I've always been disappointed with the lack of exposure for cricket in New Zealand, and to the rest of the cricketing world as well. After the run in the 2015 wc, I thought it would change and open eyes. Although I did hear of more kids signing up and a higher interest in general...my initial fears came true, that fear being that NZC would completely bottle it and all that momentum, fanfare, the amazing amazing unbelievable unprecedented memories created in that tournament, would all go to waste. Its a goddamn shame.
I'll give you all general examples, I go on youtube and there are barely any full match highlights involving New zealand. Also, unlike England, India, Australia, Sri Lanka, West indies, and now even Pakistan, the blackcaps youtube channel is completely useless. There are no highlights of recent matches, nothing. I'm living in canada trying to find some footage and I can't even imagine how gutting it would be for a younger kid in nz aspiring to be the next kane, boult, bond and then going on common media platforms and find nothing but farts about NZC. Kids from the other nations though, have more than enough footage to gorge on and be inspired by their heroes.
Something that disgusts me to my core is the involvement of sky sports NZ or sky sports in general. I'll bring it back to youtube again...do you all remember the greatest day in New zealand cricketing history 4 years ago? New zealand vs south africa, world cup semi-finals. It was fantastic wasn't it? Well, sky doesn't think so. I have seen numerous youtubers post full length highlights of that match, over these last 4 yeas, the views always ROCKET to hundreds of thousands and even more a million in nothing more than 2 or 3 days, but each time, sky takes it down for copyright or some other bull. Same goes with basically all the other matches that New zealand had in that tournament, they are removed as fast they are uploaded. I have to give special mention to that time of our lives documentary as well, it is a brilliant one hour piece of nz's journey to the final. It is something that should be up for free on youtube and other platforms as a staple for a fan or new fan to marvel at. But of course, its gone as soon as its uploaded. You would think that after all these years, such iconic content should be up there for the world to see but once again, Sky and NZC doing what they do best, which is nothing at all. And you would think that for being such a small nation with such little resource and talent pool, the cricketing board and broadcasters would go out of their way to BRING the content to the people so you get more engagement and fanfare, instead of actually RESTRICTING and removing...its one of the most puzzling things I have ever seen. You need all the help you can get but you aren't even helping yourself. Its like being a new restaurant owner and not advertising, and then also turning the ones who do come, away from your establishment.
The people WANT to see this content, they want to reminisce on the history and they are HUNGRY, but they are never given those moments to be inspired by. If you even narrow it down to just the players, there is barely any footage on the star players as well, including kane, boult, ross, gup, and newer firebrands like sodhi and ferguson. No spells, no innings, there just isn't much for people to see therefore, no opportunity for them to spectate on their nation's exploits to become a fan and back them.
And form what I've heard repeatedly, on tv, there isn't much domestic cricket exposure to the nz public as well. So that only adds....when NZC and sky don't give a crap, why should the people?
Hell, even on commentary, other than Ian Smith, our other commentators in doully and co, like to talk about the other teams more than our own boys. At least that's the feel I get whenever I tune in to watch a nz match.
We neeeeeed to start backing our boys a lot more and put more eyes on them. We need to start painting these lads as the big stars in our backyard and their success needs to be plastered all over the place for the world to see. This whole dark horse, low key underdog underrated persona that has haunted NZ for so long needs to vanish.
Now I know this might not directly correlate with the NZC turning in losses, but its one of the several problems that need to be addressed. There is barely any accessibility to New zealand cricket, and zero exposure. This needs to change if we are to go on and inspire young kids who can turn into gems, and bring us a world cup or two.
Feel free to correct me if I have written something false or misleading. But my time being a NZ fan, all the stuff I wrote above is what I usually experience. The game isn't taken very seriously and in result, we never win any silverware. We are perennial wanderers. Always running hard on that treadmill but ultimately, going nowhere.