EXCLUSIVE
As New Zealand Cricket’s board deliberates the future of the domestic Twenty20 competition, two senior Black Caps have demanded a quick resolution from those in charge of the game.
On Monday, the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) board met to discuss the future of the shortest format in Aotearoa.
While four options were weighed up in a report by consultancy firm Deloitte, the Herald understands just two are being considered – the possibility of a New Zealand-run entry in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) or the creation of a privately owned franchise tournament within New Zealand called NZ20, replacing the current Super Smash.
The BBL entry would see a NZC-backed side enter Australia, and emulate the Warriors, Breakers, Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix as Kiwi teams in a transtasman competition.
NZ20 is the preferred option of New Zealand’s six Major Associations, as well as the New Zealand Cricket Players Association (NZCPA).
Black Caps all-format regulars Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell have spoken to the Herald, without the approval of NZC, to unequivocally back NZ20.
Mitchell told the Herald: “I want us to have our own identity.”
Ravindra said players wanted greater urgency on the decision.
“We’re respectful of the Deloitte process, but if we want to get NZ20 underway, the ball has to start moving pretty urgently.
“If that doesn’t happen, we’re going to lose a lot of players to the franchise world. That’s not what we want as a playing group, or for the nation.”
Time is running out for the league to be created and sold to private investors before a proposed start date of January 2027, if NZC’s board decides NZ20 is the better option.
Having NZ20 would likely result in the top players earning less but offer more to those towards the bottom of the ladder, even if it meant surrendering sovereignty of the competition to private interests instead of the national body.
“For us as a playing group, we strongly believe that NZ20 is the right long-term decision for NZ Cricket,” said Mitchell. “The time has come to make that decision as a playing group and as a game in our beautiful country.
“Hopefully, we’ll find out some news sooner rather than later.”
At present, New Zealand is the only major nation to not have a franchise league, with the Black Caps and White Ferns instead forced overseas for opportunities to earn and develop themselves at a higher level.
One of those leagues is the BBL, with Black Caps World Cup stars Finn Allen and Tim Seifert in particular showing New Zealand’s best can mix it against Australia’s domestic talent.
However, while there is interest from some within the game in New Zealand to see at least one Kiwi entry in the BBL, Cricket Australia is yet to give any indication if an overseas team would be welcomed, as it also weighs up private investment.
For Mitchell, while there is admiration for what happens across the Ditch, having a competition with New Zealand’s interest at heart is the option he wants to see.
“First of all, the Big Bash is a cool comp – it’s Australia’s marquee competition,” he said.
“But for the future of the game in our country, I want us to have our own identity, competition and our own future. If we have NZ20, it keeps New Zealand cricket strong and relevant globally.
“We can see the way the game is going. It’s really important we keep trying to be relevant in that landscape.
“It’s going to give not only the Black Caps players opportunities, but it’ll create 150 opportunities for domestic cricketers around our country – compared to around 30 in the Big Bash competition.
“A six-team competition in our country that creates regional connections and rivalries is going to be awesome for the game in our country – as opposed to one team from New Zealand.”
In some parts, the NZ20 has been framed as greed from the players, choosing private money as a means to top up their own earnings.
For Ravindra, the reality is the opposite. The Herald understands some of New Zealand’s best and brightest have lucrative multi-year contracts on the table from Australia, South Africa and the UAE, and would be forced to effectively walk away from national commitments to take them.
“If we were to play in NZ20, we’d be earning less than what we could if we did in overseas leagues,” Ravindra said.
“Money in the pocket helps, but what’s important is that the whole domestic system gets structure, the domestic players get more money and they have the ability to train throughout the year, instead of seven-and-a-half-month contracts.
“There are a lot of different aspects to it. We’d certainly be missing out by not taking overseas leagues, in terms of money. But for us, the greater good is taking care of cricket in New Zealand. For us, that’s important.”
At the time of writing, there is no guarantee as to when any decision will be announced by NZC or the board.
However, given the chance to deliver a message to those deciding the future of the game, Ravindra is adamant NZ20 is the option the playing group will continue to back.
“The message is that we respect the process and turning all stones,” said Ravindra. “But there’s a bit of urgency required.
“As players, we know what’s best for cricket in this country. We hope the right decision is made, it could be a fantastic product.”
NZC reiterated a previous statement to the Herald, saying no decision had been made either way and the board will not be rushed.
“As with any review involving such a significant, generational decision for the game in New Zealand, the board will take the time required to conduct thorough and responsible due diligence,” it said.
“Decisions on the preferred pathway forward, whether to pursue a domestic NZ20-style competition, or explore entry into an expanded Big Bash League format underpinned by a New Zealand-based six-team competition, are ultimately matters for the board to determine – based on the full Deloitte findings and broader input.
“No predetermined outcome has been set, and the board remains open to all viable options that best serve the long-term interests of cricket in this country.”
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.