NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport

Sports stars who failed to fire in New Zealand

NZ Herald
13 Dec, 2017 09:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

England cricketer Ben Stokes, right, reacts after he is run out for a duck. Photo / AP

England cricketer Ben Stokes, right, reacts after he is run out for a duck. Photo / AP

Ben Stokes hasn't had the most productive visit to New Zealand since signing with Canterbury Cricket. The England all-rounder has scored 36 runs in three Ford Trophy innings and taken one wicket for 144 runs.

Stokes will look to turn around his form when he makes his Twenty20 debut for the Kings today against the Volts in Christchurch.

He's not the first to arrive on New Zealand shores and struggle to produce their best efforts, and he won't be the last.

Here's other sport stars who didn't impress while in New Zealand.

Serena Williams:
Earlier this year, Serena Williams played in the ASB Classic but crashed out in a shock second round exit.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The 23-grand-slam champion blamed the "abhorrent" conditions in Auckland for her 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-4 defeat to unheralded American Madison Brengle going as far as saying it's least favourite conditions she ever played in.

She struggled with the blustery conditions, as the Stanley Street venue became a wind tunnel.

"At least I can get out of these conditions so I can get somewhere better and warmer weather too," she said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I can take solace in the fact that the conditions won't be like this in Melbourne [for the Australian Open]. This is almost not a great opportunity to assess your game to be honest."

Serena Williams won one match in New Zealand. Photo / Nick Reed
Serena Williams won one match in New Zealand. Photo / Nick Reed

Tiger Woods:
In 2002 professional golfer Tiger Woods ventured to our shores to compete in the New Zealand Open and was expected to run away with the tournament.

Instead he had to settle for sixth overall, blaming the driving rain and wind.

"The wind has not been easy. The people down here have been great and I wish I could have played a bit better," he said.

Discover more

Opinion

10 quick conclusions from West Indies series

13 Dec 04:00 PM
All Blacks

Read faces break after back op

13 Dec 04:00 PM
Sport|cricket

Bad news for fans of test cricket

13 Dec 08:13 PM
Sport|cricket

Ashes bombshell: ICC investigating massive fixing claim

13 Dec 10:58 PM

"It's been a tough week on the greens."

Woods earned $36,000 for his performance, less than one percent of the appearance fee he was reportedly paid.

Tiger Woods blasts out of a bunker on his way to posting a third round, 4-under-par 67. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Tiger Woods blasts out of a bunker on his way to posting a third round, 4-under-par 67. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Jonny Wilkinson:
Lions player Jonny Wilkinson labelled the British & Irish Lions tour of 2005 as "disastrous" and "chaos like I'd never seen before".

Wilkinson and co were hammered 3-0 in the test series against New Zealand on a widely criticised tour that questioned the future of the Lions.

Despite having one of the most experienced playing squads and largest management team of any Lions tour, it was the first time in 22 years that the Lions lost every test match in the series.

Jonny Wilkinson of the British and Irish Lions leaves the ground after losing to the All Blacks.
Jonny Wilkinson of the British and Irish Lions leaves the ground after losing to the All Blacks.

Gary Anderson and Peter Wright:
In the Auckland Darts Masters, one would think it safe to assume the top seeds would progress without much trouble in the opening round or two.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Well that might have once been the case, but in 2017 the top two seeds Gary Anderson and Peter Wright, both of Scotland, were both dispatched by Australian invitees Kyle Anderson and Cadman in the first round.

Peter Wright in action at the Auckland Darts Masters
Peter Wright in action at the Auckland Darts Masters

Shane Watson:
He was only signed on for a one-game cameo for the Canterbury Kings' Twenty20 side in 2015, and his visit was indeed fleeting. The Australian allrounder lasted just five balls at the crease, falling for a duck, and didn't bowl as the Kings beat the Central Stags.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

live
Rugby

Lions v Argentina live updates: Pumas take lead back

20 Jun 08:28 PM
FootballUpdated

Auckland City FC fall 6-0 after two hour weather delay

20 Jun 08:27 PM
Premium
Editorial

Editorial: Why Liam Lawson's F1 career is at a crossroads after Canada

20 Jun 06:01 PM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Lions v Argentina live updates: Pumas take lead back
live

Lions v Argentina live updates: Pumas take lead back

20 Jun 08:28 PM

The Lions warm-up for the Australia tour by taking on the Pumas.

Auckland City FC fall 6-0 after two hour weather delay

Auckland City FC fall 6-0 after two hour weather delay

20 Jun 08:27 PM
Premium
Editorial: Why Liam Lawson's F1 career is at a crossroads after Canada

Editorial: Why Liam Lawson's F1 career is at a crossroads after Canada

20 Jun 06:01 PM
Premium
Liam Napier: Where the Chiefs could edge the Crusaders in Super Rugby final

Liam Napier: Where the Chiefs could edge the Crusaders in Super Rugby final

20 Jun 06:00 PM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP