??Life is, T20 is, cricket is, the weather is, Pakistan are, and the Blackcaps are, all very unpredictable.

Life due to variables.

T20 due to rules.

Cricket due to pitches.

Weather due?? to climate change, Pakistan due?? to team disruptions and the Blackcaps due to population, or lack of it.

Only a few weeks ago I thought my international career was over, that I’d been cast aside, and that I had missed my opportunity to prove I was good enough to perform on the international stage. Then things changed, I got another chance, and life showed how unpredictable it is.

The Blackcaps put in two great performances in the first two T20 internationals against Pakistan. The batting unit fired and we saw t?he true potential from? some fringe players who stood up and showed they could make it at the next level.

With Brendon McCullum and Dan Vettori sitting out the series, and Ross Taylor playing a supporting role rather than lead part, the signs were there that this side could compete without it’s rockstars.

While Pakistan are experiencing their own internal difficulties, the side did include several world class match winners including talisman Shahid Afridi, rockstar Shoaib Akhtar, death bowling expert Umar Gul and future star Umar Akmal.
Enough talent that, on it’s day could tip over the worlds best.

It was less than two years ago that this same core of players carried the team to the I?CC T20 World Cup final, before they went on to beat a well-fancied Sri Lankan side, and claim the World title.

It was at this tournament that I last faced Umar Gul. The records from that encounter would state that he had it a??ll his own way. His 5-6 off 3 overs still is the best bowling figures in international T20 cricket.

For this reason I took great pleasure in coming out on top of our battle at Seddon Park last week. The last time I tried a paddle sweep against him I was out LBW so you ??can imagine my elation when I got the first ball of his third over away passed fine leg for four. Little did I know the fireworks that would follow and the purple patch I found myself in for that over. It ??was a one off where a few crazy shots came good but I felt like I had had my revenge. You can watch it here:

Revenge.

Pakistan then got revenge.

The unpredictable side of talented individuals, owned the third T20 in Christchurch, scoring at will in the closing overs of their innings before unleashing a ferocious attack on the Blackcaps batsman. Sure, t??here were a few rash shots, and an erroneou?s runout, but their tight aggressive bowling meant not only were we losing resources, but the task for incoming batsman was becoming exponentially difficult.

T20 can do that sometimes, because the game is so short, there is no time to rebuild. If the proverbial hits the fan, you need to carry on with the same bravado you would if you hadn’t lost a wicket, otherwise the run-rate just gets away from you.

When I came in to bat the other night the score was 11-5 in the 5th over, we already needed over 11 runs an over. I was faced with the di??lemma of digging in and trying to salvage some pride and get some respectability, but accept that we would fall short of the target; or take some risks to try and maintain the required?? rate, knowing that would increase the chances of me getting out, further adding to our woes.

Scotty Styris and I had been in a similar position before, in a warmup game, before the T20 World Cup in 2009. Against Australia I walked out to bat with the score at 21-5 in the 6th over, and Styris at the other end. We had a similar discussion except then, because we were batting first we took the attitude of just ge??tting whatever we could. I ended up with 49, Scotty 42 and we made it to 147.

This time though, because we were chasing, there was always a required rate. The approach of, “we’ll get what we can” wouldn’t cut it this time round.

We got rolled. All out for 80. A hollow way to finish the series but let’s not forget it was won 2-1 by the Black caps. The Test and One Day series are to follow.

Who knows what will happen.

Predictions anyone?

A non-alcoholic light lunch was the order of the da?y with new boys Adam Milne, Luke Woodcock and Dean Brownlie getting a quick introduction, before being thrown into an intens??e fielding session, which was sure to catch out those that had overindulged earlier on the Xmas pudding. With training being on Christmas Day, there were no net bowlers, so within a couple of hours training was done and the guys could head home to enjoy the last few hours of the day with family.

There was a sense of excitement in the group, with a new management structure, some new players and Ross Taylor taking over for the T20 series against Pakistan. John Wright seems like an old school coach, wanting the basic things done well and ensuring there is a passion and pride in representing your country. Such values have resonated with the New Zealand public, who have been calling for his appointment since he finished coaching India back in 2005. Now he has his chance. If the Blackcaps were his Christmas present, then he wouldn’t have to wait long to try out his new toy
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Boxing Day dawned slightly overcast, but as the day rolled on and the start time for NZ vs Pakistan T20 number one approached, the sun shone down on the new Eden Park, another unknown element in what felt like for those involved, a new beginning for New Zealand cricket. The new South stand and new direction of the pitch meant in many ways it felt like we were playing overseas. No one in the team was sure where the lunch room was, we needed an escort to find the changing room and for once, as a fringe player, I did not have to worry about sitting in one of the old pro’s seats, as it was their first time in the new changing rooms too. Most of the time when you debut or re-enter the team, there is an awkward first few minutes where you wait till everyone sets up their areas before scurrying into an unclaimed spot and begin to unpack.

Warmups ran smoothly, the toss was done and we were in the field. A decision I was happy with as it gave me a chance to get into the game early, although I must admit there was some nervous excitement when the first ball was bowled. It’s been a while since I was involved in an international and the surge of adrenaline as the building crowd began to rise up had me on edge for the first few overs. Then I settled into a rhythm and away I went, just focusing on catching the ball and trying to block out everything else that was going on around me.

Pakistan did well to fight back to score 144 and we knew we’d need to bat well to win but with the small boundaries we knew we had the ability to catch up later if required.

We got off to a flier though with the boys at the top doing well and taking the scoreboard pressure off the middle-lower order. This meant when I ca??me in I could take my time and work the ones where possible. With Ross Taylor at the other end, I knew we could accelerate when needed, so I set about being there at the end and?? getting the team across the line.

Sure enough it wasn’t long before Rosco smoked a few over wide long on and we were down to 2 to win off three overs.

I was on strike against Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi brought the field up on the offside, so the reverse sweep was on. Some onlookers might have thought it was risky to play a shot like that with so few required but it’s one of the shots I’ve worked hard on, so I went for it. Fortunately for me, it came off, cleared the infield and raced away for four (raced might be a slight exaggeration, but to be honest I was already shaking hands with the captain!)

So the new regime starts with a win, nothing too profound or spectacular, not too elaborate, more workmanlike, disciplined and controlled, something the new coach would identify with, and hopefu?lly a sign of thin??gs to come.

Photo Source: //www.photosport.co.nz

Normally by the middle of November the weather wo??uld be warming up, I would have brushed the cobwebs off my cricket gear and would have a first class game under my belt, another season underway.

The weather is warming up, enough to be swimmi??ng at home in the evenings.

The cobwebs have go?ne, a few weeks club cricket with Waiuku in the Counties Manukau competi??tion put pay to them.

And as for the opening first class game? Well, club cricket for Waiuku put pay to that too. A fractured finger meaning all?? the hard work pre-season put on hold wh?ile the rest of the lads headed south, down to Queenstown, for the season opener.

It has been a turbulent ??time in New Zealand for cricket with the national team historically going down to Bangladesh for the first time and the media demanding answers from the management and players as to how they were going to make amends. The time off due to my injury has allowed me time to watch the current series in India and some of the fighting qualities the team spoke of before leaving, have?? been evident.

Many wrote the team off before they left but it has been encouraging, particularly as a Northern Knight, to see the talent of Kane Williamson shine through as an example of how hard work will be rewarded. The kid, (he still seems like a kid!) has been playing for ND for years and every season turns up with something new he’s discovered over the winter that takes his game to the next level.

A few of us have been fortunate enough to spend some time working with one of NZ’s finest batsmen, Martin Crowe, this winter. His simple approach has provided clarity and made my game more instinctive. We will have to see if it helps when I take the field in the coming weeks, but I can see it has already added to Kane’s immeasurable hunger to score runs.

It’s been strange sitting out the start of the season, a foreign concept, as all my injuries in the past have been mid summer or in the final few games. I guess this is what retirement feels like, Saturday afternoons spent doing normal things like gardening, picnics in the park and going to the beach.

While most kiwis enjoy heading to the beach for their summer holidays, cricketers don’t have the pleasure.

Traditionally, kiwis hit the beaches over the Xmas New Year period, their main holiday period, but this year the HRV Cup, NZ’s domestic T20 tournament, runs from the start of December. It will be interesting to see if the crowds still turn out, considering the distractions of Xmas shopping, work parties and family commitments.

Hopefully, fans find the HRV Cup a welcome distraction from Xmas stresses and come along in droves to watch some great cricket and exciting players. At the Knights, our three overseas players, have already caused a stir with ?the batting trio a dynamic group of explosive batsman.

Brad Hodge, has had tremendous success with Victoria, Kolkata Knightriders and several counties in England. With over 10??0?? T20 games and more than 17000 first class runs his experience will be invaluable and a real boost to the batting unit.

Dave Warner, fresh off his victory for Australia at the Hong Kong sixes, will bring some power to the top of the order. He doesn’t muck around, with an international strike rate of 149, and will add to our growing list of players who are willing to pull out a reverse sweep or two.

Finally, Herschelle Gibbs, an amazing talent, who has carried on Jonty Rhodes legacy as one of the best fielders in the world, will hopefully help get the Knights the only trophy that has eluded us to date. Gibbs firepower is legendary, no better example than his involvement in the world’s greatest one day run chase, scoring 175 off 111 deliveries vs Australia back in 2006.

The Knights will be in pink again, raising awareness of the NZ Breast Cancer Foundations battle with Breast Cancer. This summer myself and a few of the Aero sponsored donated our batting gloves to ‘support’ a great initiative to again capture the publics imagination. Hamilton designer, Helen Neilsen, created a bra using parts from our Batting gloves, that will be auctioned off to raise money for the cause.

It is a? gre?at idea and one many organisations and individuals have completed creating many works of art all with a focus on supporting Breast Cancer awareness.

More details can be found here.

So with the HRV Cup only weeks away I had best be heading off to get another run in. It won’t be long until I’ll be facing up to Brett Lee and Shaun Tait for Wellington and Canterbury respectively.

Fingers crossed that my finger is ready for battle…

This used to be the playground for Messrs Doull, Hart, Bailey and Bradburn in the form of Blake Park, but now, reinvented as Bay Oval, the ground is the stage for a new set of stars, in the shape of Watling, Marshall, Flynn and soon, fingers crossed, Dilshan. T20 cricket has finally blossomed in New Zealand and for the first time in our sporting history as far as I know, our overseas star will helicopter into the ground just an hour before the first ball is bowled, after arriving in the country only a few hours before that?.

On hearing the voice a second time, maybe it’s the voice of Players Association Head, Heath Mills, whispering ‘Play it and they will come’. Finally domestic cricket has some pulling power, and the provinces marketing departments are being forced into action as T20 fever takes hold of the countries holiday destinations.

The following domestic cricket as a whole is enjoying at the moment is the best it’s been in decades. Not since Alex the Kid and the Sega Master System gave kids a reason to stay indoors and stop climbing trees, has domestic cricket enjoyed such high attendance levels and media coverage.

There are several reasons for this being bandied about, all valid arguments and all contributing in their own way to the positive following. Naturally each of Cricket’s stakeholders has their different view.

Ali Beck and New Zealand Crickets domestic marketing department have done a great job getting the word out, all round the country that T20 cricket is the thing to come and watch and be a part of, and crowd numbers reflect that. I’ve lost track of the number of bus shelters and billboards I’ve seen advertising upcoming games and appearances. HRV must be ecstatic about the new relationship and the coverage they also are enjoying.

The unusual availability of the country’s best players has also contributed to the success of the competition and strong attendances. It’s been 10 years since Brendon McCullum played a game in Invercargill, 8 years since Dan Vettori played in Tauranga and never will have Ross Taylor been available to play 3 games in a week in New Plymouth. It is therefore no wonder that all three venues have been bulging near capacity on each occasion.

The crowds have come out and it is vital that New Zealand Cricket capture this interest, much like New Zealand Football will be under pressure to captu??re the fervour that will follow the All Whites at the World Cup in South Africa. Finally the New Zealand public have found a place in their busy lives for T20 cricket much like the English and South Africans have been doing for the last few seasons.

The timing of the games for me has helped immensely, allowing people to attend when it is convenient for them and they want to be entertained. Most games have been played in the early evenings allowing employees, still lamenting having to return to work, an outlet and a sense that their holidays linger on just that little bit longer. Televised games have been tight ones and some spectacular ??cricket has been put on to complement the bouncy castles, face painting and barbeques.

At Northern Districts we have set out to use the increased coverage to aide the efforts of an organisation helping raise awareness about one of the most common forms of cancer, Breast Cancer. The Northern K?nights and the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation have set about capturing the imagination of the NZ cricketing public by playing the entire HRV T20 Cup in pink, a colour not normally associated with cricket teams in this part of the world. The association and initiative has been greatly received and hopefully our efforts on and?? off the field will raise awareness and much needed funds to help battle this terrible disease, which affects so many people all around the country.

My own Grandmother experienced a double mastectomy when I was very young and we were fortunate that to date she hasn’t had any ongoing problems but for a lot of families they are not as lucky. It is wonderful to be able to use the attention and support we get as cricketers to support an organisation and cause that helps so many people fight back.

While sitting round? with the guys at Aero, I asked whether it was possible to make some pink pads. The rest of my team are wearing their black pads but, as usual, I wanted to do something a little different. When it became clear that was as simple as o?rdering some pink foam from our suppliers I mused over what more we could do to raise funds and awareness.

Then it dawned on me, why not get my pink pads signed as I ??travel the country playing against all the teams in the HRV Cup. Never before had so many international players been available for a domestic competition so never again would there be a better chance to create a piece of sporting memorabilia of such value. We could then donate the money to NZ Breast Cancer Fou??ndation.

Many bats are signed by one or two teams but very rarely to pieces get auctioned with such?? a complete set of autographs of so many great players.

So it started, the journey began. As you can see from the photos they started off clean and now have the signatures of every domestic player in the country, including all the Black Caps, as well as Overseas players Ravi Bopara, Ow?ais Shah, Yasir Arafat, Graham Napier and Tillakaratne Dilshan. They will be available to be bid on from about January 17th on TradeMe.co.nz and the auction will close at the conclusion of the HRV Cup.

You can get more ?information about the stor?y and the auction at

www.howcricketchangedmylife.com

Enjoy your cricket wherever you are around the world, it is an exc?iting time for the game, and its great to be able to help a worthy cause by playing the game we all love.

Please check out the website and auction mentioned if you are interested in getting your hands on one of the most unique pieces of sporting memorabilia around, or ??if you know of collectors forward this link on.

Thanks.

As a Wicketkeeper, my job is to react to what is going on around me. My sole responsibility is to catch the ball when it comes near me. A Keepers job description would read ‘must catch proficiently any cricket balls directed at them from all angles, at varying speeds, for hours on end?. Doesn’t sound too difficult…

However, holding such a reactive position means the outcomes of y?our hard work are often beyond your control, if success or failure were just measured in catches and byes. Unfortunately, for too long a Keepers performance and involvement has been misunderstood or taken for granted.

The bowler, batsman and fielders all play a part in how I, ??as a Keeper, can become involved in the game and it is that ongoing battle of patience and anticipat??ion that makes our day so draining.

A bowler knows that when they stand at the top of their mark they control where the ball will go and can influence the likely outcome of proceedings from then on. They obviously cannot change that balls destiny once it leaves their fingertips, but where and how they deliver the ball to the awaiting batsman will restrict available strokes and limit scoring opportunities and therefore provide some control ov?er what is to follow.

The same applies for the batsman, where?? they control the outcome once the ball leaves the bowlers hand through footwork and strokeplay. Some bold innovation or fancy feet, can turn th??e best ball into a boundary opportunity and a headache for the bowler.

For the Keeper though they must sit and wait for their chance to shine, holding out for that moment of brilliance that can turn the match. Most of our day is taken up by the mundane,? regulation takes outside off stump standing back to the seamers, or collecting errant returns from the outfield.

Every now and again though, a day will come when there is an opportunity to show your teammates why they need you there, why your skills, above anyone elses, are crucial for their success. Those days are your ch?ance to take the stage and put on a performance to be remembered. Recently, I had one of those days.

Cricket is a sport where unfortunately you will probably fail more often than you succeed. Most club cricketers know that they will probably only have a good day once every 4-6 weeks. The reality is, in a sport with 11 players, only 3-4 each week will have a day worthy of mention over dinner that night, or the water cooler at work on Monday morning. This is one of the reasons why many people don’t understand why we all love the game.

What possible enjoyment could y??ou get out of a sport that lasts 6 hours a day, for 5 days, a??nd at the end there might not even be a result?

While many regard Keepers as eccentric, oddballs that sit in the corner of the shed with smelly gear and crooked fingers, I regard them as a unique bunch of individuals who enjoy being involved in the game as much as possible and yearn for that day in the sun, whilst deep down knowing they will be few and far between. We are the players who realised early on in our cricket careers, that it can be a very boring sport standing down at fine leg waiting for the ball to come to you, and that standing at slip for 300 balls, waiting for one to come to you must be like watching paint dry. As a keeper I know a lot of balls are going to come to me, potentially every single one, (I know, highly unlikely, but cricket’s a funny game…) so I must always be ready. More often than not you’ll get a catch or two, but every now and again something strange happens. That happened to me recently.

Most sportsmen and women play their sport striving to repea?t, or reset, an earlier personal best, occasionally reaching milestones for their province or country, regarded as remarkable by their peers. As cricket has been played at first class level for decades it was hard to think I would attain one of those records and have my name alongside some of the greats of the game.

Not long ago though, that happened.

Our game versus Central Districts was just like any other first class game, we knew our opponents well and were striving to win ou?r second game of the season in the second round, a feat not achieved by a Northern Districts side in 13 years.

However, fate intervened for one reason or another and we attained victory, thanks mostly to a great show of bowling by Graeme Aldridge picking up 11 wickets in the match and some stubb?orn lower order resistance.

And, I had one of those games where, as a Keeper I got the chance to react and have an impact on the game. It was surreal, the second innings in particular, where I caught the first 6 batsman we got out. That s?equence of events was made more remarkable by the fact I had already t??aken 6 catches in the first innings. Unbelievably, I had claimed the world record for most catches in a first class match. The thing was, they were all pretty straight forward.

All I c?ould do, was do my job, catch proficiently any cricket balls directed at me from all angles, at varying speeds, for hours on end.

For whatever reason, the cricket gods patt?ed me on the back tha??t day.

I’m sure it won’t be long before they bring me back down to earth, the game does that, but I’d sure like to thank whoever it was who gave me the chance to have my name etched in history.

And all for just doing my job… it really is a funny game.

There are no such things as weekends, or overtime, or leave, or Friday night work drinks, or time in lieu. We are at work every day until December 23rd and start again December 27th. We don’t get paid extra for training on New Years day. We don’t head to the beach on weekends and we definitely don’t go camping.

So when we heard the Northern Knights were going bush for three days as a team building exercise and players ne??eded to bring everything right down to their ?toilet paper there were a few raised eyebrows and concerned faces.

An email from the manager gave some insight into what lay ahead, ??with the team be??ing split into tribes or iwi.

‘It is your responsibility to liaise with your iwi members to ensure that you all have the required items needed for the camp.’

So jobs ??were delegated, checklists completed and it was with great anticipation that we all met at Cobham Oval in Whangarei early on the Sunday morning looking forward to a few days of outdoor activities. Elliot Bay, our final destination, was a beach up north, privately owned but available for camping. The drive north was a windy one, snaking our way up the east coast of the far north until finally we arrived, the bay opening up to our right as we came over the crest of another ridge of rolling farmland.

As we approached the old shearing shed, our nearest source of fresh water, electricity and closest thing to civilization, it became clear we weren’t the only ones camping on the beach. The first paddock we entered had half a dozen massive Angus bulls in it that were not daunted by human company, approaching the cars and nudging the trailer of kayaks as if it were a scratching post.

After a period of standing, looking, pointing and generally trying to make it look like we knew what ?we were doing, the decision was finally m?ade, we would head round the point and set up camp on a bank at the top of the beach.

The van was unloaded and the race began to get the best site and get each iwi’s camp established. I knew we had a secret weapon in that my tent was one of those one’s that you just threw into the air and it popped up. While other groups struggled in a tangle of guy ropes and instruction manuals, we were already gathering driftwood off the beach and setting up a campfire.

The iwi up behind us seemed to be struggling with their 4-person tent and their inexperience proved to be their downfall the next night when their tent began filling with water at the first sign of rain. After several hours of rain they had two inches of water across the floor and ended up sleeping in the car on the last night, much to everyone’s amusement. The signs were there on the first morning when they spent 20 minutes trying to put up their tent before someone pointed out it was the fly sheet they were using and that the tent was the thing still in the bag with mesh for windows and a door on the front.

Once camp was setup it was time to check out the surrounding areas so before we knew it we were hiking through native bush and along ridgelines towards an abandoned whaling station nestled in a secluded bay not far from our haven. It was a gorgeous spot with the only sign of civlisation being the three large yachts anchored offs?hore.

After 20 minutes skimming stones the boys were getting restless so it was back to camp and preparations began for our first fishing excursions. With about six rods between us and about a dozen keen fishermen in the group it was going to be a case of first in-first served. Bait was cut up, hooks were tied ?on and rods were thrown over the shoulder and off we went.

The scramble across the rocks and impen??ding darkness proved enough of a deterrent to mean I ended up with a rod and after some near misses and a few handfuls of seaweed, finally the tip of the rod bent down and I had one on.

After a short battle the big Snapper got close to the shor??e and as I lifted it up out of the water the line snapped.

Chaos ensued and one of the lads scrambled down to the shoreline where the fish was sliding round on the rocks. It was the quickest I had seen him move all day and it wasn’t long before we had our first one in the bag.

Returning to camp by torchlight was a little treacherous but all returned ?safe and sound with their own rendition of the?? battle to land the big one.

With torchlight and campfire the only sources of light it was an early night. Co?mments were made in jest about the nearby ocean possibly being too loud and keeping the city slickers in the team awake, but the long day in the sun, and miles of hiking, proved an adequate sedative, allowing all a full nights sleep.

The silence was broken early at 645am by a wake up call and golden sunrise. All we knew was a run lay ahead a??nd it was going to be long. We filed out of camp hungry, cold and half asleep and returned an hour and a ?half later hungrier, colder and in need of more sleep.

Before breakfast we had covered, thanks to our trainer’s GPS, 15km on gravel roads, up and down rolling hills. Most of the lads just ran, or crawled, straight into the ocean to freshen up on our return.

Over breakfast we worked out why we were there. The camping was a test of will, stamina and tolerance. Sev??eral guys were out of their comfort zone, and it was a test of patience on several fronts.

Cricketers early in the season ??need all these traits to be successful.

Maybe that was the point all along, sure we’re all outdoors types, but camping… it’s just not cricket.

Photos

Beachfront Real Estate

Bush Walk

Camp from Above

Fishing

Video

Sri Lanka proved a difficul??t tour for several reasons and saw the batting woes of the test series return in the two one day games of the Compaq? Cup, in Colombo.

Squeezed in between the disappointments were two successful T20 matches against a side who were not long ago T20 World Cup finalists. It is one of those remarkable anomalies that the side that was so successful against Sri Lanka in the shortest format can be so dismal in the fifty over games. The change in fortune is an example of how the shorter format can really level the play??ing field between sides, and how different a game it is becoming.

My side in New Zealand, the Northern Knights, knows just that feeling after winning the domestic one-day competition last season, only to come l??ast in the T20 competition. Our one-d??ay campaign was built on miserly bowling by our two spinners through the middle overs, a feature that can be overcome by some lusty hitting in twenty over games.

The Champions Trophy is a tournament that is all about momentum. The new refined version differs significantly from the straight knockout originally played in 1998. Hopefully for the 50 over format, and New Zealand Cricket, this tournament will provide the impetus for both to get up off the canvas. Both need big performances if their supporters are to stay loyal. New Zealand’s batsmen have a lot to prove, mostly to themselves, that they are capable of performing and competing with the worlds best.

The New Zealand cricket fan must be admired for their patience with the talent pool, playing numbers and our obsession with the oval ball all conspiring to make it difficult to win regularly at the international level. Many of the current Black Caps side were thrust into the side prematurely, based on talent and not their record. Unfortunately, New Zealand’s limited player base and its preoccupation with discovering the next big thing, means many of the countries best players end up learning their trade at the highest level. It is no wonder that the side has a record of such ups and downs when the majority of the batting line up is still learning how to bat long periods.

Martin Guptill will become a very good international player but it is a big ask for Guppy to go out and open the batting and score test hundreds for his country when he has only scored one First-Class hundred. Here is a player nominated for the ICC Internation?al One Day Emerging Player award, yet in a lot of ways he is still emerging on our domestic stage.

Ross Taylor had only scored 3 First-Class hundreds before his selection, so had to le?arn how to handle the ups and downs most players cope with in domest??ic cricket, playing under the spotlight for New Zealand. He now, at the tender age of 25, is the Black Caps most senior batsman and the man that has to carry the weight of responsibility for helping the players around him.

New Zealand cricket has always fought above its weight, with registered players just over 100,000, compared to Australia’s 500,000 and England’s 800,000. The reality is the premature retirement of several of the countries best players of the last decade left a gaping hole in the top order. Players like Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle, Chris Harris and Stephen Fleming all retired at about 35 years old or less, with Craig McMillan and Adam Parore retiring at just 31.

Unlike some of their Australian counterparts, the majority of these players’ retirements were from all cricket, denying young domestic players the opportunity to learn from them and for there be a gentle transition. There were several reasons why these players chose not to continue for longer in the game, ranging from selection issues, family commitments, more lucrative business opportunities (cricket, mortgages and home ventilation systems) or health reasons.

On choosing to re?tire from international cricket, ??it is understandable that most chose not to return to domestic cricket. An inability to negotiate multi year contracts for even our most distinguished players discourages them from staying on, and insufficient remuneration makes it an even less attractive prospect.

With the Black Caps current batch of players essentially being split into two groups, IPL contracted players and emerging players, there is a real risk that if some of the major issues around scheduling and remuneration aren’t addressed, this years stand off over contracts may be a worrying sign of things to come. If the disagreement escalates again next year, there could be another grand exodus only a few years after the last mass migration, placing New Zealand cricket in a position it may not be able to recover from.

Earlier this week rumours began to circulate about a two-tier test schedule and New Zealand’s ranking would put them in the bottom half. That would be a financial disaster for New Zealand Cricket and would affect not just the elite programs, but would also damage the organisation’s ability to promote and manage recreational cricket as well.

The Champions Trophy tournament is crucial for the?? players, the administrators, the supporters, and the game in its 50 over format. It is still the only ICC tournament we have won thus far.

With that previous success, and all those interested parties, it should make for good ratings at least…

As I prepare to tour India for the first time, I am trying to prime my senses for ?the shock that lies ahead and the i??mpact this tour will have on my view of the world.

Sure there are the cricket matches to be played, but I imagine you can only really play at your best in India once you have come to ??terms with the sensory bombardment and logistics, both distinct from back home. There are several major differences that will be distractions if they are not dealt with and accepted.

Firstly, there is the oppressive heat. Chennai’s 37 degC is three times the temperature in Wellington today, a chilly 12 degC. Ice vests are packed and the battle to stay hydrated, while not drinking the tap water will be one requiring vigilance by all.

Secondly, there are the sights, sounds and ??smell?s that greet you round every corner.

The cows and cars sharing the streets.

The spices and silk being traded from stalls.

And the looks ??of awe and mischievous smiles from the local kids.

Every corner will be a postcard of India, showing the good and bad that comes with its booming industry. Images that will last a lifet??ime.

Finally, the irony of the sense of isolation in a country so populous. Unfortunately, when you tour India as a cricket team you do not have the freedom to wander out of the hotel whenever you please. Many of the things we take for granted at h??ome are not available or accessible without an escort. There will be rare opportunities to venture outside and these will most probably provide the most excitement.

This is where the real adventure begins.

Missions on Tuk-tuks through town, speaking to the locals, sampling local cuisine and long days exploring would be a typical tourists day. We will not have such freedom, but opportunities will be precious and just as rewarding .
The cricket looks like it will be very competitive with other sides in the Buchi Babu tournament featuring several players from the recent Indian tour of New Zealand. Playing in a two-day format will be a bit u?nusual but will mean for plenty of opportunities and a chance to play many sides in quick succession.

It all lays ahead of me and I hope you will join me for a live chat from India in the coming weeks to find out how I am getting on. I am really excited about the opportunity to chat online and answer a?ll your questions so keep an eye out for more information coming soon.

KudoSurf Me!

Playing domestic cricket in New Zealand offers a six-month contract running from October to April. The rest of the year we are essentially unemployed. Many players choose to head to the northern hemisphere to play to make ends meet but this becomes more? difficult as you get older, enter serious relationships and start families.

It is difficult to secure a well paying ?job for the winter months because you, and on most occasions your? employer, know that you will need to quit in five months time when summer returns.

To? be promoted to a national contract means 12 months of job security. For most workers such a short period of certainty would be daunting but for a professional cricketer in New Zealand, 12 months is a luxury.

Every player has a limited shelf life. While the contracting system we fought so hard for has delayed players prem?ature retirements, it has a long way to go before it offers the peace of mind many other codes enjoy through multi-year deals. It must be asked whether such a system creates an environment for peak performance from our players. Can players really go out and express themselves and perform at their best knowing they may be out of a job if they fail?

The uncertainty and constant change was one of the reasons Hamish Marshall left New Zealand to play county cricket in England. The ability to negotiate a three-year deal with his county provided the stability unable to be found as a fringe inter?national player or elite domestic player. It meant he could buy a house and settle down, two things most people take for granted or strive to attain. This security allowed him to go to work each day and play at his best, safe in the knowledge he had a roof over his head?? and a regular income in the near future.

Most bank managers would look at you with raised eyebrows if you asked for a loan or mortgage with only a six month contract as security. With the current economic climate the way it is, job se??curity is invaluable and financial worries generate tremendous ??stress for individuals and families.

This is why many players will try and make as much as they can in the time they are fit, as you never know when your career will end. Your career can be c?ut short ?by injury or an over-zealous selector out to discover the next big thing.

Surely all things considered then, players can be forgiven for the current standoff betw??een them and New Zealand Cricket over scheduling. For many of the players involved in the IPL it provides four times the annual income they receive from New Zealand Cricket. It seems reasonable that they would then consider such a financially important event when finalising the conditions of their national contracts.

Domestic associations are placing just as much importance on the T20 format. The calibre of overseas player being signed is proof of that. My team, Northern Districts, have signed the exciting and innovative Tillakaratne Dilshan from Sri Lanka for the expanded T20 campaign this year. As one of the leading players of the IPL an?d T20 World Cup, he is a real match winner in this format and hopefully will provide a wealth of knowledge for our players to tap into.

A place at the lucrative Champions League is the incentive for such expenditure. The Indian competition will provide an opportunity for domestic franchises and players alike to impress IPL scouts and push for places in next year’s tournament.

In a few weeks I will be heading to India for the first time to play for NZ ‘A’ which will be a fantastic trip for so many reasons. It is a country where cricket is a religion and such fanaticism will be an experience in itself.

Eventually, when the schedule is confirmed, I will be able to begin planni?ng for the trip. It is always difficult f??or New Zealand sides to tour during the winter due to the significant climate difference between home and the destination as well as the need to train indoors before departure.

It is another exciting few months ahead. After thinking I had fought my way into the spot as the reserve limited overs Keeper, the selectors made the interesting decision to have a different reserve keeper for each format of the game. With the tour to Sri Lanka followed by the Champions Trophy in South Africa we are all on trial again and that sense of feeling comfor?table with your place in the team goes?? out the window.

It will be a case, I guess, of whoever takes their opportunity ?takes the spoil?s.

Like most things in? cricket though, nothing is certai??n.

KudoSurf Me!

With our involvement in the? T20 World Cup ending prematurely it gave me an opportunity to enjoy a few of the quintessential elements of an English Summer. Lords was tinged with sadness as I watched my sister, and the White?? Ferns, struggle against an impressive English side that again pipped them for a world title this year.

It was a great day with the White Ferns loyal supporters as vocal as ever and dressed to impress in full black and white regalia. F??or most, if not all, of the side it was their first experience playing at Lords and while the re??sult may not sit well, the memory will be one to treasure.

Shared commiserations was the theme of the day as, after sharing in the White Ferns disappointment, a friend and I ended up at the Sri Lankan teams function to conclude their tournament. It’s always interesting to speak to other players and share their views on the tournament and it’s outcomes.

The Black Caps have got to know the Sri Lankan team well recently with the unfortunate events surrounding the Tsunami a few years back meaning they toured New Zealand three summers in a row. Unlike the Black Caps, who h?ave their first break in 10 months, Sri Lanka have just seven days off before facing Pakistan at home.

??Our next tour is to Sri Lanka, so much of the talk was about the current climate over there and several offers of hospitality were extended, dependant on selection of course.

With the tournament concluding, it really was the first chance for me to enjoy London, away from cricket and the high security that followed us round. The tracksuits and security passes can be put away?, and the luxury team coach is replaced by the underground and black cab??s.

On the first morning of my ‘holiday’ I drew open the curtains of my hotel room to the most amazing sight of the dome of St Pauls Cathedral, bathed in sunshine, dominating the view from the floor to ceiling window. It had dawned one of the best days of the summer and I felt like it was someone saying ‘chin up’ after the difficult campaign we’d just endured. It was also my 30th birthday so I was determined to make the most of the blazing sunshine.

As I strolled out the door of the Grange St Pauls where my partner and I were staying, life as a 30 year old did not seem qui??te as bad as I had imagined when growing up. It seemed so far away as a young kid charging round Puketapu Primary S??chool but that day had finally come, the big 3 0!

Two of the best days of England’s summer followed and a day at Wimbledon seemed like the perfect way to finish my stay.

It is astounding to watch the way the British press treat their Wimbledon hopefuls. For years it was Tim Henman who carried the burden of the British publics expectations into their home Gr??and Slam. Now Andy Murray faces the predicament of being British if he wins, and Scottish if he loses. The pressure to succeed must be difficult to shake off when you walk on court, there is an expectation that seems to defy rankings or logic when the British media preview their local competitors.

The weight of responsibility and feeling of interrogation was no better displayed than at Anne Keothavong’s media conference after her first round exit. The probing questions proved too much and her early exit showed the duress she was under.

The expectations placed on professional sportsmen and women are univ?ersal, with all athletes enduring scrutiny to varying degrees. Even as a club pro ther?e is an air of expectancy that hangs over every innings.

My English summer ends prematurely this week with my return to New Zealand for treatment on a broken finger. Just as the sun seems t?o have finally arrived, my flights are booked and I am headed home. Faced with ?a busy southern hemisphere summer ahead and a rare opportunity to get treatment, I reluctantly agreed to return for my first winter in three years.

So it is so long to balmy evenings, chille??d Pimms and the English su?mmer.

My first taste of an international tour offered mixed memories, ?wonderful opportunities, varied results and an appetite for mor??e.

Cricket is a funny game and, much like an English Summer, just when you think things?? are looking up, thunderstorms can roll in. With central contracts being announced his morning, the first shower has pass??ed. Now I have to look forward and hope that the naming of the team for Sri Lanka brings better news.

We shall see…