already bashed it there, but I knew it was coming)...... Relatively turned out to be mild with CDG being the main complaint (initially forgot to add him, shoved him in there for O'Connor at the last moment).

 

[SteveNZ]

I really was scared **** less of the bashing that list would receive when athlai posted it here (FP already bashed it there, but I knew it was coming)...... Relatively turned out to be mild with CDG being the main complaint (initially forgot to add him, shoved him in there for O'Connor at the last moment).

Having a look through now, there's a lot I'd probably take umbrage with (Chris Martin is too low and Matt Henry is better than him; Jamieson over Bond doesn't work; Morrison>Doull, and a few others...but good on you man, we all have opinions. I hadn't heard of some of the early 1900s Indian pacers which was a cool dive into their history.

 

[_Ed_]

I'm not relishing the prospect of all the puns if he ends up in Black Caps contention in a few years' time.

 

[Athlai]

I really was scared **** less of the bashing that list would receive when athlai posted it here (FP already bashed it there, but I knew it was coming)...... Relatively turned out to be mild with CDG being the main complaint (initially forgot to add him, shoved him in there for O'Connor at the last moment).

It wasn't bad but I thought they'd enjoy CDG's placement over Tuff. We're also a notoriously nitpicky community about things like Southee/Wagner/Bond so I figured they'd bicker more

 

[jcas0167]

I'm not relishing the prospect of all the puns if he ends up in Black Caps contention in a few years' time.

It's not unusual for headline writers to come up with terrible puns regardless. Jeremy Coney's grandson. Good to see him do well - had a fairly underwhelming under 19 WC last year IIRC.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Somewhat agree with the first paragraph, though that logic applies much more to test cricket than ODIs. Totally fine with someone quick but unproven like Sears getting a run over Duffy in test cricket. Far less so in ODIs which require a different skill set and 'just buy a wicket with pace' seems less viable.

Remember Milne cleaning up Gayle in the 2015 semi? Raw pace is such an asset in any format, it's worth the risk.

Hard disagree on the second paragraph, even though I'm sure NZ selectors see it that way too. I think Smith's batting should be almost irrelevant in ODI cricket right now, firstly because he's fresh and secondly because in our all-rounder-heavy lineup, he could easily end up batting all the way down at 9. Eight more likely, though it could be 9. And on pure ODI bowling Duffy is simply better than Smith at the moment, imo.

There's a bit of debate around this but the value of lower order batters isn't the actual runs they score, it's that they have a measurable effect on the risk tolerance of top-order players. If you know you bat to 9 you can go a lot harder at the top knowing you have an insurance policy.

 

[jcas0167]

Classic NZC ad. That account has also got some great highlights of the 92/93 season.

 

[_Ed_]

Enjoyed the write-up (and high ranking) of our win in India here.

The greatest away series wins in cricket history

From England beating Australia in 1895 to New Zealand in India last year, here are the sport’s best away performances

www.theguardian.com

 

[Zinzan]

I'm not relishing the prospect of all the puns if he ends up in Black Caps contention in a few years' time.

I wondered if that was Richard Jones' son which it isn't, but turns out Tom is Jeremy Coney's grandson

 

[Zinzan]

Enjoyed the write-up (and high ranking) of our win in India here.

The greatest away series wins in cricket history

From England beating Australia in 1895 to New Zealand in India last year, here are the sport’s best away performances

www.theguardian.com

Good read, but the NZ 3-0 result in India should be the clear no. 1 for me. I doubt bookies would have declined giving $5000 /1 odds of NZ winning by the 3-0 margin going into the series.

 

[honestbharani]

I suppose the "greatest" is a subjective term but I struggle to think of a bigger upset than the NZ series win in India. I mean, even if they had won 2-1, for me it would have been the biggest upset in my time of watching cricket, given our domination and where NZ were coming into the series.

The only thing holding it back may perhaps well be how bad India were. We find a way to even **** that up for you guys, lol.

 

[Flem274*]

Yeah in 2016 and whatever the other tour was not too long after solid showings in the UAE, we expected solid but unsuccessful efforts and got wiped instead. Last year we expected death and got the GOAT NZ result.

I think if the 2010 team pulled it off, and they were in the hunt before ****in Indian voldemort ruined my sporting life and we folded in test 3, that would have been even more incredible but still that would have been 1-0 not 3-0.

 

[NZTailender]

Good read, but the NZ 3-0 result in India should be the clear no. 1 for me. I doubt bookies would have declined giving $5000 /1 odds of NZ winning by the 3-0 margin going into the series.

*Before opening the link* I wonder if the winner involves England

*Opens link. Looks directly at camera*

 

[NZTailender]

Lou Vincent is playing in the Black Clash tonight. Guy will be super emotional, I hope he gets a good cheer.