Cricket: It's home and away

By DYLAN CLEAVER

There are two principal questions cricketing authorities must ask before forging links with Australia at a domestic level: How would it work? Who will it benefit?

They are two questions New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden admits haven't been considered yet as talks with his Cricket Australia counterpart James Sutherland have barely moved beyond the preliminary. What Snedden does rule out is any Warriors, Breakers or Kingz-like involvement in an essentially Australian competition.

There has been some speculation the way is being paved for a New Zealand entry into the Pura or ING Cups, Australia's vaunted domestic four-day and one-day competitions that are credited with grooming first class cricketers into ready-made test stars.

However, Snedden rules out any diluting of the strengths of New Zealand's own domestic competitions, the State Championship and State Shield.

The New Zealand Cricket chief executive expects to re-open talks as early as next month when he's in Melbourne for the launch of the Chappell-Hadlee trophy.

"There would be some advantages," Snedden continues. "It would be helpful for our best domestic cricketers to step up a level. But we wouldn't interfere with the State Championship or State Shield. We feel they're serving their purpose. It would have to be something extra."

Which begs the question, when? The window for a transtasman domestic tournament would appear to be in October and early November. This means the cricket would have to be played across the Tasman as there are obvious climate issues in New Zealand during spring and autumn. A later window would also cause cricket to go up against a Super 12 in full swing, when cricket is unlikely to gain much traction.

Even if New Zealand entry into existing competitions was green-lighted, there has to be debate about how beneficial the move has been in existing franchises. There is strong evidence to suggest that the Warriors, in their several incarnations, have had a devastating effect on previously strong local league competitions.

"We [the players] want to be closer to Australia but we shouldn't confuse that with weakening our competitions," says Players' Association manager Heath Mills. "We wouldn't be keen on any competition that took away from the strength of our domestic competitions. We would only support something additional."

The idea of meeting Australian state teams, perhaps with composite North and South Islands teams, is seen as meritorious by most first-class coaches approached by the Herald on Sunday. The notableexception was Otago's Glenn Turner.

The former New Zealand coach did not see how any competition with Australia at domestic level, whether new or integrating a New Zealand-based team into an existing competition, could be beneficial.

"I think it's a ridiculous idea but I guess it's like anything else in that there's two sides to every story. But I'm unable to see any credence or sensible argument for it."

Turner was part of New Zealand sides competing against Australian states in a one-day knockout competition in the 1970s.

"I found it just as ridiculous," he said. "I guess one-offs are a possibility," Turner said, softening only slightly, "but we're playing to a full programme. We already struggle to fit it in with the Black Caps. I just don't see it as worthwhile."

Former Otago-ites Bruce Blair and Vaughan Johnson, now coaching at Northern Districts and Wellingtonrespectively, beg to differ.

"If Australia has a stronger competition with better cricket, the flow-on effect can only be beneficial," Blair said.

He said any competition would have to be carefully considered so it did not take away from the existing competitions.

"That's the natural stage for developing Black Caps," Blair said.

The former international said the sort of competition that would excite him would be a one-day knockout competition between a couple of New Zealand teams, a few Australian teams andperhaps a team or two from India.

"We'd have to carefully consider how we'd integrate it into the season but further exposure for our best cricketers can only have long-term benefits."

Johnson thinks transtasman rivalry at a level below international would help New Zealand Cricket sort the wheat from the chaff.

"It's a tremendous idea," the Wellington coach said, "to be able to mirrorourselves against the best competition in the world and try to make players better than they are now.

"We can fast-track guys if we extend them and take them out of their comfort zone. You can learn a lot about a player if you see whether they stand or fall.

"If we could get a North and a South Island team playing over there it would be a great idea, as long as it's not played when our showcase competitions are played. A mini-tournament would be great. It can only help the wholesituation," he said.

There are other benefits.

More exposure to Australians will decrease any 'fear factor' when playing our neighbours; New Zealanders will get more comfortable playing on the back foot; and it could be a ratings winner if marketed properly.

But on the flipside there's the nagging feeling that there's a gulf in class here and it's not one our own domestic, academy and talent identification systems have been able to bridge.

- THE HERALD ON SUNDAY