March 14, 2026 • 9 mins
The Black Caps believe it's depth in their squad that will get them through the T20 series against South Africa - which starts tonight at Bay Oval.
Eight members of New Zealand’s squad that were beaten by India in the World Cup final will miss out, and are resting.
Black Cap Nathan Smith joined D'Arcy to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
A'B cricket on the menu right here, right now. Black
Cats back on a New Zealand shores. They play South
Africa and their first T twenty at the Mount tonight.
That's started seven o'clock and coming up in about all
fifteen minutes time the White firms take on their South
African counterparts. They're all doubleheaders, all five of these T
(00:34):
twenty experiences. Nathan Smith, he's had a horrible old time
with injuries now, hasn't he Hopefully he'll be back today,
like he joins us, now, how are you mate?
Speaker 1 (00:45):
I'm good?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Thanks? So are you?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yeah, I'm magnificent. I tend to try and be that
way all the time. It's the nice thing. But you you're
finally back playing again. That Nathan Smith one day cricketer,
it's a Test cricketer. And then he had to have
a cup of teen to lie down because his side
fell apart. So you've been out for quite some time.
The injury you're recovering from how it went through?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Yeah, so fully recovered now. Initially you know during the
Test match thought it was a side strain, but turned
into a little bit more of a ribbon pingement type injury,
which was like if imagine if you're you're sort of
you know, you're eating eating some spare ribs and you
you kind of get to the bone and there's that
little bit of like sheath on the bone. I pulled
(01:32):
a little bit of that off my ribs. So that
took a little bit longer to hell, unfortunately. But we're
back now. I've been playing some domestic cricket for the
last sort of month six weeks and yeah, looking forward
to this the series against Africa.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
So you're one handy right your back, You've you've been bold,
you've batted from time to time and everything's working.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah. Yeah, we're good as gold.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Yeah, I'm never going to be about to eat spare
ribs again, because I'm going to think about is pulling
your spare ribs off of your body and chewing on
Nathan Smith. So thanks for honing it that way. So
form wise, how how well are you playing right now?
Because there's that like real interesting space when there are
so many quicks who are aiming for that same spot.
(02:12):
So where are you at playing wise?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, it's a tough one result sort of come and go,
which is it's the nature of the sport we play.
They're pretty fickle. Some days you can bowl really well
and you know, not get wickets, and other days you
get lucky following a few half trackers that get caught
a deep square. So in terms of the outcomes, you know,
I'm not trying to ride that too much. But I'm
feeling pretty good. The balls coming out well, the rhythm.
The rhythm took a couple of games to come back,
(02:35):
but I feel like it's there now and I'm you know,
I'm hitting the crease hard and with the bat, I've
spent a bit of time in the middle and the
plunket with it, with the plunket shield over the last
sort of you know, two weeks, I'm starting to feel
pretty good.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Right, so middling it good, good timing, you know, your play.
So when you play for the black Caps next time,
and it may well be tonight, we don't know the
naming of the team yet, you feel you're going to
better contribute. You're on You're on all your cylinders.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Yeah, I'm feeling good, feeling good, Darcy.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
They're traveling up there. There was a pain in the though, wasn't.
I think he had a bit of a journey to
even actually keep here in the first place. That's got
to put a bit of strain on you.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Oh yeah, you know, we're sort of used to that
now though. When you're play in the subcontinent, you usually
get you usually get three am flights in between in between.
I mean we had it in the Champions Trophy, didn't
we. We sort of had to get up at three am
and fly between Dubai and Pakistan. So you know, we
we're used to this now and we just adapt and
we get on with it.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Are you good at watching the Black Caps play when
you're not involved? You do that or you just run
and hide?
Speaker 3 (03:37):
No, no, I do watch it. I checked in during
the World Cup, which was awesome to see how well
they did there. You know, unfortunately couldn't get over the
line in the final, but it was there was an
awesome campaign to follow and and yeah, everyone was behind
them and they can be really proud of that that
World Cup campaign.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
A few people have ripped on the fact that the
bowlers took a bit of tap, but I choose to
look in the other direction. That was India at home
defending a title, and they were giving everybody a bit
of tap. They battered. It was another It wasn't cricket
the way they were playing. It was on another level,
wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Yeah, And it's just it's not just it's not just India,
you know, those those pictures are not conducive to Succeaine
bowling anyway. And I mean two fifty is becoming so
common now, Like how often are we seeing two fifty
And we're going, oh, yeah, that's kind of you know,
we're not whereas like two hundred. Back in the day,
we were like far out two hundred, you know. So
it's just it is. I understand the batting has gone
(04:33):
to another planet, but the seam bowling is tough. But
I think potentially, you know, bowlers are going to have
to find ways and you're probably going to see it
over the next few years of bowlers trying to, you know,
find either either work on their execution or find different
different ways to try the effective.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
What are you trying? You're looking at that you know
you're going to have to deal with these batsmen the
way they roll. What South Africa managed to do before
they folded in that semi What are you looking at
how are you going to go about your business?
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Yeah, I mean there's an element of there's an element
of what I bring to the table, and then there's
the you know, conditions you're playing with. You know, there's
so many variables, but I think skin of the scouting
is the main thing. And then I guess it comes
down to what's the pitch offering you at the time.
And then to be honest with you, it's just a
game of execution really, you know, I suppose you see
(05:23):
look at Bomber, he goes at six and over in
India because he can nail a Yorker and he's got
a great slabll So it's like, you know, if you
if you can execute, and you can you can be
nice and calm under pressure, then I think you can
be effective. For me, it's you know, doing what I
do really well, running in heading the book at hard,
nailing a Yorker and then and then being smart around
my around my slables. So you know, I think it's
(05:45):
it's it looks something like that when I'm playing well,
so hopefully can replicate that if I get a run.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
And Nathan Smith that joins us. And I suppose you
can't just have one different delivery. You've got to have
a number of different weapons in your quivert, don't.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
You You do you do need you do need a few.
But if I just if they're just okay as well
then and they don't have any deception, then you know,
the batters are too good. They're gonna they're gonna put
you away. So I think, you know, that's that's where
the skill with the bowlers is really important. And keep
to keep working on that execution, so you know, you're developing,
(06:19):
you know, some world class deliveries that you can go
to a sort of anytime. That's sort of the I mean,
that's at its at its very best. So hopefully, you know,
hopefully we can keep working on that and I can
sort of push my way to this T twenty team.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Nathan, do you bristle when people say this is not
a proper black Caps team because most of the players
are off having a cup of team to lie down
before they head back to India again? How do you
feel about that accusation?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Ah, I personally haven't heard that accusation, but I'm assuming,
I'm assuming.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
You talk about the radio mate, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I'm assuming, Well, the way the way I see it is.
For me, it's it's you know, it's a great opportunity
to play for New Zealand and T twenty cricket, and
you know, ultimately I want to I want to play
all three formats for New Zealand. So yeah, I hopefully
I can go do well and you know, it is
what it is. I guess really the guys have just
played an amazing World Cup campaign and they've got ipl
(07:16):
commitments which is you know, pre agreed upon. So for
me it's just you know, I sort of reaped the
rewards of that and get to play a few games
for New Zealand hopefully.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Well, there's no such thing as an eleven that plays
every format anymore. There's there's thirty guys out there who
can do it and on T twenty representing Have you
got a line on what has to happen for New
Zealand cricket as far as our domestic T twenty competition
is concerned, because there are options everywhere? Do you lean
toward any of those names?
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Are you talking sorry, are you talking about with the
way New Zealand Cricket's going to go next year? Well?
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah, with a super smash the adjusted Super Smash or
the Big Bash of the NZED twenty. There's a lot
of options out there. Do you lean in any of them?
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Yeah, I definitely. I think, you know, in New Zealand
twenty would be the best option for players within New
Zealand and for New Zealand cricket. Yeah, I think it's
the best way to grow the game in New Zealand.
Get the backing behind and then yeah, it should be
pretty fun. I think if it goes ahead.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Well, there's a chance next year a lot of the
tests might have to be curtail removed to that window.
That doesn't concern you at all.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Oh, that's that's above that's above my pay grade, you know, scheduling.
But yeah, I think I think whatever whatever decision they make,
you know, the players players are going to be happy.
And there's a lot of chat around the best players
not playing Super Smash as it is, so hopefully, you know,
after games, all the games are still going to go ahead,
so hopefully they can find a result there. But yeah,
(08:43):
I think all the players will be happy regardless, especially
if this comp goes ahead.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Well, let's hope you get the NOD. More importantly, for
the evening and you tear it up. Nathan Smith, thanks
so much for joining us as per mate. You look
after your sir.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Cheers to Arsy, Thanks mate.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yeah, thank you for your time. To to forty five,
the women start their first of five T twenties. They're
all doubleheaders. Seven fifteen the men It underway.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talks at B Weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
A'B cricket on the menu right here, right now. Black
Cats back on a New Zealand shores. They play South
Africa and their first T twenty at the Mount tonight.
That's started seven o'clock and coming up in about all
fifteen minutes time the White firms take on their South
African counterparts. They're all doubleheaders, all five of these T
(00:34):
twenty experiences. Nathan Smith, he's had a horrible old time
with injuries now, hasn't he Hopefully he'll be back today,
like he joins us, now, how are you mate?
Speaker 1 (00:45):
I'm good?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Thanks? So are you?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yeah, I'm magnificent. I tend to try and be that
way all the time. It's the nice thing. But you you're
finally back playing again. That Nathan Smith one day cricketer,
it's a Test cricketer. And then he had to have
a cup of teen to lie down because his side
fell apart. So you've been out for quite some time.
The injury you're recovering from how it went through?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Yeah, so fully recovered now. Initially you know during the
Test match thought it was a side strain, but turned
into a little bit more of a ribbon pingement type injury,
which was like if imagine if you're you're sort of
you know, you're eating eating some spare ribs and you
you kind of get to the bone and there's that
little bit of like sheath on the bone. I pulled
(01:32):
a little bit of that off my ribs. So that
took a little bit longer to hell, unfortunately. But we're
back now. I've been playing some domestic cricket for the
last sort of month six weeks and yeah, looking forward
to this the series against Africa.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
So you're one handy right your back, You've you've been bold,
you've batted from time to time and everything's working.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah. Yeah, we're good as gold.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Yeah, I'm never going to be about to eat spare
ribs again, because I'm going to think about is pulling
your spare ribs off of your body and chewing on
Nathan Smith. So thanks for honing it that way. So
form wise, how how well are you playing right now?
Because there's that like real interesting space when there are
so many quicks who are aiming for that same spot.
(02:12):
So where are you at playing wise?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, it's a tough one result sort of come and go,
which is it's the nature of the sport we play.
They're pretty fickle. Some days you can bowl really well
and you know, not get wickets, and other days you
get lucky following a few half trackers that get caught
a deep square. So in terms of the outcomes, you know,
I'm not trying to ride that too much. But I'm
feeling pretty good. The balls coming out well, the rhythm.
The rhythm took a couple of games to come back,
(02:35):
but I feel like it's there now and I'm you know,
I'm hitting the crease hard and with the bat, I've
spent a bit of time in the middle and the
plunket with it, with the plunket shield over the last
sort of you know, two weeks, I'm starting to feel
pretty good.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Right, so middling it good, good timing, you know, your play.
So when you play for the black Caps next time,
and it may well be tonight, we don't know the
naming of the team yet, you feel you're going to
better contribute. You're on You're on all your cylinders.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Yeah, I'm feeling good, feeling good, Darcy.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
They're traveling up there. There was a pain in the though, wasn't.
I think he had a bit of a journey to
even actually keep here in the first place. That's got
to put a bit of strain on you.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Oh yeah, you know, we're sort of used to that
now though. When you're play in the subcontinent, you usually
get you usually get three am flights in between in between.
I mean we had it in the Champions Trophy, didn't
we. We sort of had to get up at three am
and fly between Dubai and Pakistan. So you know, we
we're used to this now and we just adapt and
we get on with it.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Are you good at watching the Black Caps play when
you're not involved? You do that or you just run
and hide?
Speaker 3 (03:37):
No, no, I do watch it. I checked in during
the World Cup, which was awesome to see how well
they did there. You know, unfortunately couldn't get over the
line in the final, but it was there was an
awesome campaign to follow and and yeah, everyone was behind
them and they can be really proud of that that
World Cup campaign.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
A few people have ripped on the fact that the
bowlers took a bit of tap, but I choose to
look in the other direction. That was India at home
defending a title, and they were giving everybody a bit
of tap. They battered. It was another It wasn't cricket
the way they were playing. It was on another level,
wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Yeah, And it's just it's not just it's not just India,
you know, those those pictures are not conducive to Succeaine
bowling anyway. And I mean two fifty is becoming so
common now, Like how often are we seeing two fifty
And we're going, oh, yeah, that's kind of you know,
we're not whereas like two hundred. Back in the day,
we were like far out two hundred, you know. So
it's just it is. I understand the batting has gone
(04:33):
to another planet, but the seam bowling is tough. But
I think potentially, you know, bowlers are going to have
to find ways and you're probably going to see it
over the next few years of bowlers trying to, you know,
find either either work on their execution or find different
different ways to try the effective.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
What are you trying? You're looking at that you know
you're going to have to deal with these batsmen the
way they roll. What South Africa managed to do before
they folded in that semi What are you looking at
how are you going to go about your business?
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Yeah, I mean there's an element of there's an element
of what I bring to the table, and then there's
the you know, conditions you're playing with. You know, there's
so many variables, but I think skin of the scouting
is the main thing. And then I guess it comes
down to what's the pitch offering you at the time.
And then to be honest with you, it's just a
game of execution really, you know, I suppose you see
(05:23):
look at Bomber, he goes at six and over in
India because he can nail a Yorker and he's got
a great slabll So it's like, you know, if you
if you can execute, and you can you can be
nice and calm under pressure, then I think you can
be effective. For me, it's you know, doing what I
do really well, running in heading the book at hard,
nailing a Yorker and then and then being smart around
my around my slables. So you know, I think it's
(05:45):
it's it looks something like that when I'm playing well,
so hopefully can replicate that if I get a run.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
And Nathan Smith that joins us. And I suppose you
can't just have one different delivery. You've got to have
a number of different weapons in your quivert, don't.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
You You do you do need you do need a few.
But if I just if they're just okay as well
then and they don't have any deception, then you know,
the batters are too good. They're gonna they're gonna put
you away. So I think, you know, that's that's where
the skill with the bowlers is really important. And keep
to keep working on that execution, so you know, you're developing,
(06:19):
you know, some world class deliveries that you can go
to a sort of anytime. That's sort of the I mean,
that's at its at its very best. So hopefully, you know,
hopefully we can keep working on that and I can
sort of push my way to this T twenty team.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Nathan, do you bristle when people say this is not
a proper black Caps team because most of the players
are off having a cup of team to lie down
before they head back to India again? How do you
feel about that accusation?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Ah, I personally haven't heard that accusation, but I'm assuming,
I'm assuming.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
You talk about the radio mate, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I'm assuming, Well, the way the way I see it is.
For me, it's it's you know, it's a great opportunity
to play for New Zealand and T twenty cricket, and
you know, ultimately I want to I want to play
all three formats for New Zealand. So yeah, I hopefully
I can go do well and you know, it is
what it is. I guess really the guys have just
played an amazing World Cup campaign and they've got ipl
(07:16):
commitments which is you know, pre agreed upon. So for
me it's just you know, I sort of reaped the
rewards of that and get to play a few games
for New Zealand hopefully.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Well, there's no such thing as an eleven that plays
every format anymore. There's there's thirty guys out there who
can do it and on T twenty representing Have you
got a line on what has to happen for New
Zealand cricket as far as our domestic T twenty competition
is concerned, because there are options everywhere? Do you lean
toward any of those names?
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Are you talking sorry, are you talking about with the
way New Zealand Cricket's going to go next year? Well?
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah, with a super smash the adjusted Super Smash or
the Big Bash of the NZED twenty. There's a lot
of options out there. Do you lean in any of them?
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Yeah, I definitely. I think, you know, in New Zealand
twenty would be the best option for players within New
Zealand and for New Zealand cricket. Yeah, I think it's
the best way to grow the game in New Zealand.
Get the backing behind and then yeah, it should be
pretty fun. I think if it goes ahead.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Well, there's a chance next year a lot of the
tests might have to be curtail removed to that window.
That doesn't concern you at all.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Oh, that's that's above that's above my pay grade, you know, scheduling.
But yeah, I think I think whatever whatever decision they make,
you know, the players players are going to be happy.
And there's a lot of chat around the best players
not playing Super Smash as it is, so hopefully, you know,
after games, all the games are still going to go ahead,
so hopefully they can find a result there. But yeah,
(08:43):
I think all the players will be happy regardless, especially
if this comp goes ahead.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Well, let's hope you get the NOD. More importantly, for
the evening and you tear it up. Nathan Smith, thanks
so much for joining us as per mate. You look
after your sir.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Cheers to Arsy, Thanks mate.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yeah, thank you for your time. To to forty five,
the women start their first of five T twenties. They're
all doubleheaders. Seven fifteen the men It underway.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talks at B Weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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