On Sports Fix with Elliott Smith for 30 June 2026, last night the Black Caps won the third and final test match against the English at Trent Bridge to win the series 2-1. It is just the fourth time the Black Caps have won a test series in England and just the second time they have come from behind to win a series.
Gavin Larsen is a former Black Cap and current selector for the side, he joined Elliott to discuss.
Elliott shares his thoughts on the current state of the Black Caps following their series win over England.
And Elliott and Newstalk ZB head of sport Clay Wilson discuss the Black Caps' triumph over England, Germany's shock loss this morning at the Football World Cup and what is going on with the ANZ Premiership.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Welcome into Sports Fix for the thirtieth of June twenty
twenty six, nearly halfway through the year. I'm Elliott Smith.
Coming up on today's podcast, We're joined by black Pants
selection manager Gavin Larsen to reflect on the two to
one series win over England and the remarkable way that
the black Caps achieved it. Clay Wilson, the sports news
(00:41):
director for News talk EDB, joins us in the chamber
to talk about the black Caps and the happenings of
the A and Z Premiership, which is under five bgive beside.
Let's get to it on sports Fix. In other news,
the Black Cabs have claimed a two one Test cricket
series when over England, wrapping up the series with the
one hundred and sixty run third match victory at trent Bridge.
(01:03):
Black Caps captain Tom Watham says they made the best
use of their personnel and tactical reason.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
By a style that you know, it was a little
bit unique in this day, day and age of cricket,
but to play a little bit more old school has
been a squad a first throughout the last three games.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Germany are out of the Football World Cup, losing to
Paraguay on penalties. They couldn't be separated after one hundred
and twenty minutes of football on the field and five penalties.
A piece up steps defender Jonathan Tar on TV and
Z and he's plays it over the top. It's a
dreadful penalty from Tar.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
It really was.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
And the end A fellow center back at Paraguay is
giant killing hopes on his foot, also on TV in
Jose Kale.
Speaker 6 (01:52):
Surely this time for Paraguay.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
He does Paraguay through the phase either France or Sweden
in the round of sixteen. They played tomorrow morning. And
it's been a shaky start to world tennis number one
Yannick Sinner's Wimbledon title defense. He's been pushed to five
sets by world number fifteen and the Kitsmanovich found two
cents to one and a rebounded to take the last
two six, two, six, three. He's delaying any concern around
(02:15):
the three and a half hour test on Disney Plant.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
It's normally, you know, first run matches.
Speaker 6 (02:19):
I'm never easy, so you know I tried to accept that,
trying to press my level or when I definitely don't
need it too, you know.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Third set, as I said, was it was very tough.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
That is Sports Today leading a X.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Fix powered by
News Talks Ivy Well.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
A quite incredible series win for the black Caps two
to one over England, wrapping up the third match at
trent Bridge on day five with a comprehensive victory of
the host. Joining us now is the black Caps selection manager,
Gavin Larsen. Gavin, thanks so much for your time on
Sports Fix.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
Elliott, please you to be with you mate.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Well, on a day like this, the black Caps securing
a two to one Test series win over England, what
are your emotions as the selection manager.
Speaker 7 (03:03):
Well, it's been a sort of a pleasurable tiredness today
to be honest. Yeah, the titlines don't really help in
terms of watching cricket live, but look absolutely thrilled. I
mean the lads were superb. You know, I thought we played,
you know, the last two Tests exceptionally well and you know,
just just really really pleasing, just simply one of the
(03:26):
better series wins for sure.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Absolutely, and to come from one nil down in the
manner that they did showed a lot of fight, a
lot of ticket That must really please you as selection manager.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
Yeah, very much so.
Speaker 7 (03:40):
Look, Lord's it was a bit of a shootout, wasn't
it on a you know, admittedly a very poor Lord's
pitch and they came out on top there. You know,
I thought that Test could have gone either way, but
then you know, look we dug deep and the pictures
at the Oval and end up at Trent Bridge were
excellent Test match pictures. We saw, you know, a good
(04:03):
quality Test match cricket result and I was just I
couldn't be sort of more please with the way that,
you know, we saw the contributions from the full squad.
We had to go really deep into our squad of
fifteen sixteen and you know, most of the guys put
a performance at some stage on the board and just
so much character and so much resilience.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Well that's exactly right. There were contributions across the board.
It's hard to think of anyone who didn't have a
moment during the series where they stood up. Nathan Smith
obviously was a more awarded man of the match. But
to have those contributions across the board must be especially pleasing.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
Yeah, very very pleasing.
Speaker 7 (04:41):
You know, there were a lot of performances individually that
we could you know, we could work through, but you
know it was the full squad effort that was so pleasing.
Looking through my lens, you know, one one guy I
would pack out and I think this is an absolutely
crucial component to the to the series win, as Tommy
Blundell and as wicket keeping.
Speaker 5 (05:02):
Often the keepers go, you know, they can be unsung heroes,
but you know, I mean getting up behind.
Speaker 7 (05:07):
The stumps to the likes of Henner's and and Smithy
and that that's that's not easy. And I thought technically
he was just absolutely superb put the pressure on on
the English kept the likes of you know, Route and
Brooke very important inside their crease they liked about outside
the crease against the bowlers like that, and that pressure
(05:27):
then resulted in you know, well not only wickets, but
you know, I just just just such a degree of
pressure that I think, you know, it pushed right through
the whole batting innings.
Speaker 5 (05:39):
And you know Tommy Bundle was central to that.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Well, you mentioned tom Blundell. Obviously he came in under
a bit of a pressure and maybe some question marks
over the last six to twelve months. Is it especially
satisfying when a player that is under a bit of pressure,
you know it does deliver a performance like that.
Speaker 7 (05:57):
Well, he wasn't under a lot of pressure through our
selection lends we you know, we've picked him because we
believe he's the best. And I think after this series,
you know, I think everyone can you know, look at
you in the eye and say that you know he
suddainly has proved that.
Speaker 5 (06:11):
You know, he he.
Speaker 7 (06:13):
Batted nicely without getting getting getting a big score, but
a vital fifty odd at the oval.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
But it's keeping with something that was very, very very special.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
I want to mention Darryl Mitchell as well. Is he
perhaps the most underappreciated I know a lot of tension
has gone on Caine and Ross before then in our
bowling attack, But has Daryl Mitchell been perhaps underappreciated and
your rise Gavin around the way that he's played and
the crucial innings that he's delivered for New Zealand over
a long period of time.
Speaker 7 (06:42):
Oh no, not not not through our eyes. Elliet he's
again he's like Tommy. He's a very special cricketer. He's
got a bulldog mentality to him, great character, you know,
awesome team man and you know, would crawl over broken glass,
you know, for his country. And we saw that, you
know with his hundred up at trent Bridge. It was
(07:04):
it was exceptional, it really was. And you know, he
sized up the I guess the situation really really well
with Rutch and they knew they had to, you know,
take the game as deep as possible. The pitch was tricky.
You know, he took any number of blows. I saw thirteen,
notice somewhere, but that that's a lot. And he was
you know, and he was black and blue, but you
(07:25):
know his technique was to the four.
Speaker 5 (07:27):
And you know it was.
Speaker 7 (07:28):
That guts and determination that gave us that that that
breathing space and the flinnings and it gave us, you know,
it gave us that winning edge for sure.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
The pace bowling arsenal that you've got. Obviously, Nathan Smith
manned the series and an incredible performance, but you know,
bleed Technigge's injured, Zach Folks steps up, Matt Henry doesn't
play the last game and obviously was injured in the
first Kyle Jamison doesn't play the third game. Has there
ever been a time like this, do you think in
New zealing cricket where you can call on so many
fast bowlers and have them do a job at test level.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
No? No, not in my time.
Speaker 7 (08:03):
So it's really pleasing to have, you know, a crop
of fast bowlers like this. You know, we've got a
few injuries now, but that will always happen. So when
your resources are a little skinnier, no, I can put
immense pressure on the on the lineup. But to have
that sort of depth is it's incredibly encouraging. I think
it speaks to the high performance program and our system
(08:26):
through the through the New Zealand domestic program that we're producing,
you know, a nice crop of fast bowlers and they're
getting opportunities through New Zealand A and also the likes
of you know, the recent tour we had up into
into Bangladesh where we did use more fringe players because
of you know, I PL players out and that, and
(08:47):
it just gives them that that experience at the top level.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
So long, long, long may it continue.
Speaker 7 (08:52):
But we're very, very aware that there's a high attrition rate,
you know with pace bowlers. So we'll do everything we
can to keep those guys on the park.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
This is Sportsfex, your daily dose of sports news and
by news talks.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
The black Caps continue to confound. Just when the chips
are down and you feel like it might be terminal
for this team and they might be going into a
dark period, a gray period, an ice age of black
Caps cricket, they find a way out and they win.
They might not have the most talented eleven in world cricket,
but you'd be hard priests to find a grittier one.
A team that for so long was pockmarked by inexplicable
(09:30):
collapses bowling if it's and alike, now has a fight
in them that was really non existent for so many
years and talking the two thousands and even into the
twenty tens. The remarkable thing, though, is now, this is
three coaches now and many a captain. This is under
first Mike Hessen changed the nature of the team. Then
Gary Stead, now Rob Walter as head coaches. Tom Latham
is the latest skipper in what has been a relatively
(09:53):
long line from one kneel down in the series and
frankly pretty poor at Lord's to being clearly the better
side over the last two matches was impressive. And they
did it without King Williamson who left mid series, Matt
Henry sidelined, Glenn Phillips out, Willow Rourk injured in the Test,
so too Ben Sears bleed, Tickna out with concussion after
taking that knock. They did it without those players. Where
(10:14):
disruption in the form of Stokes in the nightclub incident,
the dropping, the return, then the departure full stops or
England flail, the black Caps prove they are the mentality
monsters of international cricket, the Golden generation, the Indian summer
of the side drags on. At some point will come
a cropper. It surely has to. But for every early
(10:35):
t twenty World Cup exit you want to point to,
or that tour of Australia that didn't go well, you
can point to a Test series win over India and
now two series wins in England. In Test cricket in
five years. These are remarkable times. Let's not forget it.
Clay Wilson joins me in the chamber in a couple
of moments will expand on that black Caps triumph plus
what on earth is going on with Netbull and next
(10:57):
year's a in Z Premiership.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Trying to jump into the chamber, now joining US News
Talk ZEBI Sport News director Clay Wilson. Clay, thanks for
popping into the chamber. Is always appreciate it, no problem.
Is always a pleasure to be here. Well, the black
Caps wrap up a series win over England. One. Who
would have thought this when they were one kneel down
in the series and two when came Williamson decided he
was retiring. At that point, no one could have predicted
(11:26):
surely that they would have come out on top of two.
Speaker 6 (11:28):
One, yeah, and everything else that's unraveled since then for
England Off the field, I guess you know, you go
back to the end of that first Test, like you say,
in England, very convincing, all be it on a fairly
lively pitch. But then ever since then, you know, not
much has gone right for England, has it? Obviously the
Ben Stokes and gars Atkinson situation, those two not playing,
(11:49):
other injuries for England, and then you know just how
well the black Caps have fought their way back, and
you know you have to be fair to the Black Caps,
I think what really gives this this series when a
lot of a lot of kudos is how they've been
struck by injury as well and the players they've had
to deal without, not just in this Test, but in
the second Test, as you know, the likes of Matt
(12:10):
Henry and then we saw the injuries to Blear Techner
with his concussion, will ow' rourke and Blair ben Seas
both getting nasty kind of finger injuries and continuing to
play on. So you know, I think that element of
it really gives us achievement. You know, you've got to
give them a heck of a lot of credit for
not only being able to fight back, but be able
(12:31):
to do it with essentially a second string bowling attack.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Really yeah, absolutely take out Henry no Jamison for that
third Test. Quite remarkable that they were able to dig
as deep as they could and shows the depth and
I guess the grits that New Zealand cricket has, you know,
Darryl Mitchell as well with that century with the one hundred,
I mean absolutely batted and bruised by the end of it.
This is a team that just doesn't seem to know
when they're dead.
Speaker 6 (12:56):
It's all the best qualities that we associate with this
New Zealand cricket team when they're at their best, especially
in the past five to ten years, isn't it. It's
a team that doesn't give anything away. They maximize their
their abilities. They're not to do it. Different ways to
do it, the Daryl mitch Away the very gritty you know,
take a few blows and get take two hundred and
fifty balls to get us entry, or the likes of
(13:17):
Vatch and Revenge or someone or even Devin Conway playing
a more stylish fashion and more aggressive fashion as well,
but really just being so resourceful because that's the way
New Zealand cricket teams have to play with the kind
of the resources in the depth we have player wise
in this country. So you know, as New Zealand cricket
fans people in this country, I'm sure very proud, and
(13:38):
especially when you contrast it against not only what's been
happening off the field with England, but also the way
they've gone about it, especially in the last couple of
days of this last test to do it, you know,
Tom Latham said, the old school way. There's something to
be said for that, and a lot of credit to
be given for the way they've gone about it.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Is this the end? Do you think for Brendan mccalum
as England coaching He clung on by the skin of
his teeth after the Ashes series. Now they've lost a
three Test series at home for the first time since
twenty twelve. Are they going to wave them goodbye? And
with Ben Stokes going time for a clean break? Do
you think with his England team?
Speaker 5 (14:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (14:11):
I have heard some talk and you know, for throughout
the kind of tenure of Brenda McCullum and Ben Stokes,
they really have been associated as a duo, haven't they
really together largely the whole time as opposed to you know,
separate entities as captain and coach. So I think you
take that part of it, You take the results obviously,
the you know, the Ashes situation and all the fallout
(14:32):
from that, but then to be up one nil against
New Zealand at home and lose this series, it really
wouldn't be a shock to see them part ways with
Brendan McCullum. Will that happen? Who knows? Maybe they'll want
to say, you know, there's been just too much change
in general. We're already losing our captain. We want to
keep things the same. But it seemed like Brenda McCullum
was already on a pretty short leash in terms of
(14:53):
what the expectations were for the team and improving. So
you know, going to be a one to really watch
with interest over the next the coming days and weeks
to see what happens with him in his future and
whether they decide to do something there.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Indeed, jiminy out of the World Cup round thirty two
probably the biggest nation to fall as yet did it
really really the hard by this morning? Losing, drawing after
extra time, losing an a penalty shoot out, and the
Germans who were twenty fourteen champions twenty eighteen twenty two
knocked out in Paul play twenty six. They've been knocked
(15:26):
out in the round of thirty two. They a big nation,
but they have not really turned up since they won
it twelve years ago.
Speaker 6 (15:33):
Now, yeah, you know, undoubtedly a superpower in football, you know,
when you've won this tournament four times, an incredible legacy.
But it just goes to show, doesn't it, That old adage,
that old cliche about World Cup's tournament sport about what
can happen? You know, you look at the rankings, you
look at the players man for man, and you say, Germany,
you know, wins this by at least a couple of
(15:55):
clear goals, but it only takes a couple of things
to go against you. Paraguay playing an incredible defensive game.
But then also you know, Germany scored what they thought
was the winner there in an extra time and then
to have that scrubbed out on a different day. That
goes your way and you're through. But then you go
to penalties and the nerves creep in and anything can happen,
(16:16):
can't it at that point? So yeah, a real shock
and you know, just like I say, goes to show
what can happen at these tournaments. We can't expect in
any of these knockout matchups necessarily that the favorite's always
going to prevail.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
No, absolutely, And just finally Clay the a n Z
Premiership saga, four of the players come out and basically
going what on earth is going on with this competition
for next year? The players rightfully seem quite angry, but
do you think the sport in New Zealand can sort
of overcome this cow so or is it on its
final legs?
Speaker 5 (16:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (16:46):
I mean I think when you look at netball as
a sport in this country, still incredibly popular with you
know girls and you know young young young girls, young
women in this country. So I don't know if it's
going to be necessarily a death now for netball in
this country. But it's certainly a big concern that what's
been happening with netball at the elite level in this
(17:08):
country in recent years. You know, the silver ferns at
the top end still can be and are competitive with
with their main rivals, but below that in terms of
the A and Z Premiership and and how I guess
how it competes with with other sports now in this
country where which women are going into.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
You know, it's been left behind a little bit, hasn't it.
Speaker 6 (17:27):
It totally has And and you know there's no when
broadcasters are saying not sure, don't want to be don't
want to be involved, don't want to pay that much
that that is is a real telltale sign of where
that where the where the game is perhaps at at
that level. So, man, who knows what's going to happen
with Netbourne News in and we've also heard the Players
Association come out now and say we're talking to them,
(17:47):
but you know, that doesn't seem to be too much
kind of concrete on the on the horizon, and that's
a real concern less than you know, we're coming to
the end of one competition and we don't know what's
going to happen beyond this for players, for coaches, for
all those players at the at the next tier, which
are you know, they are our future silver Ferns coming
through there? What are they going to do and where
are they going to go? I mean, it's pretty obviously
(18:10):
a big concern for Nebor New Zealand and what they're
able to muster.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Certainly is clay. Thank you very much for your time
and the Chamber appreciate it. Go well, Chess.
Speaker 6 (18:18):
Mythic Needing a X.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Fix powered by
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Speaker 3 (18:24):
That's another edition of sports Fix. Thanks very much for
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Speaker 1 (18:40):
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Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Welcome into Sports Fix for the thirtieth of June twenty
twenty six, nearly halfway through the year. I'm Elliott Smith.
Coming up on today's podcast, We're joined by black Pants
selection manager Gavin Larsen to reflect on the two to
one series win over England and the remarkable way that
the black Caps achieved it. Clay Wilson, the sports news
(00:41):
director for News talk EDB, joins us in the chamber
to talk about the black Caps and the happenings of
the A and Z Premiership, which is under five bgive beside.
Let's get to it on sports Fix. In other news,
the Black Cabs have claimed a two one Test cricket
series when over England, wrapping up the series with the
one hundred and sixty run third match victory at trent Bridge.
(01:03):
Black Caps captain Tom Watham says they made the best
use of their personnel and tactical reason.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
By a style that you know, it was a little
bit unique in this day, day and age of cricket,
but to play a little bit more old school has
been a squad a first throughout the last three games.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Germany are out of the Football World Cup, losing to
Paraguay on penalties. They couldn't be separated after one hundred
and twenty minutes of football on the field and five penalties.
A piece up steps defender Jonathan Tar on TV and
Z and he's plays it over the top. It's a
dreadful penalty from Tar.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
It really was.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
And the end A fellow center back at Paraguay is
giant killing hopes on his foot, also on TV in
Jose Kale.
Speaker 6 (01:52):
Surely this time for Paraguay.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
He does Paraguay through the phase either France or Sweden
in the round of sixteen. They played tomorrow morning. And
it's been a shaky start to world tennis number one
Yannick Sinner's Wimbledon title defense. He's been pushed to five
sets by world number fifteen and the Kitsmanovich found two
cents to one and a rebounded to take the last
two six, two, six, three. He's delaying any concern around
(02:15):
the three and a half hour test on Disney Plant.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
It's normally, you know, first run matches.
Speaker 6 (02:19):
I'm never easy, so you know I tried to accept that,
trying to press my level or when I definitely don't
need it too, you know.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Third set, as I said, was it was very tough.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
That is Sports Today leading a X.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Fix powered by
News Talks Ivy Well.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
A quite incredible series win for the black Caps two
to one over England, wrapping up the third match at
trent Bridge on day five with a comprehensive victory of
the host. Joining us now is the black Caps selection manager,
Gavin Larsen. Gavin, thanks so much for your time on
Sports Fix.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
Elliott, please you to be with you mate.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Well, on a day like this, the black Caps securing
a two to one Test series win over England, what
are your emotions as the selection manager.
Speaker 7 (03:03):
Well, it's been a sort of a pleasurable tiredness today
to be honest. Yeah, the titlines don't really help in
terms of watching cricket live, but look absolutely thrilled. I
mean the lads were superb. You know, I thought we played,
you know, the last two Tests exceptionally well and you know,
just just really really pleasing, just simply one of the
(03:26):
better series wins for sure.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Absolutely, and to come from one nil down in the
manner that they did showed a lot of fight, a
lot of ticket That must really please you as selection manager.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
Yeah, very much so.
Speaker 7 (03:40):
Look, Lord's it was a bit of a shootout, wasn't
it on a you know, admittedly a very poor Lord's
pitch and they came out on top there. You know,
I thought that Test could have gone either way, but
then you know, look we dug deep and the pictures
at the Oval and end up at Trent Bridge were
excellent Test match pictures. We saw, you know, a good
(04:03):
quality Test match cricket result and I was just I
couldn't be sort of more please with the way that,
you know, we saw the contributions from the full squad.
We had to go really deep into our squad of
fifteen sixteen and you know, most of the guys put
a performance at some stage on the board and just
so much character and so much resilience.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Well that's exactly right. There were contributions across the board.
It's hard to think of anyone who didn't have a
moment during the series where they stood up. Nathan Smith
obviously was a more awarded man of the match. But
to have those contributions across the board must be especially pleasing.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
Yeah, very very pleasing.
Speaker 7 (04:41):
You know, there were a lot of performances individually that
we could you know, we could work through, but you
know it was the full squad effort that was so pleasing.
Looking through my lens, you know, one one guy I
would pack out and I think this is an absolutely
crucial component to the to the series win, as Tommy
Blundell and as wicket keeping.
Speaker 5 (05:02):
Often the keepers go, you know, they can be unsung heroes,
but you know, I mean getting up behind.
Speaker 7 (05:07):
The stumps to the likes of Henner's and and Smithy
and that that's that's not easy. And I thought technically
he was just absolutely superb put the pressure on on
the English kept the likes of you know, Route and
Brooke very important inside their crease they liked about outside
the crease against the bowlers like that, and that pressure
(05:27):
then resulted in you know, well not only wickets, but
you know, I just just just such a degree of
pressure that I think, you know, it pushed right through
the whole batting innings.
Speaker 5 (05:39):
And you know Tommy Bundle was central to that.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Well, you mentioned tom Blundell. Obviously he came in under
a bit of a pressure and maybe some question marks
over the last six to twelve months. Is it especially
satisfying when a player that is under a bit of pressure,
you know it does deliver a performance like that.
Speaker 7 (05:57):
Well, he wasn't under a lot of pressure through our
selection lends we you know, we've picked him because we
believe he's the best. And I think after this series,
you know, I think everyone can you know, look at
you in the eye and say that you know he
suddainly has proved that.
Speaker 5 (06:11):
You know, he he.
Speaker 7 (06:13):
Batted nicely without getting getting getting a big score, but
a vital fifty odd at the oval.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
But it's keeping with something that was very, very very special.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
I want to mention Darryl Mitchell as well. Is he
perhaps the most underappreciated I know a lot of tension
has gone on Caine and Ross before then in our
bowling attack, But has Daryl Mitchell been perhaps underappreciated and
your rise Gavin around the way that he's played and
the crucial innings that he's delivered for New Zealand over
a long period of time.
Speaker 7 (06:42):
Oh no, not not not through our eyes. Elliet he's
again he's like Tommy. He's a very special cricketer. He's
got a bulldog mentality to him, great character, you know,
awesome team man and you know, would crawl over broken glass,
you know, for his country. And we saw that, you
know with his hundred up at trent Bridge. It was
(07:04):
it was exceptional, it really was. And you know, he
sized up the I guess the situation really really well
with Rutch and they knew they had to, you know,
take the game as deep as possible. The pitch was tricky.
You know, he took any number of blows. I saw thirteen,
notice somewhere, but that that's a lot. And he was
you know, and he was black and blue, but you
(07:25):
know his technique was to the four.
Speaker 5 (07:27):
And you know it was.
Speaker 7 (07:28):
That guts and determination that gave us that that that
breathing space and the flinnings and it gave us, you know,
it gave us that winning edge for sure.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
The pace bowling arsenal that you've got. Obviously, Nathan Smith
manned the series and an incredible performance, but you know,
bleed Technigge's injured, Zach Folks steps up, Matt Henry doesn't
play the last game and obviously was injured in the
first Kyle Jamison doesn't play the third game. Has there
ever been a time like this, do you think in
New zealing cricket where you can call on so many
fast bowlers and have them do a job at test level.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
No? No, not in my time.
Speaker 7 (08:03):
So it's really pleasing to have, you know, a crop
of fast bowlers like this. You know, we've got a
few injuries now, but that will always happen. So when
your resources are a little skinnier, no, I can put
immense pressure on the on the lineup. But to have
that sort of depth is it's incredibly encouraging. I think
it speaks to the high performance program and our system
(08:26):
through the through the New Zealand domestic program that we're producing,
you know, a nice crop of fast bowlers and they're
getting opportunities through New Zealand A and also the likes
of you know, the recent tour we had up into
into Bangladesh where we did use more fringe players because
of you know, I PL players out and that, and
(08:47):
it just gives them that that experience at the top level.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
So long, long, long may it continue.
Speaker 7 (08:52):
But we're very, very aware that there's a high attrition rate,
you know with pace bowlers. So we'll do everything we
can to keep those guys on the park.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
This is Sportsfex, your daily dose of sports news and
by news talks.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
The black Caps continue to confound. Just when the chips
are down and you feel like it might be terminal
for this team and they might be going into a
dark period, a gray period, an ice age of black
Caps cricket, they find a way out and they win.
They might not have the most talented eleven in world cricket,
but you'd be hard priests to find a grittier one.
A team that for so long was pockmarked by inexplicable
(09:30):
collapses bowling if it's and alike, now has a fight
in them that was really non existent for so many
years and talking the two thousands and even into the
twenty tens. The remarkable thing, though, is now, this is
three coaches now and many a captain. This is under
first Mike Hessen changed the nature of the team. Then
Gary Stead, now Rob Walter as head coaches. Tom Latham
is the latest skipper in what has been a relatively
(09:53):
long line from one kneel down in the series and
frankly pretty poor at Lord's to being clearly the better
side over the last two matches was impressive. And they
did it without King Williamson who left mid series, Matt
Henry sidelined, Glenn Phillips out, Willow Rourk injured in the Test,
so too Ben Sears bleed, Tickna out with concussion after
taking that knock. They did it without those players. Where
(10:14):
disruption in the form of Stokes in the nightclub incident,
the dropping, the return, then the departure full stops or
England flail, the black Caps prove they are the mentality
monsters of international cricket, the Golden generation, the Indian summer
of the side drags on. At some point will come
a cropper. It surely has to. But for every early
(10:35):
t twenty World Cup exit you want to point to,
or that tour of Australia that didn't go well, you
can point to a Test series win over India and
now two series wins in England. In Test cricket in
five years. These are remarkable times. Let's not forget it.
Clay Wilson joins me in the chamber in a couple
of moments will expand on that black Caps triumph plus
what on earth is going on with Netbull and next
(10:57):
year's a in Z Premiership.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Trying to jump into the chamber, now joining US News
Talk ZEBI Sport News director Clay Wilson. Clay, thanks for
popping into the chamber. Is always appreciate it, no problem.
Is always a pleasure to be here. Well, the black
Caps wrap up a series win over England. One. Who
would have thought this when they were one kneel down
in the series and two when came Williamson decided he
was retiring. At that point, no one could have predicted
(11:26):
surely that they would have come out on top of two.
Speaker 6 (11:28):
One, yeah, and everything else that's unraveled since then for
England Off the field, I guess you know, you go
back to the end of that first Test, like you say,
in England, very convincing, all be it on a fairly
lively pitch. But then ever since then, you know, not
much has gone right for England, has it? Obviously the
Ben Stokes and gars Atkinson situation, those two not playing,
(11:49):
other injuries for England, and then you know just how
well the black Caps have fought their way back, and
you know you have to be fair to the Black Caps,
I think what really gives this this series when a
lot of a lot of kudos is how they've been
struck by injury as well and the players they've had
to deal without, not just in this Test, but in
the second Test, as you know, the likes of Matt
(12:10):
Henry and then we saw the injuries to Blear Techner
with his concussion, will ow' rourke and Blair ben Seas
both getting nasty kind of finger injuries and continuing to
play on. So you know, I think that element of
it really gives us achievement. You know, you've got to
give them a heck of a lot of credit for
not only being able to fight back, but be able
(12:31):
to do it with essentially a second string bowling attack.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Really yeah, absolutely take out Henry no Jamison for that
third Test. Quite remarkable that they were able to dig
as deep as they could and shows the depth and
I guess the grits that New Zealand cricket has, you know,
Darryl Mitchell as well with that century with the one hundred,
I mean absolutely batted and bruised by the end of it.
This is a team that just doesn't seem to know
when they're dead.
Speaker 6 (12:56):
It's all the best qualities that we associate with this
New Zealand cricket team when they're at their best, especially
in the past five to ten years, isn't it. It's
a team that doesn't give anything away. They maximize their
their abilities. They're not to do it. Different ways to
do it, the Daryl mitch Away the very gritty you know,
take a few blows and get take two hundred and
fifty balls to get us entry, or the likes of
(13:17):
Vatch and Revenge or someone or even Devin Conway playing
a more stylish fashion and more aggressive fashion as well,
but really just being so resourceful because that's the way
New Zealand cricket teams have to play with the kind
of the resources in the depth we have player wise
in this country. So you know, as New Zealand cricket
fans people in this country, I'm sure very proud, and
(13:38):
especially when you contrast it against not only what's been
happening off the field with England, but also the way
they've gone about it, especially in the last couple of
days of this last test to do it, you know,
Tom Latham said, the old school way. There's something to
be said for that, and a lot of credit to
be given for the way they've gone about it.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Is this the end? Do you think for Brendan mccalum
as England coaching He clung on by the skin of
his teeth after the Ashes series. Now they've lost a
three Test series at home for the first time since
twenty twelve. Are they going to wave them goodbye? And
with Ben Stokes going time for a clean break? Do
you think with his England team?
Speaker 5 (14:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (14:11):
I have heard some talk and you know, for throughout
the kind of tenure of Brenda McCullum and Ben Stokes,
they really have been associated as a duo, haven't they
really together largely the whole time as opposed to you know,
separate entities as captain and coach. So I think you
take that part of it, You take the results obviously,
the you know, the Ashes situation and all the fallout
(14:32):
from that, but then to be up one nil against
New Zealand at home and lose this series, it really
wouldn't be a shock to see them part ways with
Brendan McCullum. Will that happen? Who knows? Maybe they'll want
to say, you know, there's been just too much change
in general. We're already losing our captain. We want to
keep things the same. But it seemed like Brenda McCullum
was already on a pretty short leash in terms of
(14:53):
what the expectations were for the team and improving. So
you know, going to be a one to really watch
with interest over the next the coming days and weeks
to see what happens with him in his future and
whether they decide to do something there.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Indeed, jiminy out of the World Cup round thirty two
probably the biggest nation to fall as yet did it
really really the hard by this morning? Losing, drawing after
extra time, losing an a penalty shoot out, and the
Germans who were twenty fourteen champions twenty eighteen twenty two
knocked out in Paul play twenty six. They've been knocked
(15:26):
out in the round of thirty two. They a big nation,
but they have not really turned up since they won
it twelve years ago.
Speaker 6 (15:33):
Now, yeah, you know, undoubtedly a superpower in football, you know,
when you've won this tournament four times, an incredible legacy.
But it just goes to show, doesn't it, That old adage,
that old cliche about World Cup's tournament sport about what
can happen? You know, you look at the rankings, you
look at the players man for man, and you say, Germany,
you know, wins this by at least a couple of
(15:55):
clear goals, but it only takes a couple of things
to go against you. Paraguay playing an incredible defensive game.
But then also you know, Germany scored what they thought
was the winner there in an extra time and then
to have that scrubbed out on a different day. That
goes your way and you're through. But then you go
to penalties and the nerves creep in and anything can happen,
(16:16):
can't it at that point? So yeah, a real shock
and you know, just like I say, goes to show
what can happen at these tournaments. We can't expect in
any of these knockout matchups necessarily that the favorite's always
going to prevail.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
No, absolutely, And just finally Clay the a n Z
Premiership saga, four of the players come out and basically
going what on earth is going on with this competition
for next year? The players rightfully seem quite angry, but
do you think the sport in New Zealand can sort
of overcome this cow so or is it on its
final legs?
Speaker 5 (16:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (16:46):
I mean I think when you look at netball as
a sport in this country, still incredibly popular with you
know girls and you know young young young girls, young
women in this country. So I don't know if it's
going to be necessarily a death now for netball in
this country. But it's certainly a big concern that what's
been happening with netball at the elite level in this
(17:08):
country in recent years. You know, the silver ferns at
the top end still can be and are competitive with
with their main rivals, but below that in terms of
the A and Z Premiership and and how I guess
how it competes with with other sports now in this
country where which women are going into.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
You know, it's been left behind a little bit, hasn't it.
Speaker 6 (17:27):
It totally has And and you know there's no when
broadcasters are saying not sure, don't want to be don't
want to be involved, don't want to pay that much
that that is is a real telltale sign of where
that where the where the game is perhaps at at
that level. So, man, who knows what's going to happen
with Netbourne News in and we've also heard the Players
Association come out now and say we're talking to them,
(17:47):
but you know, that doesn't seem to be too much
kind of concrete on the on the horizon, and that's
a real concern less than you know, we're coming to
the end of one competition and we don't know what's
going to happen beyond this for players, for coaches, for
all those players at the at the next tier, which
are you know, they are our future silver Ferns coming
through there? What are they going to do and where
are they going to go? I mean, it's pretty obviously
(18:10):
a big concern for Nebor New Zealand and what they're
able to muster.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Certainly is clay. Thank you very much for your time
and the Chamber appreciate it. Go well, Chess.
Speaker 6 (18:18):
Mythic Needing a X.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Fix powered by
News Talks IVB.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
That's another edition of sports Fix. Thanks very much for
your company. We're back tomorrow with another fresh edition and
you can listen to Sports Talk weeknights seven to eight
on News Talk ZIBB and Weekend Sport midday till three
Saturday and Sunday with Jason Pine.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
For more from News Talks, EDB Listen live on air
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