December 20, 2025 • 22 mins
The pinnacle of domestic cricket in the summer, the 2025-26 Super Smash, begins on Boxing Day.
Both the Wellington Blaze and Firebirds begin their campaigns in Palmerston North on December 27, to meet Central Districts, before heading home to both host Auckland at the Basin Reserve two days later.
To preview their seasons, Adam Cooper was joined in studio by allrounders from both teams, Hannah Francis and Logan van Beek.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Nine past eight.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
But yes, summer always means cricket, does it, And of
course the pinnacle of domestic crickets in New Zealand is
the T twenty Super Smatch, which is underway for the
new season next week. The Wellington Blaze are the most
successful team in the women's competition. They've got nine titles
to their name and no sign of that slowing down.
They head into this season's campaign as defending champions again
(00:24):
and now with last season's interim head coach Johnny Bassett
Graham on board full time. The Firebirds have won four
titles in the history of the competition. They narrowly missed
out on the playoffs last year, so we'll be looking
to bounce back and get a spot in the top
three this season now. Both teams starting their campaign in
Palmerston North for Herbert Park next Saturday, December twenty seven,
(00:44):
with matches against Central districts Before both we'll be back
here in Wellington to host Auckland at the Basin Reserve
on December twenty nine. Is how good to have some
crickets to get to over that Christmas New Year period
and it's a great pleasure this morning to welcome into
the studio to all rounders from the respective teams. Logan
van Beak from the Firebirds, Hannah Francis from the Plays.
(01:05):
Morning to both of you. Thanks for coming in. Logan
will start with you. I know you've had to sit
out the recent Plunket Shields rounds with a toe injury.
Just wanted to check how's that recovery going? And you
all set to take the field next week?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Hello, Adam broken big left toe Yorker in a warm
up game last boar of the innings, decided to try
and charge it and hit it squarely on my big
left toe fractured it.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
And I've been out for the last kind of six
to eight weeks.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
So I was close to playing the last four day game,
but now just fully right fully ready to go and
I'm excited for the super smash.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
How careful do you have to be walking around with
a toe injury?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Sort of it? You have to be cautious. So I've
got a.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Little bit of a moon boot there for a couple
of weeks, and so that was lugging around. But I
also got Devin Conway's e scooter that he uses, so
I borrowed that for the six weeks that I.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Was unable to walk properly, and so that was good.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Fun riding around the city and going around there because
I sold my car a couple of years ago, so
we don't have a car and we live in the
city as well, so it was fun to beyond the
eat scooter.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
But no, I've found a way.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
But back in business now, I'm back walking nice and easy.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
And Hannah, great to welcome you into the studio. Thanks
for popping by as well. Blaze, I guess you become
under super Smash on a bit of a feeling of
momentum after a good sort of a good couple of
weeks and Hawi Burton Johnson Shield.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
Yeah, no, it's been a good start to the season
for the Blaze. Real nice to get the double wind
last weekend done and knowing your order. But yeah, so far,
so good. Sickond on the table so hopefully. Yeah, keep
the momentum going in the Super Smash and keep the
winds flowing.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Yeah great, And obviously is it nice having a knowing
certainty around the coach obviously with Johnny in the role now,
obviously there was a bit of doing and throwing over
the last couple of seasons.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
How goes that for consistency for this team?
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Yeah, no, it's great. Johnny and Mo they make a
great duo. Yeah, we're really enjoying it. And yeah, like
you said, nice to have the same coach all year round.
But nah, yeah, they're doing great and we enjoy having
them around.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
What's been the biggest difference do you think having say him,
you know, as part of the setup.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
What's he brought to the environment.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
Oh, yeah, he's it's very different to our old environment,
not necessarily in a better or worse way, but yeah,
it's just kind of a breath of fresh air, I guess. Yeah.
They've both got a you know, a good sense of humor,
so yeah, keep us on our toes. But yeah, nah,
they're just yeah, kind of refreshing, but yeah, really good
environment to be part of.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Great and Shane Jigginson's got a fair sense of humor
as well, doesn't he like and he's he'll be excited
for another white Ball campaign getting underway.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Oh, Jugo's brilliant. You know, he definitely brings the fun
within the environment. He does it a Friday rap every
every Friday afternoon on the voice notes. Normally kind of
three to eight minutes, and he just he kind of
sums up the He can tells a few jokes and
gives us an idea of what's happening next week. But
(04:05):
he's someone that definitely comes in with a smile and
is full of energy.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Yeah great, what's season number? Is this?
Speaker 5 (04:10):
For you?
Speaker 1 (04:11):
And domestic cricket? I mean, I'm putting you on the
spot here.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
I'm sure this is sixteen.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Yeah, so twenty ten was my first one, maybe fifteen sixteen,
whatever it is. But I feel like I've got plenty
left in the tank. And so it's amazing just to
kind of I was bowling with Amog and Ryan Sawgris,
you know this morning they were both going to nineteen
twenty twenty one, and you know, it was amazing. As
(04:39):
I was bowling with them, I was just thinking, wow,
I used to be bowling here with you know, My
first game was Shane Bond, Chris Marden, Chris Harris was
the captain, Craig n Millon was playing, who else Paul
Wiseman was there, Hamish Bennett and so yeah, that was
my first if a game, one day game in Auckland
(05:02):
and then to you know, be here thirty five and
be kind of the older statesman. But I still feel,
you know, nineteen in my in my mind anyway.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
And he got so, Elliott said in a couple of
days ago, twenty one years old, making a pretty impactful
day booto Oh amazing.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
You know, I'm super proud of Elliott. One thing about
Elliott is that he is not shy of the moment.
You know, he's played a few of the trial games,
warm up games in the last few years, and there's
been a howling wind and the captain says, I need
you to bowl that in.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
He goes, yeap, sweet, all good, and he finds a way.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
And that's the thing I've been most impressed with with
Elliott said, and is that he just he's not scared
of the moment and going into the super smash, you know,
hopefully he gets an opportunity, and you know, I have
full faith that he's gonna step towards the pressure.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
And I mean that the Blaze have had such a
strong dynasty and you know, the legacy of him just
continues to grow, doesn't it. With an amazing group of
players over so many years. How like, how nice has
it been for you? I guess as a welling Tony
and a high performer and club cricket, but being able
to join this blaze environment when it's still at it's
it's absolute peak.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
Yeah, no, it's really it's a really cool environment to
be a part of, especially getting the opportunity to learn
from some of the older girls and the white Ferns.
You know, it's pretty cool having you know, the Curs
in my team, you know, still quite cool. And people
come up to me and they go, what's it like
playing with a merely occurr And I'm like, that's right,
I do get to play with Ameliac. But nah, it's
(06:29):
a really it's been a really great thing to be
a part of the past few years. One a few
titles and you know, just kind of I guess sits
the standard for us younger girls and shows us. Yeah,
it shows us what we can what we can achieve.
You I want to get a little bit older, a
little bit more experienced.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yeah, and for you, I guess a century last season,
I'm sure that would have been been a highlight. What
do you sort of feel you're at ahead of a
brand new campaign? Yeah, it was.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
It was a pretty cool moment end of last season.
But like every season's you know, it's a new page.
So yeah, ticking along all right, but yeah, hopeful to
get a bit of a go and the Super Smash
this year and hopefully be able to contribute to some wins.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Yeah, great Logan Red Bull cricket. Maybe not the greatest
start to the season for the five Bird. It's been
a bit a bit of a struggle. I guess how
you know, how's the team reflecting on that and is
there often much correlation into to that and what you know,
what that does in momentum And to say the start
of Super Smash.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Tough start for sure.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
I think the pitches were reasonably flat, and you know,
sometimes the last few years we've we've often started with
plunket shield has been a lot greener, a lot easier
on the bodies for the especially for the bowlers, whereas
the pitches that they had to contend with were probably
on the on the flatter side, which which makes for
a tough task. So there'll be some tired bodies Snedden
(07:49):
and Dudding and hard Shoran and Yazb so they're gonna
be a bit tiged, but they've got overs under the belt.
So going into a Super Smash campaign. They kind of
know the their rhythm and they bowled a lot of overs,
so it actually helps a lot having bowled a lot overs.
(08:09):
And then on the batting side, we've had a number
of hundreds and a number of guys scored plenty of runs,
so again that will translate nicely going into a Super Smash.
But I think it's as well this competition has come
at at the right time. The boys need a few
days off just to kind of chill out and enjoy Christmas,
and then come to twenty seventh, I think everyone will
(08:32):
be fizzying ready to go.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
All right, what is the streak of the Blaze this year? Yes, Hano,
I mean you look at the line up, there's talent
everywhere with the bad end ball, but what is the
bigges streaks of the team heading into Super Smash.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
You think.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
This might sound a little cheesy, but I think our
team vibe has been really good this year. I haven't
quite seen I mean, to be fair, I don't really
know the other team's culture and all that, but I
know that our team, like we really we get along
really well. We'll you know, hang out on the daily
like we've just really connected this year, which I think
(09:05):
plays a huge part in performing well on the field
as well, because you know you can you can be
skilled with the bay, because you can be skilled with
the ball. But I think ultimately like that teamwork plays
a huge part, and I think, yeah, that's definitely one
of our strengths.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
How do you sort of approach I guess your game
obviously with the ball and bat. Do you particularly focusing
on any aspect of your game hitting into a new season?
Do you try and cover all bases consistently?
Speaker 5 (09:29):
Oh? Yeah, I mean try and cover all bases consistently.
I guess one of the good things about being an
all around and you get to do a bit of everything,
which you know always keeps it interesting. But yeah, yeah,
I think bit of everything. Work on the batting, work
on the bowling, fielding when we're allowed outside. So yeah,
just yeah, a bit of everything keeps it interesting.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Logan was nodding he enjoys fielding when we're allowed outside.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
It's such a Wellington quote.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
But you know, the all round a role for you,
you know, managing workloads. We know you're you've got a
busy cricket schedule pretty much year rounds, you know how
do you make sure you're in prime nick and but
also sort of staying staying at the top of your
game in all formats.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Yeah, I think for me, now I'm getting a little
bit older, I'm playing well, this would be my eleventh
season on the Bounce. I understand my game a lot more.
There's a lot less mental load that goes into a
game now, and so that is underestimated when you're younger.
How much you know, mental fatigue affects your you know,
you physically.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
So now it's I'm a lot more relaxed.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Still get nervous, still get you know, anxious going into games,
but I just love that feeling of being in the
moment where you have to bowl the final death over,
or you know, you're with the bat and you're having
to chase the score, or you're in an important position
in the field. Like that's that's why I play, is
to be in those moments. And you know, I've had
(10:51):
good days and bad days, but I know that I
survived them every time. So it's it's one of those
things that I search for. I asked for, you know,
constantly wanting the captain to give me the ball or
go out there and back because I know those moments
are the most satisfying, because they that's why I wake
up this morning, bowl eight overs in the at eight
(11:12):
thirty on the basin, and then go up and train
and you know, all those little moments all built up
towards wanting to be in those moments the weekends.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Finally here let's kick it off the All Sport Breakfast
with ruther Than and boln Toyota and King Toyota used
talk zed be hand. We talked with Logan just before
the break about we're clothes and managing that. But for you,
you've you've been you know, a high performing club cricketer
over many years.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Now keep heart of the blaze.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
How do you balance out sort of making sure you are,
you know, getting as much training and with your cricket
as well, but also getting down time and making sure
it's not one hundred percent cricket for you all the time.
Speaker 5 (11:49):
Yeah, it's quite handy that at the moment, Uni holidays
line up with the cricket season and say we're school holidays.
So I've got my brother at home so often, you know,
sitting on the couch watching the tests at the moment.
He loves doing that, so we'll do that together. And
also just kind of doing things with the girls outside
of cricket side of things, like we go play golf
(12:11):
every once in a while, not very well, but we try,
and kind of you know, we go for breakfast after
gym in the mornings and all that kind of thing
just separate. So I guess the serious cricket side from
just being able to hang out with each other as friends.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Yeah, right, there wouldn't be too many five is that
are bad at golf there. It seems to be pretty
The skills correlate pretty well, doesn't they.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
The boys who play golf and pretty good and the
ones that are not very good avoid it like the plagues.
But yeah, I played yesterday at a Miramar nine whole
course there to eighteen to that twice and it was
really enjoyable. No wind, which was fantastic, But I just, yeah,
we all like love to get out there and swing
(12:51):
the club, and it's you know, we're very competitive, so
every time we go out there, it's you know, it's
it's not much chat, it's you know, who's.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
I mean is the key.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
But definitely a good way, even during the super smash,
nice way just to kind of break up the the
the days is just to go out there and have
a bit of a whack and.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Yeah, brilliant.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
All right, twenty sevenths we're underway for It's Hermit Park
for both the Blazer and the fire Birds.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Raining champions for the Blaze.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
What does that do to I guess the approach when
you know everyone's going to be circling those games, you know,
all the other teams, they'll be circling games against the
Blaze to really want to put on a good performance,
how do you deal with I guess the expectation that
comes with being such a successful team and raining champions.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
Yeah, I guess. You know, it's a nice statistic to
I suppose have under our belt. But like I said before,
each season's you know, it's turning over a new page.
We just got to reset, start from zero. Just because
we won last season doesn't mean you know we are
going to win again. Every game is a new game,
so just take it one step at a time, and
(13:52):
you know, if it ends the way we'd like it too,
then you know that's great. But equally, you know, just
winning each game one at a time, that's kind of
all that matters at the moment.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Great, You've had plenty of trips to Parme Logan, Fit
Serbant Park. I reckon a lot of WELLINGTONI and should
hit on up if they've been waiting for Super Smash season,
it doesn't take long to get there and and come
and support the team.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
How do you traditionally go at fit Servant Park?
Speaker 4 (14:14):
Yeah, the Fortress, the Fortress Ferbert's. No, we've had some
the last few years going up there. It's been a
really enjoyable occasion. I remember the last Super Smash we played,
went down to the last over and Adam Milne bowled
fantastic go over. I mean we've got a bit of
a runout as well, and it was to twelve place
two tea and I think but it makes for a
(14:35):
great spectacle at Fitzerbert.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
So it's yeah, if you're in.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
And around the area, come on, come on down the
twenty seventh, it's Hotiday mode and you know it's all
the sports is definitely welcomed and it definitely gives us
an extra edge.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Do you have to be a bit careful on consumption
on Christmas Day? Like food wise? Dream wise?
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Well then no exactly. So my parents have just bought
it bought. They've just built a pool and so fingers
cross it's going to be nice and sunny down in
christ Church. But I've already kind of planned out the day.
I know Dad's got a corn hole set up. We've
got also cover up at the front. So our family
(15:17):
is very much in activities based family, and my brother
and I are very competitive as well, so quite often
it's it can get out there for a long time.
So I've actually have to kind of plan out my
day and make sure I've got a water in between,
a couple of the drinks and then and so that
I wake up on the twenty six in good shape
(15:39):
to say. But I'm definitely looking forward to a bit
of family.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Time and Hannah, I'm based reserve.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
We know that the Blaze out of the women's Super
Smash teams by far get the best support. Knowing how
how proud is it being a Blaze player when you
sort of look at the bank, see it pretty full
for your games, and we know it's probably gonna be
the same this summer.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
Yeah, nuts, it's pretty the real feeling actually knowing that
in all our friends and family are out there on
the banks, and of course a lot of other people
that we don't know personally, but it's it's honestly just
great to see the turnout compared to some, you know,
games in other places. I think the basins definitely get
the best crowds. So yeah, I reckon that's probably my
favorite part about playing at the basin, to be honest,
(16:19):
is just seeing all the support and all the turnout
for us. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Well yeah, twenty ninth against Auckland is when first home
game is logan before you go. I wanted to just
get your thoughts on I guess the state of that
the men's T twenty cricket at the moment. There's a
lot of discussions. Been an interesting week for New Zealand
cricket regarding the future of this. I know you've always
been someone that's that's felt that franchise cricket is a positive.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
One hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
You know, it's something that we've been as players crying
out for as a franchise tournament. Unfortunately, the Super Smashes
is probably the least publicized T twenty comp in the world.
It's one of those comps so that if you do
do well, it doesn't really get no across the world.
To be able to go to other tournaments, and the
(17:04):
one way to do that is to become a franchise tournament,
get connected to the Indian cricketing community as well, and
if we can create you know, a really enjoyable tournament.
There's a lot of tournaments out there, I know at
the moment, but you know, New Zealand is we're blessed
(17:25):
with an awesome country and you know, players will want
to come to New Zealand knowing that you know, they
can have a really good time, bring their families.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
You know, we've got.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
Beaches, we've got golf courses, we've got you know, so
many things to do outside of the tournament as well.
But you know, just to be able to bring some
of the biggest names and world cricket to the basin,
to Sedam Park, to University Oval and just create it,
you know, I guess a bit more excitement around a
(17:57):
new comp and really just jazz it up a lot more.
You know, I've played I've played Super Smash for the
last fifteen years and it's a great camp. The standard
is fantastic, but it's it's just frustrating knowing that, you know,
when I have gone over to England, or you know,
(18:17):
other tournaments. They ask, what's you know, what happens in
New Zealand? Is there a tournament there? Or you know,
do you guys play, and it's it's very very much
no one really knows what's going on. And we've got
some of the most beautiful grounds in the world, you know,
imagine Pikakura Park and and some of these other grounds, Queenstown,
you know, going on the world stage all around the world.
(18:39):
It's you know, it's a it's a tournament that needs
to happen, I believe, because we need to to bring
a bit more life to the T twenty comp and
get more people excited around T twenty cricket in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
What about development of you know, hometown players or you know,
just that the pathway is obviously Hannah is a great
example of someone that's you know, come through club cricket
locally and has now representing her province. Could that be
lost in a franchise model as opposed to what we
have now.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
I think, you know, obviously there will be there'll be
big guys that will miss out unfortunately that but that's
just the nature of the beast. I think you can't
you can't have everyone playing every game. You know, we've
we've right now, we've got sixteen contracted players domestically in
each each province and already, you know, when some of
the black Cats come back, there's already guys, you know,
(19:29):
four or five, six guys that miss out on a
weekly basis. Anyway, I think it's important that if there
was going to be a franchise to Woman, that there
is a decent a tournament that kind of runs alongside
it that definitely needs a lot, needs a lot more
a cricket below domestic cricket, because that's a little bit lost,
(19:50):
you know, in Wellington.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
Unfortunately, we're dictated by the weather a.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
Lot and a lot of the times club cricket gets
abandoned or back onto artificials, and that's frustrating for guys
that are really wanting to crack it into the into
the Wellington side. But as well, I just I think
it will push the standard of guys skill higher. You know,
you have to be the best of the best to
(20:14):
make the side, and I think that's what we want,
and we want the black Caps, we want we want
everyone playing in that window and not having other crickets
and having the best comp we can possibly have because
sometimes you know, we we we you know, there's test
series at the moment that the black Caps are going
to India pretty soon in the in the new year.
(20:35):
And again, the Super Smash just seems like a second
kind of player compared to other tournaments. And so if
we can you know, provide a tournament that is of
high standard, I believe that guys are going to have
to push themselves more to cracket into it, and therefore
once they get into the international stage, they're going to
(20:57):
be far far bit you look at the likes of
Tim Seifert and Finale who have been playing you know,
franchise tournaments the last few years. Cipher gets one hundred
the other night.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
And the Big Bash.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
That's that's a credit to him going to play these
franchise tournaments, and so that's only a benefit for New Zealand.
And you know, I'm hopeful that it happens in twenty
twenty seven, but we'll just we'll see how the tea
leaves fall.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Will be interesting.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
And obviously, you know you've got Jess and Mee spent
a bit of time in the Big Bash merely going
to IPL as well, as the thought of going overseas
for some of that franchise stuff is that you know,
do you do you think about that? Do you do
you dream of something like that? Or you sort of
enjoy playing here in New Zealand most of the time,
you must have some thoughts around around the prospect of that.
Speaker 5 (21:42):
Yeah, I mean playing at the base is pretty cool,
but it's definitely, you know, something I've thought about and
talked about, you know, eventually, hopefully one day down the road,
getting that opportunity to go overseas and playing in those
big franchise tournaments. Because I mean, I don't think there's
anything cooler than you know, maybe hearing your name get
picked up in the WPL auction or something like that. Like,
(22:03):
I think that would just be a dream come true
for a lot of people. And I think it's just
a such a great atmosphere over in those countries as well,
like at the wbbl Over in Australia, and of course
the WPR is just all the support and it's just
it looks like so much fun. Definitely something I would
like to aspire to in the future.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Great, well, you're on the right track, definitely, guys. Great
to catch up can't wait for the summer or cricket.
All the very best both your respective campaigns and look
forward to some packed houses at the Basin and hopefully
some great performances too, So go well, thanks your time.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
And Coober, thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Thank you for more from News Talk said B.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
with you wherever you go with our podcasts on IR Radio.
Nine past eight.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
But yes, summer always means cricket, does it, And of
course the pinnacle of domestic crickets in New Zealand is
the T twenty Super Smatch, which is underway for the
new season next week. The Wellington Blaze are the most
successful team in the women's competition. They've got nine titles
to their name and no sign of that slowing down.
They head into this season's campaign as defending champions again
(00:24):
and now with last season's interim head coach Johnny Bassett
Graham on board full time. The Firebirds have won four
titles in the history of the competition. They narrowly missed
out on the playoffs last year, so we'll be looking
to bounce back and get a spot in the top
three this season now. Both teams starting their campaign in
Palmerston North for Herbert Park next Saturday, December twenty seven,
(00:44):
with matches against Central districts Before both we'll be back
here in Wellington to host Auckland at the Basin Reserve
on December twenty nine. Is how good to have some
crickets to get to over that Christmas New Year period
and it's a great pleasure this morning to welcome into
the studio to all rounders from the respective teams. Logan
van Beak from the Firebirds, Hannah Francis from the Plays.
(01:05):
Morning to both of you. Thanks for coming in. Logan
will start with you. I know you've had to sit
out the recent Plunket Shields rounds with a toe injury.
Just wanted to check how's that recovery going? And you
all set to take the field next week?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Hello, Adam broken big left toe Yorker in a warm
up game last boar of the innings, decided to try
and charge it and hit it squarely on my big
left toe fractured it.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
And I've been out for the last kind of six
to eight weeks.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
So I was close to playing the last four day game,
but now just fully right fully ready to go and
I'm excited for the super smash.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
How careful do you have to be walking around with
a toe injury?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Sort of it? You have to be cautious. So I've
got a.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Little bit of a moon boot there for a couple
of weeks, and so that was lugging around. But I
also got Devin Conway's e scooter that he uses, so
I borrowed that for the six weeks that I.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Was unable to walk properly, and so that was good.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Fun riding around the city and going around there because
I sold my car a couple of years ago, so
we don't have a car and we live in the
city as well, so it was fun to beyond the
eat scooter.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
But no, I've found a way.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
But back in business now, I'm back walking nice and easy.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
And Hannah, great to welcome you into the studio. Thanks
for popping by as well. Blaze, I guess you become
under super Smash on a bit of a feeling of
momentum after a good sort of a good couple of
weeks and Hawi Burton Johnson Shield.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
Yeah, no, it's been a good start to the season
for the Blaze. Real nice to get the double wind
last weekend done and knowing your order. But yeah, so far,
so good. Sickond on the table so hopefully. Yeah, keep
the momentum going in the Super Smash and keep the
winds flowing.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Yeah great, And obviously is it nice having a knowing
certainty around the coach obviously with Johnny in the role now,
obviously there was a bit of doing and throwing over
the last couple of seasons.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
How goes that for consistency for this team?
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Yeah, no, it's great. Johnny and Mo they make a
great duo. Yeah, we're really enjoying it. And yeah, like
you said, nice to have the same coach all year round.
But nah, yeah, they're doing great and we enjoy having
them around.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
What's been the biggest difference do you think having say him,
you know, as part of the setup.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
What's he brought to the environment.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
Oh, yeah, he's it's very different to our old environment,
not necessarily in a better or worse way, but yeah,
it's just kind of a breath of fresh air, I guess. Yeah.
They've both got a you know, a good sense of humor,
so yeah, keep us on our toes. But yeah, nah,
they're just yeah, kind of refreshing, but yeah, really good
environment to be part of.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Great and Shane Jigginson's got a fair sense of humor
as well, doesn't he like and he's he'll be excited
for another white Ball campaign getting underway.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Oh, Jugo's brilliant. You know, he definitely brings the fun
within the environment. He does it a Friday rap every
every Friday afternoon on the voice notes. Normally kind of
three to eight minutes, and he just he kind of
sums up the He can tells a few jokes and
gives us an idea of what's happening next week. But
(04:05):
he's someone that definitely comes in with a smile and
is full of energy.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Yeah great, what's season number? Is this?
Speaker 5 (04:10):
For you?
Speaker 1 (04:11):
And domestic cricket? I mean, I'm putting you on the
spot here.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
I'm sure this is sixteen.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Yeah, so twenty ten was my first one, maybe fifteen sixteen,
whatever it is. But I feel like I've got plenty
left in the tank. And so it's amazing just to
kind of I was bowling with Amog and Ryan Sawgris,
you know this morning they were both going to nineteen
twenty twenty one, and you know, it was amazing. As
(04:39):
I was bowling with them, I was just thinking, wow,
I used to be bowling here with you know, My
first game was Shane Bond, Chris Marden, Chris Harris was
the captain, Craig n Millon was playing, who else Paul
Wiseman was there, Hamish Bennett and so yeah, that was
my first if a game, one day game in Auckland
(05:02):
and then to you know, be here thirty five and
be kind of the older statesman. But I still feel,
you know, nineteen in my in my mind anyway.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
And he got so, Elliott said in a couple of
days ago, twenty one years old, making a pretty impactful
day booto Oh amazing.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
You know, I'm super proud of Elliott. One thing about
Elliott is that he is not shy of the moment.
You know, he's played a few of the trial games,
warm up games in the last few years, and there's
been a howling wind and the captain says, I need
you to bowl that in.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
He goes, yeap, sweet, all good, and he finds a way.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
And that's the thing I've been most impressed with with
Elliott said, and is that he just he's not scared
of the moment and going into the super smash, you know,
hopefully he gets an opportunity, and you know, I have
full faith that he's gonna step towards the pressure.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
And I mean that the Blaze have had such a
strong dynasty and you know, the legacy of him just
continues to grow, doesn't it. With an amazing group of
players over so many years. How like, how nice has
it been for you? I guess as a welling Tony
and a high performer and club cricket, but being able
to join this blaze environment when it's still at it's
it's absolute peak.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
Yeah, no, it's really it's a really cool environment to
be a part of, especially getting the opportunity to learn
from some of the older girls and the white Ferns.
You know, it's pretty cool having you know, the Curs
in my team, you know, still quite cool. And people
come up to me and they go, what's it like
playing with a merely occurr And I'm like, that's right,
I do get to play with Ameliac. But nah, it's
(06:29):
a really it's been a really great thing to be
a part of the past few years. One a few
titles and you know, just kind of I guess sits
the standard for us younger girls and shows us. Yeah,
it shows us what we can what we can achieve.
You I want to get a little bit older, a
little bit more experienced.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yeah, and for you, I guess a century last season,
I'm sure that would have been been a highlight. What
do you sort of feel you're at ahead of a
brand new campaign? Yeah, it was.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
It was a pretty cool moment end of last season.
But like every season's you know, it's a new page.
So yeah, ticking along all right, but yeah, hopeful to
get a bit of a go and the Super Smash
this year and hopefully be able to contribute to some wins.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Yeah, great Logan Red Bull cricket. Maybe not the greatest
start to the season for the five Bird. It's been
a bit a bit of a struggle. I guess how
you know, how's the team reflecting on that and is
there often much correlation into to that and what you know,
what that does in momentum And to say the start
of Super Smash.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Tough start for sure.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
I think the pitches were reasonably flat, and you know,
sometimes the last few years we've we've often started with
plunket shield has been a lot greener, a lot easier
on the bodies for the especially for the bowlers, whereas
the pitches that they had to contend with were probably
on the on the flatter side, which which makes for
a tough task. So there'll be some tired bodies Snedden
(07:49):
and Dudding and hard Shoran and Yazb so they're gonna
be a bit tiged, but they've got overs under the belt.
So going into a Super Smash campaign. They kind of
know the their rhythm and they bowled a lot of overs,
so it actually helps a lot having bowled a lot overs.
(08:09):
And then on the batting side, we've had a number
of hundreds and a number of guys scored plenty of runs,
so again that will translate nicely going into a Super Smash.
But I think it's as well this competition has come
at at the right time. The boys need a few
days off just to kind of chill out and enjoy Christmas,
and then come to twenty seventh, I think everyone will
(08:32):
be fizzying ready to go.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
All right, what is the streak of the Blaze this year? Yes, Hano,
I mean you look at the line up, there's talent
everywhere with the bad end ball, but what is the
bigges streaks of the team heading into Super Smash.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
You think.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
This might sound a little cheesy, but I think our
team vibe has been really good this year. I haven't
quite seen I mean, to be fair, I don't really
know the other team's culture and all that, but I
know that our team, like we really we get along
really well. We'll you know, hang out on the daily
like we've just really connected this year, which I think
(09:05):
plays a huge part in performing well on the field
as well, because you know you can you can be
skilled with the bay, because you can be skilled with
the ball. But I think ultimately like that teamwork plays
a huge part, and I think, yeah, that's definitely one
of our strengths.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
How do you sort of approach I guess your game
obviously with the ball and bat. Do you particularly focusing
on any aspect of your game hitting into a new season?
Do you try and cover all bases consistently?
Speaker 5 (09:29):
Oh? Yeah, I mean try and cover all bases consistently.
I guess one of the good things about being an
all around and you get to do a bit of everything,
which you know always keeps it interesting. But yeah, yeah,
I think bit of everything. Work on the batting, work
on the bowling, fielding when we're allowed outside. So yeah,
just yeah, a bit of everything keeps it interesting.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Logan was nodding he enjoys fielding when we're allowed outside.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
It's such a Wellington quote.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
But you know, the all round a role for you,
you know, managing workloads. We know you're you've got a
busy cricket schedule pretty much year rounds, you know how
do you make sure you're in prime nick and but
also sort of staying staying at the top of your
game in all formats.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Yeah, I think for me, now I'm getting a little
bit older, I'm playing well, this would be my eleventh
season on the Bounce. I understand my game a lot more.
There's a lot less mental load that goes into a
game now, and so that is underestimated when you're younger.
How much you know, mental fatigue affects your you know,
you physically.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
So now it's I'm a lot more relaxed.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Still get nervous, still get you know, anxious going into games,
but I just love that feeling of being in the
moment where you have to bowl the final death over,
or you know, you're with the bat and you're having
to chase the score, or you're in an important position
in the field. Like that's that's why I play, is
to be in those moments. And you know, I've had
(10:51):
good days and bad days, but I know that I
survived them every time. So it's it's one of those
things that I search for. I asked for, you know,
constantly wanting the captain to give me the ball or
go out there and back because I know those moments
are the most satisfying, because they that's why I wake
up this morning, bowl eight overs in the at eight
(11:12):
thirty on the basin, and then go up and train
and you know, all those little moments all built up
towards wanting to be in those moments the weekends.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Finally here let's kick it off the All Sport Breakfast
with ruther Than and boln Toyota and King Toyota used
talk zed be hand. We talked with Logan just before
the break about we're clothes and managing that. But for you,
you've you've been you know, a high performing club cricketer
over many years.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Now keep heart of the blaze.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
How do you balance out sort of making sure you are,
you know, getting as much training and with your cricket
as well, but also getting down time and making sure
it's not one hundred percent cricket for you all the time.
Speaker 5 (11:49):
Yeah, it's quite handy that at the moment, Uni holidays
line up with the cricket season and say we're school holidays.
So I've got my brother at home so often, you know,
sitting on the couch watching the tests at the moment.
He loves doing that, so we'll do that together. And
also just kind of doing things with the girls outside
of cricket side of things, like we go play golf
(12:11):
every once in a while, not very well, but we try,
and kind of you know, we go for breakfast after
gym in the mornings and all that kind of thing
just separate. So I guess the serious cricket side from
just being able to hang out with each other as friends.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Yeah, right, there wouldn't be too many five is that
are bad at golf there. It seems to be pretty
The skills correlate pretty well, doesn't they.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
The boys who play golf and pretty good and the
ones that are not very good avoid it like the plagues.
But yeah, I played yesterday at a Miramar nine whole
course there to eighteen to that twice and it was
really enjoyable. No wind, which was fantastic, But I just, yeah,
we all like love to get out there and swing
(12:51):
the club, and it's you know, we're very competitive, so
every time we go out there, it's you know, it's
it's not much chat, it's you know, who's.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
I mean is the key.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
But definitely a good way, even during the super smash,
nice way just to kind of break up the the
the days is just to go out there and have
a bit of a whack and.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Yeah, brilliant.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
All right, twenty sevenths we're underway for It's Hermit Park
for both the Blazer and the fire Birds.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Raining champions for the Blaze.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
What does that do to I guess the approach when
you know everyone's going to be circling those games, you know,
all the other teams, they'll be circling games against the
Blaze to really want to put on a good performance,
how do you deal with I guess the expectation that
comes with being such a successful team and raining champions.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
Yeah, I guess. You know, it's a nice statistic to
I suppose have under our belt. But like I said before,
each season's you know, it's turning over a new page.
We just got to reset, start from zero. Just because
we won last season doesn't mean you know we are
going to win again. Every game is a new game,
so just take it one step at a time, and
(13:52):
you know, if it ends the way we'd like it too,
then you know that's great. But equally, you know, just
winning each game one at a time, that's kind of
all that matters at the moment.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Great, You've had plenty of trips to Parme Logan, Fit
Serbant Park. I reckon a lot of WELLINGTONI and should
hit on up if they've been waiting for Super Smash season,
it doesn't take long to get there and and come
and support the team.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
How do you traditionally go at fit Servant Park?
Speaker 4 (14:14):
Yeah, the Fortress, the Fortress Ferbert's. No, we've had some
the last few years going up there. It's been a
really enjoyable occasion. I remember the last Super Smash we played,
went down to the last over and Adam Milne bowled
fantastic go over. I mean we've got a bit of
a runout as well, and it was to twelve place
two tea and I think but it makes for a
(14:35):
great spectacle at Fitzerbert.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
So it's yeah, if you're in.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
And around the area, come on, come on down the
twenty seventh, it's Hotiday mode and you know it's all
the sports is definitely welcomed and it definitely gives us
an extra edge.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Do you have to be a bit careful on consumption
on Christmas Day? Like food wise? Dream wise?
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Well then no exactly. So my parents have just bought
it bought. They've just built a pool and so fingers
cross it's going to be nice and sunny down in
christ Church. But I've already kind of planned out the day.
I know Dad's got a corn hole set up. We've
got also cover up at the front. So our family
(15:17):
is very much in activities based family, and my brother
and I are very competitive as well, so quite often
it's it can get out there for a long time.
So I've actually have to kind of plan out my
day and make sure I've got a water in between,
a couple of the drinks and then and so that
I wake up on the twenty six in good shape
(15:39):
to say. But I'm definitely looking forward to a bit
of family.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Time and Hannah, I'm based reserve.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
We know that the Blaze out of the women's Super
Smash teams by far get the best support. Knowing how
how proud is it being a Blaze player when you
sort of look at the bank, see it pretty full
for your games, and we know it's probably gonna be
the same this summer.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
Yeah, nuts, it's pretty the real feeling actually knowing that
in all our friends and family are out there on
the banks, and of course a lot of other people
that we don't know personally, but it's it's honestly just
great to see the turnout compared to some, you know,
games in other places. I think the basins definitely get
the best crowds. So yeah, I reckon that's probably my
favorite part about playing at the basin, to be honest,
(16:19):
is just seeing all the support and all the turnout
for us. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Well yeah, twenty ninth against Auckland is when first home
game is logan before you go. I wanted to just
get your thoughts on I guess the state of that
the men's T twenty cricket at the moment. There's a
lot of discussions. Been an interesting week for New Zealand
cricket regarding the future of this. I know you've always
been someone that's that's felt that franchise cricket is a positive.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
One hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
You know, it's something that we've been as players crying
out for as a franchise tournament. Unfortunately, the Super Smashes
is probably the least publicized T twenty comp in the world.
It's one of those comps so that if you do
do well, it doesn't really get no across the world.
To be able to go to other tournaments, and the
(17:04):
one way to do that is to become a franchise tournament,
get connected to the Indian cricketing community as well, and
if we can create you know, a really enjoyable tournament.
There's a lot of tournaments out there, I know at
the moment, but you know, New Zealand is we're blessed
(17:25):
with an awesome country and you know, players will want
to come to New Zealand knowing that you know, they
can have a really good time, bring their families.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
You know, we've got.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
Beaches, we've got golf courses, we've got you know, so
many things to do outside of the tournament as well.
But you know, just to be able to bring some
of the biggest names and world cricket to the basin,
to Sedam Park, to University Oval and just create it,
you know, I guess a bit more excitement around a
(17:57):
new comp and really just jazz it up a lot more.
You know, I've played I've played Super Smash for the
last fifteen years and it's a great camp. The standard
is fantastic, but it's it's just frustrating knowing that, you know,
when I have gone over to England, or you know,
(18:17):
other tournaments. They ask, what's you know, what happens in
New Zealand? Is there a tournament there? Or you know,
do you guys play, and it's it's very very much
no one really knows what's going on. And we've got
some of the most beautiful grounds in the world, you know,
imagine Pikakura Park and and some of these other grounds, Queenstown,
you know, going on the world stage all around the world.
(18:39):
It's you know, it's a it's a tournament that needs
to happen, I believe, because we need to to bring
a bit more life to the T twenty comp and
get more people excited around T twenty cricket in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
What about development of you know, hometown players or you know,
just that the pathway is obviously Hannah is a great
example of someone that's you know, come through club cricket
locally and has now representing her province. Could that be
lost in a franchise model as opposed to what we
have now.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
I think, you know, obviously there will be there'll be
big guys that will miss out unfortunately that but that's
just the nature of the beast. I think you can't
you can't have everyone playing every game. You know, we've
we've right now, we've got sixteen contracted players domestically in
each each province and already, you know, when some of
the black Cats come back, there's already guys, you know,
(19:29):
four or five, six guys that miss out on a
weekly basis. Anyway, I think it's important that if there
was going to be a franchise to Woman, that there
is a decent a tournament that kind of runs alongside
it that definitely needs a lot, needs a lot more
a cricket below domestic cricket, because that's a little bit lost,
(19:50):
you know, in Wellington.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
Unfortunately, we're dictated by the weather a.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
Lot and a lot of the times club cricket gets
abandoned or back onto artificials, and that's frustrating for guys
that are really wanting to crack it into the into
the Wellington side. But as well, I just I think
it will push the standard of guys skill higher. You know,
you have to be the best of the best to
(20:14):
make the side, and I think that's what we want,
and we want the black Caps, we want we want
everyone playing in that window and not having other crickets
and having the best comp we can possibly have because
sometimes you know, we we we you know, there's test
series at the moment that the black Caps are going
to India pretty soon in the in the new year.
(20:35):
And again, the Super Smash just seems like a second
kind of player compared to other tournaments. And so if
we can you know, provide a tournament that is of
high standard, I believe that guys are going to have
to push themselves more to cracket into it, and therefore
once they get into the international stage, they're going to
(20:57):
be far far bit you look at the likes of
Tim Seifert and Finale who have been playing you know,
franchise tournaments the last few years. Cipher gets one hundred
the other night.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
And the Big Bash.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
That's that's a credit to him going to play these
franchise tournaments, and so that's only a benefit for New Zealand.
And you know, I'm hopeful that it happens in twenty
twenty seven, but we'll just we'll see how the tea
leaves fall.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Will be interesting.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
And obviously, you know you've got Jess and Mee spent
a bit of time in the Big Bash merely going
to IPL as well, as the thought of going overseas
for some of that franchise stuff is that you know,
do you do you think about that? Do you do
you dream of something like that? Or you sort of
enjoy playing here in New Zealand most of the time,
you must have some thoughts around around the prospect of that.
Speaker 5 (21:42):
Yeah, I mean playing at the base is pretty cool,
but it's definitely, you know, something I've thought about and
talked about, you know, eventually, hopefully one day down the road,
getting that opportunity to go overseas and playing in those
big franchise tournaments. Because I mean, I don't think there's
anything cooler than you know, maybe hearing your name get
picked up in the WPL auction or something like that. Like,
(22:03):
I think that would just be a dream come true
for a lot of people. And I think it's just
a such a great atmosphere over in those countries as well,
like at the wbbl Over in Australia, and of course
the WPR is just all the support and it's just
it looks like so much fun. Definitely something I would
like to aspire to in the future.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Great, well, you're on the right track, definitely, guys. Great
to catch up can't wait for the summer or cricket.
All the very best both your respective campaigns and look
forward to some packed houses at the Basin and hopefully
some great performances too, So go well, thanks your time.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
And Coober, thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Thank you for more from News Talk said B.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
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