April 24, 2025 • 42 mins
D'Arcy Waldegrave returned to wrap another day of sports news! Highlights for tonight include:
NZ Cricket CEO Scott Weenink explains why NZC is investing in a Major League Cricket team in the States.
Talkback - Is this a good move?
Blues openside flanker Anton Segner ahead of the match against the Reds.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Waldegrave
from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Good evening, Welcome on into Sports Talk. My name is
Darcy Waldergrave. It is seven up and seven. It's a Thursday, nine,
twenty fourth of April twenty twenty five. I always say
this on the cusp of public holiday, so I see
no reason to stop. If you're out traveling. You're going
away for a long weekend, either by yourself or your
(00:53):
friends or your family, take a breath, keep good distance,
don't do anything stupid on the road. Better be late
than dead.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Coming up on this evening's program, more Ted Talks. I
courdered Scott Weening this morning. I said, Scott, what's going
on with this new fangled plan about Major League cricket?
He said, if you got fifteen minutes, we're sure. I
(01:27):
recorded the exchange and I'll be playing that for you
next A brave new world.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Indeed, it is.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
As I said to Hithert plus Yellen on her program
earlier today, if New Zealand cricket sits there and watches
the world, the cricketing world fly by at a pace,
because it is going at quite the pace suddenly World
Cricket will be a speck on the horizon and you
ZeLing Cricket will be sitting there going, oh, oh, what
(01:55):
haven't we done? They're doing something? Is it entirely wise?
Does it make sense to the dots connect?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Well?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
And I listen to Scott Winning, CEO of the Cricket,
who joins us next them. We'll take your thoughts, your
calls on this. And they've not invested with Silverlight, right,
so that's got to be a good thing. And towards
the end of the program we'll catch up with German
open side flanker for the Blues, Anton Segna. It's the
(02:24):
Purple Clash coming up on Friday. That's when Blue goes
headlong into red Ie Blues and Reds. Yes, I know
it's an old joke, but I'll keep using it. Thank
you very much, Chance for pointing that out. I had
an interesting factoid for him. Won't tell you now, I'll
make you wait to the interview. We're talking Super Rugby Pacific.
(02:47):
Toward into the program, we're talking T twenty franchise cricket
up next.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
But let's kick things off with this today and it's
more today.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
I said a huge day for new selling cricketers. They
move into the big bucks world of T twenty franchise
cricket legs. Is this, though, the harbinger of Test cricket's demise.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
He's in a cricket CEO Scott Wennick.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
I don't think New Zealand is as a whole light
T twenty, but I think they're slowly getting to realize
how important it is for the cricket ecosystem. Without T
twenty we probably wouldn't have Test cricket. T twenty very
much supports the other forms of the game.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Hard to swallow, but there. It is Phoenix coach gian
Carlo a Teliano who has had a stay of execution
after a.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Poor year in the A League.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
But he's learned a lot and he can apply that
after re signing with the Phoenix and Rob Penny style,
he'll be back bigger and better.
Speaker 5 (03:42):
The great thing about this season is just given me
the ability to see things that didn't see in my
first year.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
So now I know how to prepare.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
How important is they have a plan B planed C
in terms of player availability and so on.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Ryan Fox likes a wine or six, told me so.
The PGA Pears event is made for him. He's paired
up with South African team Monster Garrick Hago at the
Zurich Classic.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
I liked that style of things, you know, being able
to talk, being able to have a bit more fun
on the golf course. Maybe take it just that little
bit less seriously in the sort of kickstarted my season
last year, and I would certainly like to do something
similar this year.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Y sport's way too important to be dagging seriously. I'm
glad you understand that. Mister Fox and the Crucible King
at Ronnie O'Sullivan has been dormant of recent times, but
that hasn't slowed him. He stood at the round of
sixteen at the World Snooker Championship. In that Sheffield seven
time champ railed off three century breaks in five frames
(04:40):
a team to four win Elie Carter. In his last
outing that was way back in January, he lost his chizzle,
snapped a que and chucked it in the bin after
a defeat in the Champions League event.
Speaker 6 (04:55):
Probably the best I felt in three years, to be
honest with that session. But there's no point getting my
hopes up because I've had the odd day. Well played well,
but then the next match back to not so great.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
And that's sports today, right, Let's.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Talk cricket to New Zealand Cricketer heading on in two
Major League Cricket T twenty franchise cricket in the United
States of America. We've talked about now the CEO of
New Zealand Cricket, Scott owen It who joins us?
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Hello Scott, Hello Darcy, how are you?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
A good? Big day for New Zealand Cricket And that's
probably an understatement the announcement this morning around engagement with
the American League when it comes to T twenty massive,
How big is this for the organization's got?
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Yeah, it's big. It's really exciting where we're very excited
about the opportunity and you know what it's going to
present to New Zealand Cricket and the wider cricket network
for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Where did it come from? Who initiated this? Was yourself
or the franchise holders in the States.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
Yeah, So look, the original thought around this came up
the middle of last year and we were putting together
our five year strategic plan and we realized that, you know,
with potential pressure on broadcasting revenue and MYC distributions. We
needed to look at other ways to diversify our revenue stack,
and one of the one of the thoughts was, you know,
(06:23):
do we look at and missing an overseas leagues such
as the MLC And that was kind of the obvious
one because it's the US, you know, it's close to
New Zealand, it's a growing league. So I then, on
the back of that, approached the founders of Major League
Cricket about four months ago to see what opportunities they were.
As it turned out that had actually been hoping to
(06:45):
speak to us, and so yeah, we first started talking
about it four months ago. It accelerated from there really
to where we are today and sort of announcing announcing
the deal.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
They launched Pro Cricket a few years ago only lasted
a season. I'm presuming you've done the necessary work behind
this what happened to Pro Cricket, because it would be
an awful if this dissipated like that.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Did Yeah, I mean Major League Cricket sort of on
a different footing, you know this, they're coming up to
their third year. The league itself is sort of in
a break even position. The franchises themselves have got some
very strong backers, including you know IPR loaners, so it's
in a different position to that other league. We also
(07:29):
think cricket in the US is set to really take
off on the back of the World Cup that was
there last year, the twenty twenty eight Olympics, which is
going to be in Los Angeles, So we think there's
a real opportunity for cricket, and in particular Major League
cricket to go well in the US in future.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Of course, the US have got a major advantage compared
to other sports that aren't baseball, basketball and football getting
in and the fact the xpact population in the United
States of America could probably feed the game of cricket,
such as the size scot Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
I mean, look, it would be great for cricket to
aim to be become one of the sort of major
sports in the US, but the reality is, as you suggest,
that's not actually necessary for it to be successful. There's
twenty five million South Asian diaspora in the US who
are cricket fans, and these are all very well held people.
(08:27):
So the actual market already for cricket in the US
is very large and very lucrative. So we'll just be
tapping into that and trying to help grow that.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
What did the.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
True North sports fentures may be You've gone on partnership
with this what v Janes Samir because they've got rights
to bring in some new franchises. What do they see
in New Zealand Cricket? Why would they engage with you guys?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Essentially because of our track record in producing world class
cricketers and world class cricket teams. They see that we've
been able to do that off a small player base
and limited financial resources compared to our competitors, and thought
that that match with what they're trying to create, you know,
(09:13):
with these two franchises, but also with cricket in the US.
And then that combined with some of their other investors
such as the San Francisco forty nine ers and some
of these very wealthy tech titans. They saw the combination
of New Zealand Cricket being owt to provide the high
performance cricket expertise together with the expertise being brought by
(09:35):
American investors. They saw that as a really good combination.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Joined by Scott Weening, CEO of New Zealand Cricket, we
talk about investment and what shape does this tape take.
I'm presuming there is a financial outlay, but there must
be other levels as well. What do you have to
bring to the party. What have you brought to the
party to bring this partnership into action?
Speaker 4 (09:59):
Yeah, look, there's two There's essentially two elements to it.
One is we will be being paid a service fee
for providing high performance services to the franchise. So in
other words, we'll providing the coaches, the backroom staff and supports,
staff management, physios, et cetera, and we'll fee for that.
(10:19):
That fee will be made up of cash plus a
sweet equity component. And then we've also been given the
opportunity to invest and take an equity stake in the
holding company that holds the rights to both a franchise
in twenty twenty seven, which will likely be based in
either Atlanta, Toronto or a major city like that, and
(10:41):
then also one in twenty thirty one, which is likely
to be based in someone like San Francisco. So two
key elements to it.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
It's only six teams deep so far. The potential for expansion.
Where do you think this goes? How big could this
league become?
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Score?
Speaker 7 (10:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (10:57):
So There'll be two teams added in twenty twenty seven,
one of which will be the team that we're partnering
with or supporting, and then another one which I believe
will be based in Chicago. And then in twenty thirty
one there will be two more teams added, one which
will be the one that again that we're supporting, and
then another one. So as I understand it, ten is
(11:20):
going to be the maximum, and that'll be the last
two will be added in twenty thirty one.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Where's the profit and what are the pitfalls? You would
have done your due diligence, I'm sure over that four months,
But where could it all fade away, disappear and end
up being a porn investment? And in turn the profit
margins where do they sit? How long do you expect
before you start taking some income out of this.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
League will be taking income immediately because we're getting paid
for our high performance services, so we'll be taking a
seven figure sum from that immediately. As I say, part
of that will go will be sweat equity that will
go into the inequity investment. But we'll be making money
(12:05):
out of this straight away, which is you know, one
of the things that we're most pleased about in terms
of risks. I mean, there's always risks and investments, but
we think, you know, we've managed to kind of manage
what could be potential downside because where you know, we're
getting paid a service fee as well as that equity component.
(12:26):
And also looking at the investors that we're partnering with,
they have track records of producing, standing up, growing very
very successful businesses. So we're really comfortable from that point
of view. But you know, look, nothing's without risk. Obviously
when you look at.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
The players involved, the coaching staff, everybody that's going to
actually have to go and set foot and set up
camp over in America. One of the New Zellan Cricket
Players Association have to say about that, and of course
coaching staff and other stuff. Plainly you've approached them, you've
talked to them about that. What's their input being, Scott.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Yeah, So from a coaching management and high performance staff perspective,
they will be New Zealand staff members who will go
across and essentially be campdon in the US for between
four and six weeks during the course of the tournament.
We will then have you know, players who are involved
in the franchise across in New Zealand during our season,
(13:24):
so not much change is there. And my expectation and
certainly the reaction from internally with the New Zealand staff
has been everyone putting their hand up and wanting to
get involved. So that's a real positive and we see
that as a great development pathway for that group. And
then in terms of the players, you know, obviously we
can't make commitments in terms of the players. Our expectation
(13:46):
is that, you know, there will be a heavy New
Zealand influence in terms of the player group, but that
will be part of a separate contracting arrangement between players
and the franchise.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
But there is a want and an acceptance to this
from the Cricket Players Association.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
Yeah, So the players I have spoken to are incredibly
excited about it. And when we met with these founders
in Dubai, you know, we introduce into a number of
Black Caps at the time, and so they see this
as an incredible positive because it's simply going to create
further opportunities for Black black Caps and other major association
(14:25):
players to you know, to play in franchise cricket in
the US.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
So there will be major names involved in New Zealand
Test OD and T twenty campaigns that will be buying
into this and I suppose the perfect world.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Yeah, yeah, Look, our expectation is that there will be
a heavy influence of New Zealand Black Caps playing and
this franchise and also other teams and Major League Cricket.
But again that sort of subject to separate sort of
contracting arrangements, and certainly, you know, our expectation is that they,
(15:00):
you know, our contracted players will still be prioritizing playing
for New Zealand over any franchise arrange.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
What does this mean for the Super Smash Because New
Zealand Cricket were fairly adamant that they're happy with the
production line that the Super Smash provides and the way
it does bring players up to speed and didn't really
want to move toward the Big Bash. But this suggests
to me that that is an ever changing ground, if
(15:27):
you will.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
So we see this as a positive for the Super
Smash and other New Zealand competitions because we will be
generating separate revenue that we're able to use to invest
in those competitions. So we only started as a positive
in that respect. In terms of the Super Smash itself,
you know that we continue to look at what we
should be doing with that. You know, should we be
(15:48):
privatizing that, should we be set up franchises, should we
be thinking about putting the team into the Big Bash?
You know, all of those things are still a consideration.
You know, the Super Smash remains a very very good tournament,
high quality cricket, and we're really pleased with that, but
it evolves. We need to continue to evolve in our
thinking around what we do with the Super Smash. You know,
(16:12):
is you know, is critical and it's it's you know,
a top of thought broadcast rights.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Who gets to watch this?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
How much is it going to cost? Is it going
to be Online's Sky going to pick it up?
Speaker 2 (16:22):
You thought through that.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
So Sky picked up Major League Cricket last.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Year, so that won't change, it'd expect.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
I don't know if Sky have picked it up this
coming year. I assume those negotiations are still still going on.
Once there's a New Zealand flavor to it, I think
there'll probably be more of an interest from New Zealand
fans in watching Major League Cricket because the timing is
actually quite good. So My expectation is that it'll be
picked up by Sky or Stream or perhaps even TV
(16:51):
and Z you know, eventually.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
And finishing it all off Scott when you can think
so much for your time and so always, let's look
at the wider picture of the international cricket schedule. Nevis
is still well up for debate. There's lots of negosta
and going on about where it sits, what the prominent
columns are for world cricket, how does that fit into
(17:13):
ODI bilateral series, that the Test series and the like,
if you've done much work in that space, and presuming
you have, because that's very much what World Cricket are
looking at.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Yeah, I mean, look, obviously the World Cricket Association came
up with a report on it recently and the ICC
are talking about it constantly. So there's a real focus
on the on the cricket calendar and trying to ensure
that international cricket and these domestic T twenty franchises can
complement each other. So again that is top of mind
(17:45):
at the ICC, and I would expect, you know, there
will be some movement in that respect and trying to
rationalize the calendar to make international cricket and these domestic
leagues work better together, but also more particularly to ensure
that international cricket has context and jeopardy in all the
(18:06):
series that are played, to keep that attraction for players,
fans and broadcasters.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Was the editor Lawrence Booth Is he's sitting at the
table with all these changes.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
Yeah, I mean, look, every everyone has a view. The
English obviously have a have a slightly drawn just view
of the World Test Championship because I haven't been able
to make the finals.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
So.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
That's probably a little idea. But everyone has a view,
which which you know, which is great because it just
shows the interesting cricket. Look, if you could wave a
magic wand and create a you know, a calendar that
works for everyone, that would be great. It is challenging,
but there's absolutely a desire, I think, you know, on
behalf of all parties to try and work out how
(18:52):
the best get a calendar together and best grow the
game of cricket across the board, because cricket is growing
and we just want to make sure it doesn't start
cannibalizing itself.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
EMO, we've got the breakdowns on Sports Talk Call News
Talk said.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
That Scott Weening, he's the CEO of New Zealander Cricket.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
This morning five o'clock it was.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Announced that they are going to try and make some
coin over in America with Major League Cricket.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Would your initial.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Thought around this when you first heard that news and
now you've heard Scott leaning with the logic behind that decision,
if there's anything that would pique my interest in a
negative viewpoint around that. Four months seems like the reasonably
(19:57):
short time span to do your due diligence and to
make sure te's cross and izer dotted. But I'm presuming
that New Zealand Cricket they have got it so pretty
fancy being counters behind them, and they're not fools rushing
in where angels fear to tread. We know what's happening
(20:21):
with Ean z r. And with the Silver Lake situation
that we've let to see that bear fruit. In fact
it probably won't, but there you go. So they haven't
gone along that route, and they've joined up and gohoots
with successful businessmen who have got skin in Major League
cricket and a couple of teams over there.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
We'll see.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
There's to heather and I'll repeat it again, and I'll
repeat it to you. I don't think New Zealand cricket
can afford to sit there on the sidelines and watch
the world go by. When it comes to changes the
international cricket. They can't afford it. They haven't got the
time or the money to let it go. They've got
to couple them, seize the moment, seize the day. And
(21:05):
it looks like the done it Is it brave? Is
it reckless?
Speaker 3 (21:15):
To me?
Speaker 2 (21:15):
It's a fantastic idea. They've run through it and it's
happening now. What we've seen with the Zland cricket in
the last few years is their ability to roll with
the punches, their ability to show out and out pragmatism.
When it comes to the development of T twenty franchise cricket.
(21:40):
It's their organization. These are their laws, these are their rules,
and they're not sitting back all pig headed, going well
and that's the way it's written, that's the way they're
going to do it. They are looking to roll as
it goes and I think that is commendable. T twenty
is the future right whether you like it or not,
(22:01):
and it may just save test cricket for all us
nuffies out there, which is fantast I mean you don't
have to watch it so tensibly, I think this is
a good idea.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
I like what they've done.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
They've been brave. Will they get slapped in the ass
for it?
Speaker 3 (22:19):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
What do you think eight hundred eighty ten eighty is
it's a good move for New Zealand cricket to climb
in with Major League cricket in the United States of America.
As the Great Murray Deaker would say, yours please, oh
eight hundred eighty ten.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
Eighty, I forgive every word, yez, forget the riffs.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Call you make a call on eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty Sports Talking on your home of sport, these talks.
It be this world.
Speaker 8 (22:55):
Hey Roman seven days. If there's well as a man,
I take you, James and Megham. If there's well as
a man, I take a hand in amusing fund and
that he should hit them strictly with.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
The sports Talk care on newstalk with eb or one
hundred eight ten eighty three phone nationwide because call it
Context nine two ninety two. There's ZBZB that'll cost you
just standard text charge, though.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Give us a call.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
Coutiously, applaud and positive about what New Zealand cricketer up to.
There are other areas that were not so clear on
and even though Scott said, look some of the black
Caps and buy they met these investors, they seem fairly keen.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Where the New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Cricket Players Association said on us how much sway have
they got? Is it something that they would be willing
to buy into? And how accepting all this franchise even
though it is being looked at after buy New Zealand
the idea is to funnel New.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Zealand talent through it.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
How accepting they.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Be to have predominantly New Zealand talent when.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
If it's a state side wide competition and looking at
the the sporer in there as far as the Southeast
Asian population, whether they would accept a great deal of
New Zealand Team New Zealand players playing for me? Would
that work? Would they get that fan base? Or at
(24:39):
a couple of superstars from the black Caps be enough
to generate interest. And when you look at further engagement
with Major League Cricket and the people that are involved
that there's a IPL teams that climb in there. So
I don't think it's a wing and a prayer. I
(25:00):
think when you've got the might of the Indian cricket
fan and Indian cricket dollar rupee crawl, that's a good sign.
So commending what New Zealand cricket have done in the
time they've done it, plainly, the proof of the pudding
will be in the eating and that's not for another
(25:21):
year and a half yet until it starts off O
eight one hundred and eighty ten eighties. Is this a
good thing for you as a cricket fan And if anything,
that's going to save and Scott when it's gone to
say this that without T twenty cricket, everything.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Else withers and dies.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
So it'll be on the front foard around that and
hopefully save the magnificence of Test cricket which is slowly
but surely becoming a distant, if not relevant memory for
cricket fans. And it has to stick around. It has
to stay, you feel. The only way it can stay
(26:03):
is if enormous wealth is injected into the game through
untapped markets in the United States of America is one
twenty five minutes to eight A tech said this guy Bill,
This guy's Scott Ween see he's in cricket. This guy says,
there's twenty five million Southeast Asians in the USA. He's
(26:27):
talking like they're all cricket fans.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
I going to be a couple of percent. You should
sell used cars.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
We sound confident, Bill, And what do you base that on?
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Have you done maths as well?
Speaker 2 (26:39):
And it's all very well to sit there in your
lounge chair in fire broadsides. I'd suggest due diligence and
engaging in something like the Piney Hill and cricket. But
know a little more about how keen the twenty five
(26:59):
million Southeast Asians living in the United States, how keen
they are on cricket. They must have a rough idea.
I think it represents a good bet. And like what
Scott said, so there's no definitives here, you don't know.
(27:20):
It might fall over, but they've tried to build it
in a way that they're less likely to collapse of
their own accord and more protected from the vagaries of
finances in sport, it's hard work going to America and
trying to climb into their major sports. But they're not
trying to climb into it. They're trying to walk. Sorry,
(27:42):
you walk alongside it. I'm trying to dominate that. I
want to be baseball, don't want to be basketball. They
don't want to be hockey, they don't want to be football.
But there is a market to be tapped on eighty
ten eighty got Aaron, how.
Speaker 9 (27:57):
Are you calculate, Dassey?
Speaker 7 (27:59):
How are you, mate?
Speaker 4 (28:00):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (28:00):
Not so bad? Looking forward to doing nothing at all tomorrow.
Speaker 7 (28:04):
Yes, arm I mate, I'm absolutely naked anyway about the cricket. Look,
I'm not a supports expect by any means, but I
think that it's got to the stage now. I mean,
I love my Test cricket and I love my one
day cricket. I'm not such a fan of the what
you call the s h I t s in Giggle's cricket.
(28:25):
But if it's going to bring the money in and
it's going to ensure that our way of the game survives,
I don't think we've got any choice. We've just got
to embrace it. Well, you don't have to, you don't
have to watch it. If you don't like it, don't
watch it. Plenty of people like it, and plenty of
people will watch it, and well it will ensure that
or help to ensure that the way of the game
(28:47):
that we know it and love it will survive, because
without it, you're right, it won't.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
And I think the point I've brought us up a
number of times on air over the years that the
money generated by for example, when you're sent on cricket
isn't just to pay the black cat. It's to look
after the strength of New Zealand cricket right from the
get go, and the more money they generate. And Scott
said this to me off air around the women's game,
(29:15):
there's no direct correlation with a women's T twenty competition
being launched as well, but with the seven figures that
they're going to generate by providing support for this team,
that money can then be filtered through New Zealand cricket
and help everybody. So yeah, the bigger picture, it's the
important thing, isn't it.
Speaker 9 (29:36):
Yeah, yeah, it is.
Speaker 7 (29:37):
It is, because I mean people going about the divisional
forms of the game. And I don't think you're wrong.
I love my desk cracket, my old one day cricket,
the old of the other game, and it doesn't necessarily
mean embracing it personally if you don't want to watch
it but we need to be mindful that it needs
to happen to ensure that what we love survives and.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
That's the future.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
And that's why they should be commended because they're not sting,
they're watching it go past. Are they like we should
get on this before it's too late?
Speaker 7 (30:07):
Exactly? Yeah, No, you're wrong.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
You're not wrong, Aaron, thanks very much.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
A lot the way people when they're referencing their favorite
sports say, you know, my I love my test cricket,
they love my football.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
That that ownership is so good.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
You're running a major sport or a minor sport, you're
loving that because you feel like you feel ownership.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Of it, don't you my test cricket?
Speaker 1 (30:27):
Only me.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
And a few other million people around the planet, well billion,
I now an Indian say my test cricket. It's twenty
minutes to eight more of your course still to come
and we'll catch up with Anton Signa, the Open Side, Blues, German.
Speaker 8 (30:47):
Threat, Pity.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Jesuit met sixteen minutes to eighty.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
What do you need to know?
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Around the world is new sport and we're a sitting
at eight o'clock up after that. Marcus Lash with Marcus
Lush Knights. Back to the phones, we go one hundred
and eighty to ten at.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Hi, Brian, how are you?
Speaker 10 (31:22):
Oh all right?
Speaker 11 (31:24):
Just sort of can't help being a bit of a
doubting Thomas in a way. That's okay, twenty five million
odd people in the United States. That's five hundred thousand
people per state, and most of those states are bigger
than New Zealand. That would they really travel that far
just to see again, apart from a novelty factor.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Well, it bends out with the expat population coming in,
how addicted they are to cricket, and if they put
the franchises in the right catchment area, which I presum
don't have to do.
Speaker 10 (32:01):
Therefore, group in one state or something that would be good,
but there isn't. I can't think of a state apart
from Hawaii that's smaller than New Zealand. Most of them
are at least twice the size. It's not bigger. It
would be a long way to go for a game
if you're saying Austin Texas, and I can't think of
(32:23):
what would be on the other side of Texas.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
But yeah, yeah, well traveling great distances, right, you talk
to anyone in Queensland. I talked to Kevin Campaigon still
all the time. It's like anyone think, are just going
on a drive? Mate?
Speaker 3 (32:36):
Where are you going?
Speaker 2 (32:37):
Darwin?
Speaker 3 (32:38):
How long is that going to take? Oh about six hours?
Is nothing? Yeah, Pete.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
People were used to it, and they've got good freeways
right and big cars and cheap gas.
Speaker 12 (32:46):
Yeah perhaps, but yeah, I hope they haven't invested an
awful lot of money in well, they're.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
They're investing time. It's it's sweet equity.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
They are getting paid seven figures per year to provide
coaches and support and everything else they need to keep
the team going, so they're making money from the get go,
and then then as it advances they look to make
more money as an investment strategy. So I think the
(33:18):
risks are reasonably low.
Speaker 12 (33:21):
Oh that could be good though. I just don't think
it will send get the world on fire with those
sort of statistics, but who knows. They might make some converts,
and of course.
Speaker 10 (33:33):
You've always got the Commonwealth sort of people there as well,
apart from the the Asian Asian loss as well. So yeah,
as possible, but.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
Brian, maybe not.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
But would you rather this happened or New Zealand Crickets
sat there on the sidelines and watched it all trundle past.
Speaker 10 (33:58):
Oh, I think it's worth a crack. I wouldn't hold
my breath, but it's worth a go.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
Excellent, Brian. Thank you very much for your call.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
I mean, don't at eighty ten eighty if you want
to climb on in o Kate Trevor.
Speaker 9 (34:12):
Yeah, you made right.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Hi, I'm looking forward to nothing tomorrow?
Speaker 9 (34:16):
Are you very looking forward tonight?
Speaker 2 (34:17):
There's the right game of leg on there is I know.
And the thing is I can drink beer till it
comes out of my ears because I'm zero responsibility tomorrow.
Speaker 9 (34:26):
Yeah, oh sweet for you. Enjoy yourself, mate. Hey look,
I'm not touchered with I've got this right, but to me,
you know, they mentioned not too much money invested in
the New Zealand game. At the moment, it's all about
getting the footholder and making a bit of money. Isn't
that sort of what we heard from New Zealand.
Speaker 7 (34:46):
Union.
Speaker 9 (34:47):
We'll do things at the top so we can fall to.
Speaker 10 (34:49):
The game below.
Speaker 9 (34:50):
But every Union and every bloody super team is screaming
out for money. They don't think getting their share of
it down the bottom.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
I don't know if through though, I mean David Kirk
and Mourison game this is not a good idea because
they were they were selling off great porch of the
all blacks in New Zealand rugby and eventually shylock comes
back for a pound of flesh and that'll come back
to bite us. Whereas this is just as they say,
sweat equity and they're getting paid to provide a service.
(35:20):
So I don't see as being the same fish hooks.
Speaker 9 (35:25):
Yeah, but the money they do make are they are
it just once again going to go to the people
that pop or is it being fed? Is it going
to be fared down like a lot of rugby people thought.
But anyway, you know, give it a go. But making money, money, money, money, money,
and you'll help, you know, it'll help finance the game
(35:47):
at grassroots.
Speaker 10 (35:48):
Yeah, we've heard and all that before and we.
Speaker 9 (35:49):
Done there, we have.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
But I don't see New Zealand Cricket going to the
associations going we plan on doing this because of this
with like your agreement, they've gone, we're going to do
this because we can see a future and well, looks
in five years, got no money they've got to do something.
So this way, I think it's reasonably risk free because
(36:12):
they're not slicing off an arm of New Zealand cricket
and handing it to Major League cricket.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
They're saying, Hey, we're going to aid in the bet.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
We're going to assist you, we're going to give give
you some intel, we're going to give you some i P.
We're gonna give your coaches, and we're going to feed
some of our players through your system. And for that,
they're going to give us a slice of money every year.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
I think, not that.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
I've read the contract, but I think that represents a
lesser risk than dealing with a major fund who really
couldn't care less about cricket. They just want to bank
a check.
Speaker 9 (36:47):
I mean, I mean, I suppose you give it a go.
I mean, that's that guy Scott. It sounds like he's
really been through it and you know, worked it out
and seems a thing. That's a good deal.
Speaker 10 (37:00):
So I suppose to give it a go.
Speaker 9 (37:01):
But just running Yeah, we'll have to wait and say,
but no, I got on for trying something, so we'll
see what happens.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
Then precisely, I mate you and enjoy your long weekend.
It's ten minutes to a quick word with Anton signa
thank you ever coming up? So answer.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Anton signa from the.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
Blues join us next here and he still be Blues
take on the Reds and Brisbane. We're joined now by
open side flanker out of the Blues. Anton's signat to discuss.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
Gooday, Anton, are you going all right? Going? Well?
Speaker 2 (37:48):
More's the point? What are you and your team up to?
You finally managed to turn around the ship. Things are
starting to look up. Look, you didn't get the win
last time out, but it looks like you're playing Blues
rugby again.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 13 (38:02):
No, I think the main thing is us as a
group as a unit. You know, we're getting a lot
closer as a team in it and it's starting to
show on field as well, which is nice. So obviously,
as you say, we didn't get the result last time out,
down and down in Christchurch, but yeah, that was a
battle for sure and one that could have easily gone
either way. And we'll definitely take a lot of positives
out of there, but their class side as there always are,
(38:23):
so we have to give credit, what credits you to
be honest.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Look, I'm reading black, but I got to say, you
guys had the upper hand. In essence, the way that
game rolled out, you should have won that one, really,
shouldn't you have done. It's just they managed to squeak
away right at the very end. So there's a lot
of good to take out of that.
Speaker 13 (38:37):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. I think all the stats were in
our favorite apart from the points one, which at the
end of the day is the one that I've met it,
So I guess you have to give them credit. I
think their goal line d or their defense inside of
their twenty two was pretty remarkable to keep us out
for quite a while there. But pleasing from outside is
that we are able to dominate a game that well.
And yeah, obviously this week's focus has been us us
(38:58):
on the tech inside their twenty two so that we
can make sure that we leave with more points.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
What about your own personal mession?
Speaker 3 (39:05):
What is that? What's and giving you?
Speaker 2 (39:07):
What's his instructions been around what he expects from you?
Speaker 13 (39:10):
On the open side, he's been pretty pleased with having playing,
obviously rewarding me with some good game time. But yeah,
he just tells me keep being physical and keep playing
my game. Keep having a good peace prisons as well,
and yeah, keep being one of the guys that brings
the team together, because yeah, I obviously try before a scrum,
you know, the props, the props keep pretty tired out
(39:32):
of the s. I have to try and use my
energy and feed it over to them by tapping them
on the back and calling them to push out. So yeah,
not just keeping my energy levels high when I'm playing,
and yeah, just keep doing what I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
Really Yeah, and I thought you said to me you
were going to whip out and get in the front row.
I thought that's keen.
Speaker 13 (39:51):
No, not quite, not quite at that point.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
Not going to happen. When you look at the nature
of the Reds, what do they bring? Look, they're at
sun Court, this is a place they love to play.
And here's a fun fact for you, not one New
Zealand side in Super Rugby Pacific this year has actually
beaten an Australian side over there. So you could break
(40:15):
a duck. What do you have to do to roll
the Reds?
Speaker 13 (40:17):
Yeah, well there you go. No, this is a big
weekend for them. Well that's that's just added more fuel
to our phad to be honest, but obviously we've it's
a it's the it's the Anzac Tests and as you
say that, the Reds at sun Court and after and
they're just coming at the end of the boy week too,
so they'll definitely come out firing. And I think they've
named a six two split on the bench too, so
(40:38):
they'll definitely look to knock down the front door. So yeah,
us as forwards, we're going to have to front up.
But yeah, I think it's sort of plays into a
hands a bit because yeah, Blues rugby is is quite
reliant on the Fords doing well, and yeah, we're going
to embrace that challenge. And we've been talking about physicality
all week and that's what ruins rugby games, so that's
our focus going into it.
Speaker 1 (40:56):
You hear it from the biggest names and sports and
men have your Sale eighty Sports Talk on your home
of Sports and News Talk, Zippy.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
Bloke, ad Anton Segna, The Purple Explosion, Blues taking on
Reds coming to a television near you. We're not going
to go are we did you fly to Brisbane to
watch a game of rug No, We're going to finish
shortly and we'll finished with a couple of texts nineteen
nine two ZBZB.
Speaker 3 (41:24):
And thank you very much for your engagement. Here.
Speaker 2 (41:28):
Have a look on YouTube and all of the American
reactions to cricket. A lot of them view more games
to learn about the rules, so you go, maybe there is.
Speaker 5 (41:38):
This.
Speaker 2 (41:38):
I love Darcy. As a country. We really need to
stop pouring cold water on people who give stuff a crack.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
Good on your new Zellan cricket.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
You don't know unless you try it. It might not work,
but they would have assessed the options.
Speaker 3 (41:54):
Good luck to them. That's what I want. Thank you,
that's uplifting. I need this.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
Going to a day of doing nothing. Happy Anzac Day.
Make to you donate, get amongst help the old school
out and it's little such things for your help.
Speaker 3 (42:12):
Thanks to all for listening.
Speaker 2 (42:13):
This is News Talks EDB.
Speaker 1 (42:21):
For more from sports talk, listen live to News Talks
ed B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Waldegrave
from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Good evening, Welcome on into Sports Talk. My name is
Darcy Waldergrave. It is seven up and seven. It's a Thursday, nine,
twenty fourth of April twenty twenty five. I always say
this on the cusp of public holiday, so I see
no reason to stop. If you're out traveling. You're going
away for a long weekend, either by yourself or your
(00:53):
friends or your family, take a breath, keep good distance,
don't do anything stupid on the road. Better be late
than dead.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Coming up on this evening's program, more Ted Talks. I
courdered Scott Weening this morning. I said, Scott, what's going
on with this new fangled plan about Major League cricket?
He said, if you got fifteen minutes, we're sure. I
(01:27):
recorded the exchange and I'll be playing that for you
next A brave new world.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Indeed, it is.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
As I said to Hithert plus Yellen on her program
earlier today, if New Zealand cricket sits there and watches
the world, the cricketing world fly by at a pace,
because it is going at quite the pace suddenly World
Cricket will be a speck on the horizon and you
ZeLing Cricket will be sitting there going, oh, oh, what
(01:55):
haven't we done? They're doing something? Is it entirely wise?
Does it make sense to the dots connect?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Well?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
And I listen to Scott Winning, CEO of the Cricket,
who joins us next them. We'll take your thoughts, your
calls on this. And they've not invested with Silverlight, right,
so that's got to be a good thing. And towards
the end of the program we'll catch up with German
open side flanker for the Blues, Anton Segna. It's the
(02:24):
Purple Clash coming up on Friday. That's when Blue goes
headlong into red Ie Blues and Reds. Yes, I know
it's an old joke, but I'll keep using it. Thank
you very much, Chance for pointing that out. I had
an interesting factoid for him. Won't tell you now, I'll
make you wait to the interview. We're talking Super Rugby Pacific.
(02:47):
Toward into the program, we're talking T twenty franchise cricket
up next.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
But let's kick things off with this today and it's
more today.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
I said a huge day for new selling cricketers. They
move into the big bucks world of T twenty franchise
cricket legs. Is this, though, the harbinger of Test cricket's demise.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
He's in a cricket CEO Scott Wennick.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
I don't think New Zealand is as a whole light
T twenty, but I think they're slowly getting to realize
how important it is for the cricket ecosystem. Without T
twenty we probably wouldn't have Test cricket. T twenty very
much supports the other forms of the game.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Hard to swallow, but there. It is Phoenix coach gian
Carlo a Teliano who has had a stay of execution
after a.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Poor year in the A League.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
But he's learned a lot and he can apply that
after re signing with the Phoenix and Rob Penny style,
he'll be back bigger and better.
Speaker 5 (03:42):
The great thing about this season is just given me
the ability to see things that didn't see in my
first year.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
So now I know how to prepare.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
How important is they have a plan B planed C
in terms of player availability and so on.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Ryan Fox likes a wine or six, told me so.
The PGA Pears event is made for him. He's paired
up with South African team Monster Garrick Hago at the
Zurich Classic.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
I liked that style of things, you know, being able
to talk, being able to have a bit more fun
on the golf course. Maybe take it just that little
bit less seriously in the sort of kickstarted my season
last year, and I would certainly like to do something
similar this year.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Y sport's way too important to be dagging seriously. I'm
glad you understand that. Mister Fox and the Crucible King
at Ronnie O'Sullivan has been dormant of recent times, but
that hasn't slowed him. He stood at the round of
sixteen at the World Snooker Championship. In that Sheffield seven
time champ railed off three century breaks in five frames
(04:40):
a team to four win Elie Carter. In his last
outing that was way back in January, he lost his chizzle,
snapped a que and chucked it in the bin after
a defeat in the Champions League event.
Speaker 6 (04:55):
Probably the best I felt in three years, to be
honest with that session. But there's no point getting my
hopes up because I've had the odd day. Well played well,
but then the next match back to not so great.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
And that's sports today, right, Let's.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Talk cricket to New Zealand Cricketer heading on in two
Major League Cricket T twenty franchise cricket in the United
States of America. We've talked about now the CEO of
New Zealand Cricket, Scott owen It who joins us?
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Hello Scott, Hello Darcy, how are you?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
A good? Big day for New Zealand Cricket And that's
probably an understatement the announcement this morning around engagement with
the American League when it comes to T twenty massive,
How big is this for the organization's got?
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Yeah, it's big. It's really exciting where we're very excited
about the opportunity and you know what it's going to
present to New Zealand Cricket and the wider cricket network
for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Where did it come from? Who initiated this? Was yourself
or the franchise holders in the States.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
Yeah, So look, the original thought around this came up
the middle of last year and we were putting together
our five year strategic plan and we realized that, you know,
with potential pressure on broadcasting revenue and MYC distributions. We
needed to look at other ways to diversify our revenue stack,
and one of the one of the thoughts was, you know,
(06:23):
do we look at and missing an overseas leagues such
as the MLC And that was kind of the obvious
one because it's the US, you know, it's close to
New Zealand, it's a growing league. So I then, on
the back of that, approached the founders of Major League
Cricket about four months ago to see what opportunities they were.
As it turned out that had actually been hoping to
(06:45):
speak to us, and so yeah, we first started talking
about it four months ago. It accelerated from there really
to where we are today and sort of announcing announcing
the deal.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
They launched Pro Cricket a few years ago only lasted
a season. I'm presuming you've done the necessary work behind
this what happened to Pro Cricket, because it would be
an awful if this dissipated like that.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Did Yeah, I mean Major League Cricket sort of on
a different footing, you know this, they're coming up to
their third year. The league itself is sort of in
a break even position. The franchises themselves have got some
very strong backers, including you know IPR loaners, so it's
in a different position to that other league. We also
(07:29):
think cricket in the US is set to really take
off on the back of the World Cup that was
there last year, the twenty twenty eight Olympics, which is
going to be in Los Angeles, So we think there's
a real opportunity for cricket, and in particular Major League
cricket to go well in the US in future.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Of course, the US have got a major advantage compared
to other sports that aren't baseball, basketball and football getting
in and the fact the xpact population in the United
States of America could probably feed the game of cricket,
such as the size scot Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
I mean, look, it would be great for cricket to
aim to be become one of the sort of major
sports in the US, but the reality is, as you suggest,
that's not actually necessary for it to be successful. There's
twenty five million South Asian diaspora in the US who
are cricket fans, and these are all very well held people.
(08:27):
So the actual market already for cricket in the US
is very large and very lucrative. So we'll just be
tapping into that and trying to help grow that.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
What did the.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
True North sports fentures may be You've gone on partnership
with this what v Janes Samir because they've got rights
to bring in some new franchises. What do they see
in New Zealand Cricket? Why would they engage with you guys?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Essentially because of our track record in producing world class
cricketers and world class cricket teams. They see that we've
been able to do that off a small player base
and limited financial resources compared to our competitors, and thought
that that match with what they're trying to create, you know,
(09:13):
with these two franchises, but also with cricket in the US.
And then that combined with some of their other investors
such as the San Francisco forty nine ers and some
of these very wealthy tech titans. They saw the combination
of New Zealand Cricket being owt to provide the high
performance cricket expertise together with the expertise being brought by
(09:35):
American investors. They saw that as a really good combination.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Joined by Scott Weening, CEO of New Zealand Cricket, we
talk about investment and what shape does this tape take.
I'm presuming there is a financial outlay, but there must
be other levels as well. What do you have to
bring to the party. What have you brought to the
party to bring this partnership into action?
Speaker 4 (09:59):
Yeah, look, there's two There's essentially two elements to it.
One is we will be being paid a service fee
for providing high performance services to the franchise. So in
other words, we'll providing the coaches, the backroom staff and supports,
staff management, physios, et cetera, and we'll fee for that.
(10:19):
That fee will be made up of cash plus a
sweet equity component. And then we've also been given the
opportunity to invest and take an equity stake in the
holding company that holds the rights to both a franchise
in twenty twenty seven, which will likely be based in
either Atlanta, Toronto or a major city like that, and
(10:41):
then also one in twenty thirty one, which is likely
to be based in someone like San Francisco. So two
key elements to it.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
It's only six teams deep so far. The potential for expansion.
Where do you think this goes? How big could this
league become?
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Score?
Speaker 7 (10:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (10:57):
So There'll be two teams added in twenty twenty seven,
one of which will be the team that we're partnering
with or supporting, and then another one which I believe
will be based in Chicago. And then in twenty thirty
one there will be two more teams added, one which
will be the one that again that we're supporting, and
then another one. So as I understand it, ten is
(11:20):
going to be the maximum, and that'll be the last
two will be added in twenty thirty one.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Where's the profit and what are the pitfalls? You would
have done your due diligence, I'm sure over that four months,
But where could it all fade away, disappear and end
up being a porn investment? And in turn the profit
margins where do they sit? How long do you expect
before you start taking some income out of this.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
League will be taking income immediately because we're getting paid
for our high performance services, so we'll be taking a
seven figure sum from that immediately. As I say, part
of that will go will be sweat equity that will
go into the inequity investment. But we'll be making money
(12:05):
out of this straight away, which is you know, one
of the things that we're most pleased about in terms
of risks. I mean, there's always risks and investments, but
we think, you know, we've managed to kind of manage
what could be potential downside because where you know, we're
getting paid a service fee as well as that equity component.
(12:26):
And also looking at the investors that we're partnering with,
they have track records of producing, standing up, growing very
very successful businesses. So we're really comfortable from that point
of view. But you know, look, nothing's without risk. Obviously
when you look at.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
The players involved, the coaching staff, everybody that's going to
actually have to go and set foot and set up
camp over in America. One of the New Zellan Cricket
Players Association have to say about that, and of course
coaching staff and other stuff. Plainly you've approached them, you've
talked to them about that. What's their input being, Scott.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Yeah, So from a coaching management and high performance staff perspective,
they will be New Zealand staff members who will go
across and essentially be campdon in the US for between
four and six weeks during the course of the tournament.
We will then have you know, players who are involved
in the franchise across in New Zealand during our season,
(13:24):
so not much change is there. And my expectation and
certainly the reaction from internally with the New Zealand staff
has been everyone putting their hand up and wanting to
get involved. So that's a real positive and we see
that as a great development pathway for that group. And
then in terms of the players, you know, obviously we
can't make commitments in terms of the players. Our expectation
(13:46):
is that, you know, there will be a heavy New
Zealand influence in terms of the player group, but that
will be part of a separate contracting arrangement between players
and the franchise.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
But there is a want and an acceptance to this
from the Cricket Players Association.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
Yeah, So the players I have spoken to are incredibly
excited about it. And when we met with these founders
in Dubai, you know, we introduce into a number of
Black Caps at the time, and so they see this
as an incredible positive because it's simply going to create
further opportunities for Black black Caps and other major association
(14:25):
players to you know, to play in franchise cricket in
the US.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
So there will be major names involved in New Zealand
Test OD and T twenty campaigns that will be buying
into this and I suppose the perfect world.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Yeah, yeah, Look, our expectation is that there will be
a heavy influence of New Zealand Black Caps playing and
this franchise and also other teams and Major League Cricket.
But again that sort of subject to separate sort of
contracting arrangements, and certainly, you know, our expectation is that they,
(15:00):
you know, our contracted players will still be prioritizing playing
for New Zealand over any franchise arrange.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
What does this mean for the Super Smash Because New
Zealand Cricket were fairly adamant that they're happy with the
production line that the Super Smash provides and the way
it does bring players up to speed and didn't really
want to move toward the Big Bash. But this suggests
to me that that is an ever changing ground, if
(15:27):
you will.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
So we see this as a positive for the Super
Smash and other New Zealand competitions because we will be
generating separate revenue that we're able to use to invest
in those competitions. So we only started as a positive
in that respect. In terms of the Super Smash itself,
you know that we continue to look at what we
should be doing with that. You know, should we be
(15:48):
privatizing that, should we be set up franchises, should we
be thinking about putting the team into the Big Bash?
You know, all of those things are still a consideration.
You know, the Super Smash remains a very very good tournament,
high quality cricket, and we're really pleased with that, but
it evolves. We need to continue to evolve in our
thinking around what we do with the Super Smash. You know,
(16:12):
is you know, is critical and it's it's you know,
a top of thought broadcast rights.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Who gets to watch this?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
How much is it going to cost? Is it going
to be Online's Sky going to pick it up?
Speaker 2 (16:22):
You thought through that.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
So Sky picked up Major League Cricket last.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Year, so that won't change, it'd expect.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
I don't know if Sky have picked it up this
coming year. I assume those negotiations are still still going on.
Once there's a New Zealand flavor to it, I think
there'll probably be more of an interest from New Zealand
fans in watching Major League Cricket because the timing is
actually quite good. So My expectation is that it'll be
picked up by Sky or Stream or perhaps even TV
(16:51):
and Z you know, eventually.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
And finishing it all off Scott when you can think
so much for your time and so always, let's look
at the wider picture of the international cricket schedule. Nevis
is still well up for debate. There's lots of negosta
and going on about where it sits, what the prominent
columns are for world cricket, how does that fit into
(17:13):
ODI bilateral series, that the Test series and the like,
if you've done much work in that space, and presuming
you have, because that's very much what World Cricket are
looking at.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Yeah, I mean, look, obviously the World Cricket Association came
up with a report on it recently and the ICC
are talking about it constantly. So there's a real focus
on the on the cricket calendar and trying to ensure
that international cricket and these domestic T twenty franchises can
complement each other. So again that is top of mind
(17:45):
at the ICC, and I would expect, you know, there
will be some movement in that respect and trying to
rationalize the calendar to make international cricket and these domestic
leagues work better together, but also more particularly to ensure
that international cricket has context and jeopardy in all the
(18:06):
series that are played, to keep that attraction for players,
fans and broadcasters.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Was the editor Lawrence Booth Is he's sitting at the
table with all these changes.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
Yeah, I mean, look, every everyone has a view. The
English obviously have a have a slightly drawn just view
of the World Test Championship because I haven't been able
to make the finals.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
So.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
That's probably a little idea. But everyone has a view,
which which you know, which is great because it just
shows the interesting cricket. Look, if you could wave a
magic wand and create a you know, a calendar that
works for everyone, that would be great. It is challenging,
but there's absolutely a desire, I think, you know, on
behalf of all parties to try and work out how
(18:52):
the best get a calendar together and best grow the
game of cricket across the board, because cricket is growing
and we just want to make sure it doesn't start
cannibalizing itself.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
EMO, we've got the breakdowns on Sports Talk Call News
Talk said.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
That Scott Weening, he's the CEO of New Zealander Cricket.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
This morning five o'clock it was.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Announced that they are going to try and make some
coin over in America with Major League Cricket.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Would your initial.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Thought around this when you first heard that news and
now you've heard Scott leaning with the logic behind that decision,
if there's anything that would pique my interest in a
negative viewpoint around that. Four months seems like the reasonably
(19:57):
short time span to do your due diligence and to
make sure te's cross and izer dotted. But I'm presuming
that New Zealand Cricket they have got it so pretty
fancy being counters behind them, and they're not fools rushing
in where angels fear to tread. We know what's happening
(20:21):
with Ean z r. And with the Silver Lake situation
that we've let to see that bear fruit. In fact
it probably won't, but there you go. So they haven't
gone along that route, and they've joined up and gohoots
with successful businessmen who have got skin in Major League
cricket and a couple of teams over there.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
We'll see.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
There's to heather and I'll repeat it again, and I'll
repeat it to you. I don't think New Zealand cricket
can afford to sit there on the sidelines and watch
the world go by. When it comes to changes the
international cricket. They can't afford it. They haven't got the
time or the money to let it go. They've got
to couple them, seize the moment, seize the day. And
(21:05):
it looks like the done it Is it brave? Is
it reckless?
Speaker 3 (21:15):
To me?
Speaker 2 (21:15):
It's a fantastic idea. They've run through it and it's
happening now. What we've seen with the Zland cricket in
the last few years is their ability to roll with
the punches, their ability to show out and out pragmatism.
When it comes to the development of T twenty franchise cricket.
(21:40):
It's their organization. These are their laws, these are their rules,
and they're not sitting back all pig headed, going well
and that's the way it's written, that's the way they're
going to do it. They are looking to roll as
it goes and I think that is commendable. T twenty
is the future right whether you like it or not,
(22:01):
and it may just save test cricket for all us
nuffies out there, which is fantast I mean you don't
have to watch it so tensibly, I think this is
a good idea.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
I like what they've done.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
They've been brave. Will they get slapped in the ass
for it?
Speaker 3 (22:19):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
What do you think eight hundred eighty ten eighty is
it's a good move for New Zealand cricket to climb
in with Major League cricket in the United States of America.
As the Great Murray Deaker would say, yours please, oh
eight hundred eighty ten.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
Eighty, I forgive every word, yez, forget the riffs.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Call you make a call on eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty Sports Talking on your home of sport, these talks.
It be this world.
Speaker 8 (22:55):
Hey Roman seven days. If there's well as a man,
I take you, James and Megham. If there's well as
a man, I take a hand in amusing fund and
that he should hit them strictly with.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
The sports Talk care on newstalk with eb or one
hundred eight ten eighty three phone nationwide because call it
Context nine two ninety two. There's ZBZB that'll cost you
just standard text charge, though.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Give us a call.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
Coutiously, applaud and positive about what New Zealand cricketer up to.
There are other areas that were not so clear on
and even though Scott said, look some of the black
Caps and buy they met these investors, they seem fairly keen.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Where the New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Cricket Players Association said on us how much sway have
they got? Is it something that they would be willing
to buy into? And how accepting all this franchise even
though it is being looked at after buy New Zealand
the idea is to funnel New.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Zealand talent through it.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
How accepting they.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Be to have predominantly New Zealand talent when.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
If it's a state side wide competition and looking at
the the sporer in there as far as the Southeast
Asian population, whether they would accept a great deal of
New Zealand Team New Zealand players playing for me? Would
that work? Would they get that fan base? Or at
(24:39):
a couple of superstars from the black Caps be enough
to generate interest. And when you look at further engagement
with Major League Cricket and the people that are involved
that there's a IPL teams that climb in there. So
I don't think it's a wing and a prayer. I
(25:00):
think when you've got the might of the Indian cricket
fan and Indian cricket dollar rupee crawl, that's a good sign.
So commending what New Zealand cricket have done in the
time they've done it, plainly, the proof of the pudding
will be in the eating and that's not for another
(25:21):
year and a half yet until it starts off O
eight one hundred and eighty ten eighties. Is this a
good thing for you as a cricket fan And if anything,
that's going to save and Scott when it's gone to
say this that without T twenty cricket, everything.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Else withers and dies.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
So it'll be on the front foard around that and
hopefully save the magnificence of Test cricket which is slowly
but surely becoming a distant, if not relevant memory for
cricket fans. And it has to stick around. It has
to stay, you feel. The only way it can stay
(26:03):
is if enormous wealth is injected into the game through
untapped markets in the United States of America is one
twenty five minutes to eight A tech said this guy Bill,
This guy's Scott Ween see he's in cricket. This guy says,
there's twenty five million Southeast Asians in the USA. He's
(26:27):
talking like they're all cricket fans.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
I going to be a couple of percent. You should
sell used cars.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
We sound confident, Bill, And what do you base that on?
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Have you done maths as well?
Speaker 2 (26:39):
And it's all very well to sit there in your
lounge chair in fire broadsides. I'd suggest due diligence and
engaging in something like the Piney Hill and cricket. But
know a little more about how keen the twenty five
(26:59):
million Southeast Asians living in the United States, how keen
they are on cricket. They must have a rough idea.
I think it represents a good bet. And like what
Scott said, so there's no definitives here, you don't know.
(27:20):
It might fall over, but they've tried to build it
in a way that they're less likely to collapse of
their own accord and more protected from the vagaries of
finances in sport, it's hard work going to America and
trying to climb into their major sports. But they're not
trying to climb into it. They're trying to walk. Sorry,
(27:42):
you walk alongside it. I'm trying to dominate that. I
want to be baseball, don't want to be basketball. They
don't want to be hockey, they don't want to be football.
But there is a market to be tapped on eighty
ten eighty got Aaron, how.
Speaker 9 (27:57):
Are you calculate, Dassey?
Speaker 7 (27:59):
How are you, mate?
Speaker 4 (28:00):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (28:00):
Not so bad? Looking forward to doing nothing at all tomorrow.
Speaker 7 (28:04):
Yes, arm I mate, I'm absolutely naked anyway about the cricket. Look,
I'm not a supports expect by any means, but I
think that it's got to the stage now. I mean,
I love my Test cricket and I love my one
day cricket. I'm not such a fan of the what
you call the s h I t s in Giggle's cricket.
(28:25):
But if it's going to bring the money in and
it's going to ensure that our way of the game survives,
I don't think we've got any choice. We've just got
to embrace it. Well, you don't have to, you don't
have to watch it. If you don't like it, don't
watch it. Plenty of people like it, and plenty of
people will watch it, and well it will ensure that
or help to ensure that the way of the game
(28:47):
that we know it and love it will survive, because
without it, you're right, it won't.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
And I think the point I've brought us up a
number of times on air over the years that the
money generated by for example, when you're sent on cricket
isn't just to pay the black cat. It's to look
after the strength of New Zealand cricket right from the
get go, and the more money they generate. And Scott
said this to me off air around the women's game,
(29:15):
there's no direct correlation with a women's T twenty competition
being launched as well, but with the seven figures that
they're going to generate by providing support for this team,
that money can then be filtered through New Zealand cricket
and help everybody. So yeah, the bigger picture, it's the
important thing, isn't it.
Speaker 9 (29:36):
Yeah, yeah, it is.
Speaker 7 (29:37):
It is, because I mean people going about the divisional
forms of the game. And I don't think you're wrong.
I love my desk cracket, my old one day cricket,
the old of the other game, and it doesn't necessarily
mean embracing it personally if you don't want to watch
it but we need to be mindful that it needs
to happen to ensure that what we love survives and.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
That's the future.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
And that's why they should be commended because they're not sting,
they're watching it go past. Are they like we should
get on this before it's too late?
Speaker 7 (30:07):
Exactly? Yeah, No, you're wrong.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
You're not wrong, Aaron, thanks very much.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
A lot the way people when they're referencing their favorite
sports say, you know, my I love my test cricket,
they love my football.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
That that ownership is so good.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
You're running a major sport or a minor sport, you're
loving that because you feel like you feel ownership.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Of it, don't you my test cricket?
Speaker 1 (30:27):
Only me.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
And a few other million people around the planet, well billion,
I now an Indian say my test cricket. It's twenty
minutes to eight more of your course still to come
and we'll catch up with Anton Signa, the Open Side, Blues, German.
Speaker 8 (30:47):
Threat, Pity.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Jesuit met sixteen minutes to eighty.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
What do you need to know?
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Around the world is new sport and we're a sitting
at eight o'clock up after that. Marcus Lash with Marcus
Lush Knights. Back to the phones, we go one hundred
and eighty to ten at.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Hi, Brian, how are you?
Speaker 10 (31:22):
Oh all right?
Speaker 11 (31:24):
Just sort of can't help being a bit of a
doubting Thomas in a way. That's okay, twenty five million
odd people in the United States. That's five hundred thousand
people per state, and most of those states are bigger
than New Zealand. That would they really travel that far
just to see again, apart from a novelty factor.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Well, it bends out with the expat population coming in,
how addicted they are to cricket, and if they put
the franchises in the right catchment area, which I presum
don't have to do.
Speaker 10 (32:01):
Therefore, group in one state or something that would be good,
but there isn't. I can't think of a state apart
from Hawaii that's smaller than New Zealand. Most of them
are at least twice the size. It's not bigger. It
would be a long way to go for a game
if you're saying Austin Texas, and I can't think of
(32:23):
what would be on the other side of Texas.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
But yeah, yeah, well traveling great distances, right, you talk
to anyone in Queensland. I talked to Kevin Campaigon still
all the time. It's like anyone think, are just going
on a drive? Mate?
Speaker 3 (32:36):
Where are you going?
Speaker 2 (32:37):
Darwin?
Speaker 3 (32:38):
How long is that going to take? Oh about six hours?
Is nothing? Yeah, Pete.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
People were used to it, and they've got good freeways
right and big cars and cheap gas.
Speaker 12 (32:46):
Yeah perhaps, but yeah, I hope they haven't invested an
awful lot of money in well, they're.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
They're investing time. It's it's sweet equity.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
They are getting paid seven figures per year to provide
coaches and support and everything else they need to keep
the team going, so they're making money from the get go,
and then then as it advances they look to make
more money as an investment strategy. So I think the
(33:18):
risks are reasonably low.
Speaker 12 (33:21):
Oh that could be good though. I just don't think
it will send get the world on fire with those
sort of statistics, but who knows. They might make some converts,
and of course.
Speaker 10 (33:33):
You've always got the Commonwealth sort of people there as well,
apart from the the Asian Asian loss as well. So yeah,
as possible, but.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
Brian, maybe not.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
But would you rather this happened or New Zealand Crickets
sat there on the sidelines and watched it all trundle past.
Speaker 10 (33:58):
Oh, I think it's worth a crack. I wouldn't hold
my breath, but it's worth a go.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
Excellent, Brian. Thank you very much for your call.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
I mean, don't at eighty ten eighty if you want
to climb on in o Kate Trevor.
Speaker 9 (34:12):
Yeah, you made right.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Hi, I'm looking forward to nothing tomorrow?
Speaker 9 (34:16):
Are you very looking forward tonight?
Speaker 2 (34:17):
There's the right game of leg on there is I know.
And the thing is I can drink beer till it
comes out of my ears because I'm zero responsibility tomorrow.
Speaker 9 (34:26):
Yeah, oh sweet for you. Enjoy yourself, mate. Hey look,
I'm not touchered with I've got this right, but to me,
you know, they mentioned not too much money invested in
the New Zealand game. At the moment, it's all about
getting the footholder and making a bit of money. Isn't
that sort of what we heard from New Zealand.
Speaker 7 (34:46):
Union.
Speaker 9 (34:47):
We'll do things at the top so we can fall to.
Speaker 10 (34:49):
The game below.
Speaker 9 (34:50):
But every Union and every bloody super team is screaming
out for money. They don't think getting their share of
it down the bottom.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
I don't know if through though, I mean David Kirk
and Mourison game this is not a good idea because
they were they were selling off great porch of the
all blacks in New Zealand rugby and eventually shylock comes
back for a pound of flesh and that'll come back
to bite us. Whereas this is just as they say,
sweat equity and they're getting paid to provide a service.
(35:20):
So I don't see as being the same fish hooks.
Speaker 9 (35:25):
Yeah, but the money they do make are they are
it just once again going to go to the people
that pop or is it being fed? Is it going
to be fared down like a lot of rugby people thought.
But anyway, you know, give it a go. But making money, money, money, money, money,
and you'll help, you know, it'll help finance the game
(35:47):
at grassroots.
Speaker 10 (35:48):
Yeah, we've heard and all that before and we.
Speaker 9 (35:49):
Done there, we have.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
But I don't see New Zealand Cricket going to the
associations going we plan on doing this because of this
with like your agreement, they've gone, we're going to do
this because we can see a future and well, looks
in five years, got no money they've got to do something.
So this way, I think it's reasonably risk free because
(36:12):
they're not slicing off an arm of New Zealand cricket
and handing it to Major League cricket.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
They're saying, Hey, we're going to aid in the bet.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
We're going to assist you, we're going to give give
you some intel, we're going to give you some i P.
We're gonna give your coaches, and we're going to feed
some of our players through your system. And for that,
they're going to give us a slice of money every year.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
I think, not that.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
I've read the contract, but I think that represents a
lesser risk than dealing with a major fund who really
couldn't care less about cricket. They just want to bank
a check.
Speaker 9 (36:47):
I mean, I mean, I suppose you give it a go.
I mean, that's that guy Scott. It sounds like he's
really been through it and you know, worked it out
and seems a thing. That's a good deal.
Speaker 10 (37:00):
So I suppose to give it a go.
Speaker 9 (37:01):
But just running Yeah, we'll have to wait and say,
but no, I got on for trying something, so we'll
see what happens.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
Then precisely, I mate you and enjoy your long weekend.
It's ten minutes to a quick word with Anton signa
thank you ever coming up? So answer.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Anton signa from the.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
Blues join us next here and he still be Blues
take on the Reds and Brisbane. We're joined now by
open side flanker out of the Blues. Anton's signat to discuss.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
Gooday, Anton, are you going all right? Going? Well?
Speaker 2 (37:48):
More's the point? What are you and your team up to?
You finally managed to turn around the ship. Things are
starting to look up. Look, you didn't get the win
last time out, but it looks like you're playing Blues
rugby again.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 13 (38:02):
No, I think the main thing is us as a
group as a unit. You know, we're getting a lot
closer as a team in it and it's starting to
show on field as well, which is nice. So obviously,
as you say, we didn't get the result last time out,
down and down in Christchurch, but yeah, that was a
battle for sure and one that could have easily gone
either way. And we'll definitely take a lot of positives
out of there, but their class side as there always are,
(38:23):
so we have to give credit, what credits you to
be honest.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Look, I'm reading black, but I got to say, you
guys had the upper hand. In essence, the way that
game rolled out, you should have won that one, really,
shouldn't you have done. It's just they managed to squeak
away right at the very end. So there's a lot
of good to take out of that.
Speaker 13 (38:37):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. I think all the stats were in
our favorite apart from the points one, which at the
end of the day is the one that I've met it,
So I guess you have to give them credit. I
think their goal line d or their defense inside of
their twenty two was pretty remarkable to keep us out
for quite a while there. But pleasing from outside is
that we are able to dominate a game that well.
And yeah, obviously this week's focus has been us us
(38:58):
on the tech inside their twenty two so that we
can make sure that we leave with more points.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
What about your own personal mession?
Speaker 3 (39:05):
What is that? What's and giving you?
Speaker 2 (39:07):
What's his instructions been around what he expects from you?
Speaker 13 (39:10):
On the open side, he's been pretty pleased with having playing,
obviously rewarding me with some good game time. But yeah,
he just tells me keep being physical and keep playing
my game. Keep having a good peace prisons as well,
and yeah, keep being one of the guys that brings
the team together, because yeah, I obviously try before a scrum,
you know, the props, the props keep pretty tired out
(39:32):
of the s. I have to try and use my
energy and feed it over to them by tapping them
on the back and calling them to push out. So yeah,
not just keeping my energy levels high when I'm playing,
and yeah, just keep doing what I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
Really Yeah, and I thought you said to me you
were going to whip out and get in the front row.
I thought that's keen.
Speaker 13 (39:51):
No, not quite, not quite at that point.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
Not going to happen. When you look at the nature
of the Reds, what do they bring? Look, they're at
sun Court, this is a place they love to play.
And here's a fun fact for you, not one New
Zealand side in Super Rugby Pacific this year has actually
beaten an Australian side over there. So you could break
(40:15):
a duck. What do you have to do to roll
the Reds?
Speaker 13 (40:17):
Yeah, well there you go. No, this is a big
weekend for them. Well that's that's just added more fuel
to our phad to be honest, but obviously we've it's
a it's the it's the Anzac Tests and as you
say that, the Reds at sun Court and after and
they're just coming at the end of the boy week too,
so they'll definitely come out firing. And I think they've
named a six two split on the bench too, so
(40:38):
they'll definitely look to knock down the front door. So yeah,
us as forwards, we're going to have to front up.
But yeah, I think it's sort of plays into a
hands a bit because yeah, Blues rugby is is quite
reliant on the Fords doing well, and yeah, we're going
to embrace that challenge. And we've been talking about physicality
all week and that's what ruins rugby games, so that's
our focus going into it.
Speaker 1 (40:56):
You hear it from the biggest names and sports and
men have your Sale eighty Sports Talk on your home
of Sports and News Talk, Zippy.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
Bloke, ad Anton Segna, The Purple Explosion, Blues taking on
Reds coming to a television near you. We're not going
to go are we did you fly to Brisbane to
watch a game of rug No, We're going to finish
shortly and we'll finished with a couple of texts nineteen
nine two ZBZB.
Speaker 3 (41:24):
And thank you very much for your engagement. Here.
Speaker 2 (41:28):
Have a look on YouTube and all of the American
reactions to cricket. A lot of them view more games
to learn about the rules, so you go, maybe there is.
Speaker 5 (41:38):
This.
Speaker 2 (41:38):
I love Darcy. As a country. We really need to
stop pouring cold water on people who give stuff a crack.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
Good on your new Zellan cricket.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
You don't know unless you try it. It might not work,
but they would have assessed the options.
Speaker 3 (41:54):
Good luck to them. That's what I want. Thank you,
that's uplifting. I need this.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
Going to a day of doing nothing. Happy Anzac Day.
Make to you donate, get amongst help the old school
out and it's little such things for your help.
Speaker 3 (42:12):
Thanks to all for listening.
Speaker 2 (42:13):
This is News Talks EDB.
Speaker 1 (42:21):
For more from sports talk, listen live to News Talks
ed B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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