June 3, 2025 • 7 mins
Great news for some of our up and coming cricketers today.
Four new players have managed to nab an NZ Cricket central contract.
Mitch Hay is one of those up and comers and he spoke to D'Arcy Waldegrave on Sportstalk.
Listen right to the end to hear D'Arcy give him the kiss of death!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Mitch Hay is about to join us to put himself
up a Central contract for the first time. That Center
contract list Addie Ashock, Michael Bracewall, Tom Blundell, Mark Chapman,
Jacob Duffy, Zat Folks, Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Carl Jamison,
Tom Latham, Darryl Mitchell, Muhammad a Bus, Henry Knickles, Will Rourke,
(00:36):
Glenn Phillips, Ratchamravendra Mitchell, Santna, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, and
Will Young. Tim Soudy is out because he retired East Sody,
Ajs Battel and Josh Clarkson didn't get one of those contracts.
This doesn't take them away from representing New Zealand. They're
just not in that lovely twelvemonth pace. Go uncontracted guys
(00:59):
who want to go and spend more time making money
for the pirate leagues came Williston to him Conway for
Allenton Seifert like you, Ferguson at a Milne, Jimmy Niche
and a few of those lads still don't want to
represent at the highest level. Anyway, that's the inns, that's
the outs, and this is one of those inns, one
of the four. His name is Mitch Hay and he
(01:19):
joins us now, good evening.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Good evening, how are going.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Good, big day for you. You finally managed to get
your name amongst the top twenty central contracted cricket plays
in the country. I'd suggest that's a huge relief and
you'd give yourself a bit of a pat on the
back as well.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Wich.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Yeah, and it's been a very exciting day to have
a publicly announced and yeah, obviously just stoked to be
a part of the twenty cricketers named on the list,
So yeah, a very special day out.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Now, when did you find out? And how long have
you had to keep your gobs shut for?
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Uh? Yeah, found out a couple of weeks ago, I guess.
So it's been you know, a couple of weeks for
your sort of just tell close family. But yeah, that's
nice to have it fully out in the public now.
And you know, I have to worry about what I
say too much.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
So in essence though, what does this mean for you?
And that's a terrible thing to say. Hear this all
the time, So how do you feel what does it mean?
But technically what does that actually mean? Having this contract?
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Yeah, I guess it's just sort of first of all,
bit of a sign of confidence from the selectors. I
guess that there might be, you know, might be in
the future plans to play more for the black Caps,
which is hugely exciting. And the other big thing I
guess is just been contracted for the full twelve month
twelve months of the year rather than just the seven
and a half as a domestic contractor player. So yeah,
and that's pretty pretty exciting to be honest, to be
(02:27):
a full time professional cricketer.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
So when you're any part time you're doing seven months,
they have to put a lemonade stand up side the
front of your house. How do you get by?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
I guess I've probably been lucky enough to have a
bit of cricket on throughout the winter, so I haven't
had to pick up another job, which has been nice.
But yeah, some guys definitely have part time jobs or
jobs they go to in the winter, and I've previously
worked part time in the winter, but last couple of
years have been lucky enough to be able to just
play the full year round.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
You look at the amount of players that aren't essentially
contracted match and this has been happening quite a lot
of recent times. Normally players that are slightly longer in
the twoth or ones that can make a bit more
coin for those domestic T twenty leagues. So there a
way is that Tim takeson never been there for you?
Just where does the sit as far as that going
(03:15):
into the future.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Yeah, I guess for me, it's always been a dream
to play for New Zealand and play for the black Caps,
So I guess that a luwre hasn't really been too
much of me. I guess I've just been excited to
be able to debut a couple of formats for the
black Caps so far and it's been a real dream
to wear the fern. So for me that's been the
main goal and haven't really put so much thought into
into anything else.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Really, no guarantees around this. What does it guarantee? Just
paypack it every month, right.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Yeah, paypack it every month for twelve months, So yeah,
that's the main thing. And being able to, I guess,
be a professional cricket for twelve months is pretty exciting.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Where do they put you in the rank of twenty
do they tell.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
You, Yeah, you get an individual rank for each format
and an overall rank which is done off a points system.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
But yeah, it's all sort of confidential and.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Come on, yeah yeah, sorry, yeah, I got to well,
people know how much you're earning.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Everyone's like, oh, yeah, we'll nudge you up for around
next time. But like, got great, great news for you
and the security of that future. I'd expect knowing how
you play and talking to on a few occasions now
that you don't have continuity stress in your game. It's
not about what's happening and can you put food on
the table. You're very much in your present, but there
(04:28):
might be some part of games to slight bit of
easing off of pressure or not.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Nah, I think it's yeah, like you said, you know,
live day to day and try to stay in the present.
And I guess like for me, it's cool, you know,
getting the contract and stuff, but it doesn't sort of
guarantee you know, you're going to play for the black
Caps more or anything. So I guess it's just a
case of continuing doing what I'm doing and keep trying
to get better and hopefully can you know, play some
play a lot more for the black Caps and keep
trying to contribute to to winning games for them.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yeah, and well you've got to do it for Cannabury
as well. Of course, it's not forget where you you
know where it all started, bitch.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Yeah, absolutely, yeah, I know. If that's the that's the
first job. To keep keep doing what I can do
for Canterbury and keep enjoying that stuff. The ex it's
a lot of fun. I've got a great group of
guys there who have had a lot of success, so
it's always good, good fun.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Any idea who the new head coach is going to
be across any of the formats, you can maybe leaned
on them and said I'm still here.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
Nah, I've got no idea, absolutely no idea. So yeah,
I'm just finding out the news. Anyone else does, so yeah,
I'm not too sure.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
So expectations much when a contract comes of this plainly availability.
Is there anything else tagged to signing this contract?
Speaker 4 (05:40):
I guess the main one has just been available during
the souper smash window, so that's the that's the main thing.
And I guess availability for guys who who potentially can
plan legs, But for me, yeah, my My priority is
just in New Zealand and trying to play as much
as they can for the for the black Caps. So yeah,
not too much worries of availability there.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
What about all the frilly stuff around the outside. You
don't need to get a contract? Do you get you know,
a new bat sponsor? Do they send you a nice
shoney perish shoes? Do you get free fast feed on?
Is there anything else just besides the money?
Speaker 4 (06:11):
An I already get pretty well looked after by Gray
Nickels and and you know essex So yeah, no, no real,
no real shiny shoes or maybe you know, maybe a
new bat from Granicles be nice?
Speaker 3 (06:22):
But na, nothing, nothing, nothing too extreme.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Really, you got that in twice? Great Nickels, well done,
they're loving you. And look there's a third time as
well as far as the future looks, where do you
have to lift your game predominantly? If you look right
across everything you do and do particularly well, is there
a part of your game that you need to accelerate more?
Speaker 4 (06:41):
I guess the thing for me is I'm quite a
bit of a perfectionist, So I guess I can look
at my whole game and think I can get better
and a whole range of stuff. So I think just
in general, like fucking keep getting better holistically and in
every part of my game, then I think the consistency
will keep improving, which is the thing we all sort
of strive for in a game where consistency so hard.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
So yeah, it's hard to pinpoint one.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
I could probably talk to you for a bit longer
about few things and I want to get better at
but yeah, no, just in general, I think if I
can just keep getting better and keep g Anny more consistent,
I think that will that will make me a better player.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
And finally, Mitch plans over winter. Where are you going?
What are you doing?
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Ah? Well, I've just come back from Bangladesh with the
US on day side, so it's been nice to be
back on home soil for a week and I'll just
get back into training, getting back to training now in
the gym and bit of running.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
So yeah, that's the main priority for the next three while.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Get busy and keep going. Mitch, Hey, I'll curse you
with saying you're going to be the next black Caps
white ball both formats, red ball keeper, So if that
doesn't happen, feel free to ring me up and castigate me.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Mitch Hay is about to join us to put himself
up a Central contract for the first time. That Center
contract list Addie Ashock, Michael Bracewall, Tom Blundell, Mark Chapman,
Jacob Duffy, Zat Folks, Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Carl Jamison,
Tom Latham, Darryl Mitchell, Muhammad a Bus, Henry Knickles, Will Rourke,
(00:36):
Glenn Phillips, Ratchamravendra Mitchell, Santna, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, and
Will Young. Tim Soudy is out because he retired East Sody,
Ajs Battel and Josh Clarkson didn't get one of those contracts.
This doesn't take them away from representing New Zealand. They're
just not in that lovely twelvemonth pace. Go uncontracted guys
(00:59):
who want to go and spend more time making money
for the pirate leagues came Williston to him Conway for
Allenton Seifert like you, Ferguson at a Milne, Jimmy Niche
and a few of those lads still don't want to
represent at the highest level. Anyway, that's the inns, that's
the outs, and this is one of those inns, one
of the four. His name is Mitch Hay and he
(01:19):
joins us now, good evening.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Good evening, how are going.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Good, big day for you. You finally managed to get
your name amongst the top twenty central contracted cricket plays
in the country. I'd suggest that's a huge relief and
you'd give yourself a bit of a pat on the
back as well.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Wich.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Yeah, and it's been a very exciting day to have
a publicly announced and yeah, obviously just stoked to be
a part of the twenty cricketers named on the list,
So yeah, a very special day out.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Now, when did you find out? And how long have
you had to keep your gobs shut for?
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Uh? Yeah, found out a couple of weeks ago, I guess.
So it's been you know, a couple of weeks for
your sort of just tell close family. But yeah, that's
nice to have it fully out in the public now.
And you know, I have to worry about what I
say too much.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
So in essence though, what does this mean for you?
And that's a terrible thing to say. Hear this all
the time, So how do you feel what does it mean?
But technically what does that actually mean? Having this contract?
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Yeah, I guess it's just sort of first of all,
bit of a sign of confidence from the selectors. I
guess that there might be, you know, might be in
the future plans to play more for the black Caps,
which is hugely exciting. And the other big thing I
guess is just been contracted for the full twelve month
twelve months of the year rather than just the seven
and a half as a domestic contractor player. So yeah,
and that's pretty pretty exciting to be honest, to be
(02:27):
a full time professional cricketer.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
So when you're any part time you're doing seven months,
they have to put a lemonade stand up side the
front of your house. How do you get by?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
I guess I've probably been lucky enough to have a
bit of cricket on throughout the winter, so I haven't
had to pick up another job, which has been nice.
But yeah, some guys definitely have part time jobs or
jobs they go to in the winter, and I've previously
worked part time in the winter, but last couple of
years have been lucky enough to be able to just
play the full year round.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
You look at the amount of players that aren't essentially
contracted match and this has been happening quite a lot
of recent times. Normally players that are slightly longer in
the twoth or ones that can make a bit more
coin for those domestic T twenty leagues. So there a
way is that Tim takeson never been there for you?
Just where does the sit as far as that going
(03:15):
into the future.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Yeah, I guess for me, it's always been a dream
to play for New Zealand and play for the black Caps,
So I guess that a luwre hasn't really been too
much of me. I guess I've just been excited to
be able to debut a couple of formats for the
black Caps so far and it's been a real dream
to wear the fern. So for me that's been the
main goal and haven't really put so much thought into
into anything else.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Really, no guarantees around this. What does it guarantee? Just
paypack it every month, right.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Yeah, paypack it every month for twelve months, So yeah,
that's the main thing. And being able to, I guess,
be a professional cricket for twelve months is pretty exciting.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Where do they put you in the rank of twenty
do they tell.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
You, Yeah, you get an individual rank for each format
and an overall rank which is done off a points system.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
But yeah, it's all sort of confidential and.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Come on, yeah yeah, sorry, yeah, I got to well,
people know how much you're earning.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Everyone's like, oh, yeah, we'll nudge you up for around
next time. But like, got great, great news for you
and the security of that future. I'd expect knowing how
you play and talking to on a few occasions now
that you don't have continuity stress in your game. It's
not about what's happening and can you put food on
the table. You're very much in your present, but there
(04:28):
might be some part of games to slight bit of
easing off of pressure or not.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Nah, I think it's yeah, like you said, you know,
live day to day and try to stay in the present.
And I guess like for me, it's cool, you know,
getting the contract and stuff, but it doesn't sort of
guarantee you know, you're going to play for the black
Caps more or anything. So I guess it's just a
case of continuing doing what I'm doing and keep trying
to get better and hopefully can you know, play some
play a lot more for the black Caps and keep
trying to contribute to to winning games for them.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yeah, and well you've got to do it for Cannabury
as well. Of course, it's not forget where you you
know where it all started, bitch.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Yeah, absolutely, yeah, I know. If that's the that's the
first job. To keep keep doing what I can do
for Canterbury and keep enjoying that stuff. The ex it's
a lot of fun. I've got a great group of
guys there who have had a lot of success, so
it's always good, good fun.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Any idea who the new head coach is going to
be across any of the formats, you can maybe leaned
on them and said I'm still here.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
Nah, I've got no idea, absolutely no idea. So yeah,
I'm just finding out the news. Anyone else does, so yeah,
I'm not too sure.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
So expectations much when a contract comes of this plainly availability.
Is there anything else tagged to signing this contract?
Speaker 4 (05:40):
I guess the main one has just been available during
the souper smash window, so that's the that's the main thing.
And I guess availability for guys who who potentially can
plan legs, But for me, yeah, my My priority is
just in New Zealand and trying to play as much
as they can for the for the black Caps. So yeah,
not too much worries of availability there.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
What about all the frilly stuff around the outside. You
don't need to get a contract? Do you get you know,
a new bat sponsor? Do they send you a nice
shoney perish shoes? Do you get free fast feed on?
Is there anything else just besides the money?
Speaker 4 (06:11):
An I already get pretty well looked after by Gray
Nickels and and you know essex So yeah, no, no real,
no real shiny shoes or maybe you know, maybe a
new bat from Granicles be nice?
Speaker 3 (06:22):
But na, nothing, nothing, nothing too extreme.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Really, you got that in twice? Great Nickels, well done,
they're loving you. And look there's a third time as
well as far as the future looks, where do you
have to lift your game predominantly? If you look right
across everything you do and do particularly well, is there
a part of your game that you need to accelerate more?
Speaker 4 (06:41):
I guess the thing for me is I'm quite a
bit of a perfectionist, So I guess I can look
at my whole game and think I can get better
and a whole range of stuff. So I think just
in general, like fucking keep getting better holistically and in
every part of my game, then I think the consistency
will keep improving, which is the thing we all sort
of strive for in a game where consistency so hard.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
So yeah, it's hard to pinpoint one.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
I could probably talk to you for a bit longer
about few things and I want to get better at
but yeah, no, just in general, I think if I
can just keep getting better and keep g Anny more consistent,
I think that will that will make me a better player.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
And finally, Mitch plans over winter. Where are you going?
What are you doing?
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Ah? Well, I've just come back from Bangladesh with the
US on day side, so it's been nice to be
back on home soil for a week and I'll just
get back into training, getting back to training now in
the gym and bit of running.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
So yeah, that's the main priority for the next three while.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Get busy and keep going. Mitch, Hey, I'll curse you
with saying you're going to be the next black Caps
white ball both formats, red ball keeper, So if that
doesn't happen, feel free to ring me up and castigate me.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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