- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
I’ve been sitting here in sunny old New Zealand watching our domestic season unfold. Although, it hasn’t gripped me, it hasn’t really got me slightly interested.
This is a shame, because this season, in terms of international cricket, we’ve had nothing for two months. Until now, of course.
However, international fixtures is a whole new blog, a whole new discussion.
This article is about a proposal that may or may not have already been discussed on The Roar. I’ve been bantering around with a few mates, just casual banter on a weekend, and I threw in an idea that people seemed to like.
The Super 14 (or however many teams) of cricket.
This simply came from a discussion about New Zealand’s domestic scene and how it’s not giving our players enough of a platform to actually be up to international standard. Our players perform in the domestic arena, but can’t in internationals.
Examples? Matthew Sinclair, James Franklin, both the Marshall twins, Chris Martin and the list goes on.
So, when the banter started getting interesting, we really got into it.
We thought New Zealand could have three teams: Southern (Canterbury and Otago), Central/Wellington (Wellington, Hawke’s Bay etc) and Northern (Auckland and Waikato area). Australia would obviously have the states and South Africa would have their teams (sorry for my poor South African knowledge), which I assume would be similar to what they have in the Super 14.
Now, you people in Australia are sitting there and thinking, this is all well and good, but we’ve got an excellent domestic competition thanks. How is this going to help us?
Well, truth be told, when I threw the idea around I was simply thinking of developing New Zealand cricket. But there are definite positives for you, too.
With this competition, teams would be able to play in other countries on a more regular basis, hence they would be able to play in different conditions and develop their games to a high level. So your Australian boys would play games in South Africa, where I know a lot of teams struggle.
This would develop their skills playing on much different pitches to what they’re used to at home. Obviously it would be the same for South Africa (play on faster pitches in Australia and greener and slower pitches in New Zealand), and boy, would it help New Zealand in all facets!
So to the next point: what form of the game?
Well, four dayers are obviously too long. It comes down to a battle between Twenty20 and the more conventional 50 over a side game. I would prefer the 50 over a side format simply because it’s better cricket to watch and helps players develop more than Twenty20 where you just close your eyes and swing.
This would also take some time, but it’s no more than just your one match a week Super 14.
It has some flaws (fitting it in the schedule etc), but I think all three countries would benefit: crowds would increase, people would be more interested in it than the IPL, and of course, players would develop and Southern Hemisphere cricket would develop.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.