The White Ferns have departed from their white ball tour of England after eight losses from eight games, with the governing body citing inexperience as a key reason for their struggles.
NZ Cricket head of High Performance Bryan Stronach joined Piney to discuss the team's run of disappointment.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks EDB Talk some cricket.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It might seem unseasonal, but an unhippy tour of England
for the White Ferns concluded on Thursday, that will be
all she wrote, an absolutely emphatic victory for England over
New Zealand that may well be it. Back they come.
England have won the match and the series.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
And a comprehensive series victory achieved by England over the
White Ferns.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
In the air and it will be taken by captain of.
Speaker 5 (00:46):
The name.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Prayer.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Kemp picks up a wicked it has been a morning
from England.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Just beyond will.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
It kick on? Will it go for four?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Will it be the game for England? Jonas has made
a complete hash of it that has allowed England to
secure victory the third match in.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
A row, our four to win.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
I think one day what fashion England might try and
chase this total down and it will trickle away to
the boundary to secure a seventh wicket win for England
here at the Oval.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
This the two hundred and twenty International for the England women.
Tiding stop from the Skipper and the two to finish
things off and it was comfortable in the end for England.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So fairly groom listening there. The White Ferns losing all
three One day internationals and all five T twenty internationals
on their tour of England. Brian Stronach, as general manager
of High Performance for New Zealand Crickety joins US now
Brian eight matches, eight losses for the White Ferns. How
disappointed are you with that?
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Here?
Speaker 5 (01:59):
We get it. I think the team's gat it weird
gas of the individuals a gatto, that's that's not where
we want to be as a team. But there's also
some realizations that we're a young, developing side that has
some incredible aspirations and and some extreme talent and it's
taking some time. But no, they're not the results that
we want.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Do you agree that results are the main metric for
success for this team.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
Yeah, at the end of the day, yes, that's what
sport's about, you going out to win and lose. I
think some realization around where we are compared to the
rest of the world and understanding that and we've got
some incredibly big goals that we want to achieve, and
it's going to take some time to get there, but ultimately, yes,
(02:45):
that's what we're doing in sports.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
What are the major planks in your improvement strategy for
the white films.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
I think experience and I think depths of talent are
the two big things that we have clear plans around,
and we're working towards the more fulfilling and working towards
but amately, they are the things where we've got to
improve and get better.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Is that domestic women's competition strong enough to produce the
depth that you're after to be a competitive international side.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
I think you've got to look at that wider than
just a domestic cricket system. If you look solely at that, no,
but we have a system below that which also includes
different programs and l and a program on North South
program and so forth, and all that together, I think
over time will the whole strategy here is we've got
(03:39):
some real young talent with our white friends, and we
are building that talent and they're growing, but we don't
want to be in this situation again, so we have
to build that system behind it so when these players retire,
we've got ready to go players behind them and that's
the track that we've fallen into in the past. We
haven't done that.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
So that structure that exists behind the domestic competition as
well as the domestic competition, once you get to them,
you believe that over time that will produce the depth
and the experience that you're after.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
Over time, I think it will. I mean, we have
to do it so differently to some of the other
nations because we will don't have the depth of talent,
we don't have the resource. However, that's no excuse. We
still believe that we can do it, even with those
issues that we've got to overcome. And yeah, I sincerely
believe we will get there.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
So you said, then you said experience and depth. Can
you just unpack that for us a little bit, Brian,
the operational stuff behind that strategy.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
Yeah. I think cricket is largely late development sports, so
it takes time to come through and develop and perform consistently,
and I think that's the key consistently at the highest
level for us. Talent can mean you can perform at times,
but performing consistently is the key, and that's our aspirations.
(05:04):
You need to learn from experience to do that. You
need to go through that, and there needs to be
pressure and enough players to pick from to be able
to do that. And that's what our strategy is largely
based on, is creating that.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
When you say over time, it'll take time, that sort
of thing, what sort of time frame have you targeted?
Speaker 5 (05:25):
So I look at the Black Captain where they've got
to and that took I reckon an essence ten years plus.
Now I don't want it to take that long for
the watchings and our women's program in system, so we
want it to be quicker than that. But it will
take time. Now that doesn't give us an excuse though,
(05:45):
to not perform in between. We still want to go
to World Cups and win World Cups. We're just talking
about winning World Cups and peak events consistently as the goal.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
What improvements or progress have you seen under Ben Sawyer
as head coach.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
I've seen a lot of improvements. I look at our
bowling unit and how they're consistently performing. I look at
the individuals around batting at times and how they're improving
and performing. It's just not at the level where we
need it to be to compete with the best at
the moment, and that's the critical things that we hold
people accountable to.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
So you hold Ben Sawyer accountable to the results of
the side, to.
Speaker 5 (06:25):
Players getting better, which the results of the size is
part of.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
But main metric though as results, isn't it, Brian, We
said that before you know, the White Fans and the
Black camps job is to win cricket matches, right.
Speaker 5 (06:37):
Yeah, over time. So I don't agree that the sole
metric is winning games because that does give us indications
around how we're progressing and so forth. But if you
put some of our players and their experience and their
development opportunities up against some of those players, they don't compete.
So it's not solely on winning and losing, but that
is a big part of it.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yes, do you back Ben Sawyer as White Fans coach?
Speaker 5 (07:01):
Yeah, we're backing. We've got a World Cup just around
the corner. We're backing and fully towards that World Cup.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Are you open to being innovative, to trying different things
as you seek improvement.
Speaker 5 (07:17):
I think we have to, especially through the system and
through the team, and I think that's some criticism that
can be pointed at us at times that we can
be a bit stubborn around what we're doing. But yes,
I agree with you that we've got to be open
to doing new things.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
How worried are you that? Because the white fans have
got a lot of fans, A lot of New Zealand
cricket fans are fans of the Black Apps and of
the White Ferns. They support their domestic men's and women's
sides equally. I live in Wellington and I love watching
the Blaze as much as I like watching the Firebirds.
How worried are you that apathy might set in among
(07:53):
the women's fan base.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Well, the good thing is, at the moment, I agree
with you. We've got a great fan base who care
a lot and they say it's not good enough when
we're not performing, which is tough. That I agree is
a really good thing. It drives us and it holds
us accountable. I think the biggest thing that we can
(08:17):
do is just show that improvement and show that we're
working towards it and are the results of this to
good enough to show that, no they're not, but behind
the scenes that we're pushing towards that massively.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Are you optimistic about that improvement, Brian, because I look
back to the you know, the series against Pakistan back
in December, you know, over in South Africa in October,
back to the last T twenty World Cup when the
side didn't make the semi finals. Are you are you
optimistic that improvement will come.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
Yeah. I am optimistic around our systems and our team
moving forward. Yep. Those results are not where we want
them to be, but yes, I'm incredibly optimistic around where
the White Friends and woman's cricket at New Zealand can
get to. Definitely.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Do you have a performance target in place for the
next T twenty World Cup in October?
Speaker 5 (09:07):
A performance target? Yeah, I mean our intention is to
go out and try and win it. That's that Ultimately,
like I said, we have a long term strategy around
the White fans. That doesn't give us the excuse to
go out and not perform. So we are trying to
go to that World Cuff and win it.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
So what if I was to give you a call
in November and nothing's changed, we then.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
Well nothing changed changes, then we would have to make
some changes. And ultimately I'm accountable for the performance of
this team and moving in the right direction. So that's
the critical piece where we've got to ensure things keep
changing and moving forward, and I'm, like I said before,
I'm incredibly optimistic around that.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
All right, Well that was going to be my last question.
So optimism remains your your main emotion around the White Ferns,
even despite what's happened in the last month or so
in England.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
Optimism and disappointment. There's no hiding behind the fact that
we wanted to succeed better in England. But I'm not
losing face and the fact that we're improving and can
improve and blow improach.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
All right, Brian, I appreciate you taking the time for
a chat. Brian Stronik hit a hiph performance at New
Zealand Cricket.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
There for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen
live to News Talk st B weekends from midday or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks EDB Talk some cricket.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It might seem unseasonal, but an unhippy tour of England
for the White Ferns concluded on Thursday, that will be
all she wrote, an absolutely emphatic victory for England over
New Zealand that may well be it. Back they come.
England have won the match and the series.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
And a comprehensive series victory achieved by England over the
White Ferns.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
In the air and it will be taken by captain of.
Speaker 5 (00:46):
The name.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Prayer.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Kemp picks up a wicked it has been a morning
from England.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Just beyond will.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
It kick on? Will it go for four?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Will it be the game for England? Jonas has made
a complete hash of it that has allowed England to
secure victory the third match in.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
A row, our four to win.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
I think one day what fashion England might try and
chase this total down and it will trickle away to
the boundary to secure a seventh wicket win for England
here at the Oval.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
This the two hundred and twenty International for the England women.
Tiding stop from the Skipper and the two to finish
things off and it was comfortable in the end for England.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So fairly groom listening there. The White Ferns losing all
three One day internationals and all five T twenty internationals
on their tour of England. Brian Stronach, as general manager
of High Performance for New Zealand Crickety joins US now
Brian eight matches, eight losses for the White Ferns. How
disappointed are you with that?
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Here?
Speaker 5 (01:59):
We get it. I think the team's gat it weird
gas of the individuals a gatto, that's that's not where
we want to be as a team. But there's also
some realizations that we're a young, developing side that has
some incredible aspirations and and some extreme talent and it's
taking some time. But no, they're not the results that
we want.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Do you agree that results are the main metric for
success for this team.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
Yeah, at the end of the day, yes, that's what
sport's about, you going out to win and lose. I
think some realization around where we are compared to the
rest of the world and understanding that and we've got
some incredibly big goals that we want to achieve, and
it's going to take some time to get there, but ultimately, yes,
(02:45):
that's what we're doing in sports.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
What are the major planks in your improvement strategy for
the white films.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
I think experience and I think depths of talent are
the two big things that we have clear plans around,
and we're working towards the more fulfilling and working towards
but amately, they are the things where we've got to
improve and get better.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Is that domestic women's competition strong enough to produce the
depth that you're after to be a competitive international side.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
I think you've got to look at that wider than
just a domestic cricket system. If you look solely at that, no,
but we have a system below that which also includes
different programs and l and a program on North South
program and so forth, and all that together, I think
over time will the whole strategy here is we've got
(03:39):
some real young talent with our white friends, and we
are building that talent and they're growing, but we don't
want to be in this situation again, so we have
to build that system behind it so when these players retire,
we've got ready to go players behind them and that's
the track that we've fallen into in the past. We
haven't done that.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
So that structure that exists behind the domestic competition as
well as the domestic competition, once you get to them,
you believe that over time that will produce the depth
and the experience that you're after.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
Over time, I think it will. I mean, we have
to do it so differently to some of the other
nations because we will don't have the depth of talent,
we don't have the resource. However, that's no excuse. We
still believe that we can do it, even with those
issues that we've got to overcome. And yeah, I sincerely
believe we will get there.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
So you said, then you said experience and depth. Can
you just unpack that for us a little bit, Brian,
the operational stuff behind that strategy.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
Yeah. I think cricket is largely late development sports, so
it takes time to come through and develop and perform consistently,
and I think that's the key consistently at the highest
level for us. Talent can mean you can perform at times,
but performing consistently is the key, and that's our aspirations.
(05:04):
You need to learn from experience to do that. You
need to go through that, and there needs to be
pressure and enough players to pick from to be able
to do that. And that's what our strategy is largely
based on, is creating that.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
When you say over time, it'll take time, that sort
of thing, what sort of time frame have you targeted?
Speaker 5 (05:25):
So I look at the Black Captain where they've got
to and that took I reckon an essence ten years plus.
Now I don't want it to take that long for
the watchings and our women's program in system, so we
want it to be quicker than that. But it will
take time. Now that doesn't give us an excuse though,
(05:45):
to not perform in between. We still want to go
to World Cups and win World Cups. We're just talking
about winning World Cups and peak events consistently as the goal.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
What improvements or progress have you seen under Ben Sawyer
as head coach.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
I've seen a lot of improvements. I look at our
bowling unit and how they're consistently performing. I look at
the individuals around batting at times and how they're improving
and performing. It's just not at the level where we
need it to be to compete with the best at
the moment, and that's the critical things that we hold
people accountable to.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
So you hold Ben Sawyer accountable to the results of
the side, to.
Speaker 5 (06:25):
Players getting better, which the results of the size is
part of.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
But main metric though as results, isn't it, Brian, We
said that before you know, the White Fans and the
Black camps job is to win cricket matches, right.
Speaker 5 (06:37):
Yeah, over time. So I don't agree that the sole
metric is winning games because that does give us indications
around how we're progressing and so forth. But if you
put some of our players and their experience and their
development opportunities up against some of those players, they don't compete.
So it's not solely on winning and losing, but that
is a big part of it.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yes, do you back Ben Sawyer as White Fans coach?
Speaker 5 (07:01):
Yeah, we're backing. We've got a World Cup just around
the corner. We're backing and fully towards that World Cup.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Are you open to being innovative, to trying different things
as you seek improvement.
Speaker 5 (07:17):
I think we have to, especially through the system and
through the team, and I think that's some criticism that
can be pointed at us at times that we can
be a bit stubborn around what we're doing. But yes,
I agree with you that we've got to be open
to doing new things.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
How worried are you that? Because the white fans have
got a lot of fans, A lot of New Zealand
cricket fans are fans of the Black Apps and of
the White Ferns. They support their domestic men's and women's
sides equally. I live in Wellington and I love watching
the Blaze as much as I like watching the Firebirds.
How worried are you that apathy might set in among
(07:53):
the women's fan base.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Well, the good thing is, at the moment, I agree
with you. We've got a great fan base who care
a lot and they say it's not good enough when
we're not performing, which is tough. That I agree is
a really good thing. It drives us and it holds
us accountable. I think the biggest thing that we can
(08:17):
do is just show that improvement and show that we're
working towards it and are the results of this to
good enough to show that, no they're not, but behind
the scenes that we're pushing towards that massively.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Are you optimistic about that improvement, Brian, because I look
back to the you know, the series against Pakistan back
in December, you know, over in South Africa in October,
back to the last T twenty World Cup when the
side didn't make the semi finals. Are you are you
optimistic that improvement will come.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
Yeah. I am optimistic around our systems and our team
moving forward. Yep. Those results are not where we want
them to be, but yes, I'm incredibly optimistic around where
the White Friends and woman's cricket at New Zealand can
get to. Definitely.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Do you have a performance target in place for the
next T twenty World Cup in October?
Speaker 5 (09:07):
A performance target? Yeah, I mean our intention is to
go out and try and win it. That's that Ultimately,
like I said, we have a long term strategy around
the White fans. That doesn't give us the excuse to
go out and not perform. So we are trying to
go to that World Cuff and win it.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
So what if I was to give you a call
in November and nothing's changed, we then.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
Well nothing changed changes, then we would have to make
some changes. And ultimately I'm accountable for the performance of
this team and moving in the right direction. So that's
the critical piece where we've got to ensure things keep
changing and moving forward, and I'm, like I said before,
I'm incredibly optimistic around that.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
All right, Well that was going to be my last question.
So optimism remains your your main emotion around the White Ferns,
even despite what's happened in the last month or so
in England.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
Optimism and disappointment. There's no hiding behind the fact that
we wanted to succeed better in England. But I'm not
losing face and the fact that we're improving and can
improve and blow improach.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
All right, Brian, I appreciate you taking the time for
a chat. Brian Stronik hit a hiph performance at New
Zealand Cricket.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
There for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen
live to News Talk st B weekends from midday or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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