November 29, 2025 • 9 mins
22 years on from cricket introducing the shortest format, T20 has become the vehicle in which the sport is growing around the world, and New Zealand is next to be added to the list of countries that partake in the franchise.
The franchise led by the Indian Premier League has expanded to nations such as England, Australia, Pakistan, the West Indies and South Africa.
But not everyone is happy about the proposed league, as key members of New Zealand's cricketing world butt heads over whether or not the league should come to New Zealand.
Sports broadcaster James McOnie joins Jason Pine to analyse the drama and share his personal thoughts on the introduction of T20 in New Zealand.
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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 Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Sunday afternoons. We have the pleasure of the company of
James mcconey in studio this afternoon. Hello mate, get a poney.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
How are you mate?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Very good, great to see you're great to hear you.
You've got cricket on your mind this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yes, I do. There is something rotten in the state
of Denmark, poney, And by Denmark I mean the wider
New Zealand cricket community. And it's tough to sort of
make this interesting to the average punter. So everyone bear
with me, because we're talking about that new T twenty
competition that has been backed by Indian money and several
former black Cats Stephen Fleming, Jeff Allett, Daniel Vittori, and
(00:47):
it's created a war at New Zealand cricket. Are you
aware of this, pony, very aware of it?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yes, very Awever, I mean we're following it closely from
both sides. There is a lot of dialogue, a lot
of conversation about this. What are you taking from it?
What's front of mind when you're thinking about it at
the moment.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, Well, to me, it seems a little bit fishy.
But when New Zealand Cricket learned of the plans in September,
they asked consultants Deloitte to analyze the four potential options
for the future of twenty twenty cricket in New Zealand.
So one was the new Consortium. There was a big
bash theory, there was a kind of combo of other
things and maybe just the status quo stay the same.
(01:29):
But the Consortium didn't like that and they appeared to
have thrown their toys, And now they're trying to get
rid of Scott weenk, the CEO of New Zealand Cricket,
who by all accounts has done a pretty good job,
turned a loss into a profit in the past year.
I think even was given a pay rise for doing
such a good job, and now a few months later
(01:51):
they're trying to oust them. It just doesn't add up
to me Piney, and that's why I sort of think,
what's going on there? How is this? How's it got
to this? And I know that the consortium say I've
got the backing of the six major associations talking about
Northern District, Central Districts, ET cetera, et cetera, and they
(02:11):
spoke to those associations behind New Zealand Crickets back. But
I've heard that northern districts are actually saying pump the
brakes here. We want to hear all the proposals and
just see where it lands. But somehow WHENIX heads on
the block.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Well, we had Don mckinnanon last week. He is sort
of heading up the establishing Committee or the investigative Committee
of NZ twenty of you like. So we spoke to
him last week on the show and he said, well, yes,
we know, we're just one of four options that New
Zealand Cricket are considering. And he said, we think that's
good governance that they are looking at all the options.
(02:49):
And he's right, obviously, if you have her above something,
you don't just go for the bright shiny option every
time you consider all of the options. So I'm a
little bit like you. I'm not quite sure how it's
got to where it's got to. But if I've learned
anything about sport and professional sport in my time covering,
it's that often best practice can be jettisoned by differences
(03:12):
in personality. I'm not sure if that's what's happened here,
but I get the feeling it may be playing a part. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
The issue is, I mean, this is a story about
bordroom politics and some would say bored in politics, but hey,
we're going to make it interesting by saying that. I
think when Don McKinnon came on and we're talking about
not the politician, it's this is the sports administrator. I mean,
I guess he was probably trying to say the right things,
but I hear that you know that this is the
(03:38):
fact that Weenix Head is on the chopping block is
because that the consortium has backing inside the NZI Cricket boardroom.
So and that the irony is, you know, Dom McKinnon
is he's the chair of New Zealand's Sport Integrity Commission.
So I was going, well, where's the integrity and going
(04:02):
behind New Zealand Crickets back courting, you know, major associations,
then ambushing New Zealand Cricket with a proposal that either
has to be accepted or the CEO loses his job.
There's not much integrity there in my opinion. But the
thing is even Don might have to investigate himself, pony
and even though that seems like a joke. Who can
(04:23):
New Zealand Cricket complain to when the Integrity Commission is
the guy fronting the new private league that's sitting in
front of you giving you an ultimatum.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
If we zoom out from it just for a sec.
Do you what is your view on the current domestic
T twenty competition? Do you agree that it needs a
look at for one of these, you know, whatever the
proposal that whichever proposal they land on, do you agree
that that it needs to be changed, that it is
not currently doing the job that it's that it's there for.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Yeah, I think there needs to be a little bit
of jouging up. And it's quite tricky because remember the
Super Smash runs you know, parallel with New Zealand cricket games,
so you often don't have the best players available and
they might not be available even with the backing of
of the Indian investors, you know. But I think the
idea that when and the NZI Cricket were in talks
(05:14):
with the Big Bash, which is a huge league, and
if they could get a team or teams into the
Big Bash like the Warriors in the NRL or you know,
the Wellington, Phoenix and Aorkland their c in the A League,
and that the players can become domestic players. They're all available,
they don't count for your overseas player quota. Then it's
actually a pretty cool deal if they can get that through.
(05:35):
But then some maybe that's the big battle because the
major associations feel that they'll be left behind. But currently
the Super Smash has had years of not having the
best players playing, but they've also provided a lot of stars.
If you look at their you know that the best
players or the leader charts of every single Super Smash.
You know, Devin Conway became a black cap, same with
(05:58):
Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman. It is still a really good
feeder league. But look, they need to do something there.
And that's why I sort of feel, let's just see
what happens with this with the findings of Deloitte, and
let let a CEO who's actually got some vision to
sort of make a call. But if it doesn't fall
your way, I don't think it's worth throwing your toys
(06:18):
that like the consortium have. And what worries me Piney
is you know, I've watched the reporting and I wonder
who are the independent cricket journalists anymore. It's quite tricky
because you've got Heath Mills from the Players Association, who's
behind this. Well, he's drinking buddies with a lot of
cricket journalists who we know, and so I don't know
that probably either behind it or staying quiet on it.
(06:40):
So you've got that kind of faction as well. And
then you've got David Hallman, who is used to be
the boss of WADA and he's involved in Wellington cricket.
Now you know, the world antidoping guy. He's pushing the barrow.
And then you've got Victorian Fleming. And if I was
for Victoria or Fleming, I wouldn't want a bar of this.
That're sort of known for their leadership and the consortium
(07:01):
so far I think is shown quite the opposite. And
you know their bank balance might benefit, but I think
the money will diminish.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Very interesting thoughts, James, Very interesting.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
I mean has to be said news talks there be
you guys, there's got to be an investigation. Jeff two V.
I mean if Mike Costking, I mean handing your journalism
card if he doesn't dig deeper, because you can get
blinded by people with lots of money and they will
get paid. But the only person if we get into
the Big Bash or whatever. It's just you know, there's
(07:31):
no kickbacks or handouts or any kind of stuff. It's just,
you know, our best players get to play in the
Big Bash. So I don't know, it just seems weird
just seeing that suddenly this CEO has done a pretty
good job, has got his head on the chopping block.
That doesn't really add up. It's very very fishy, pony.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Interesting to hear an alternative view, because you're about the
first one I've heard to have voiced an alternative view
on this. So yeah, so I appreciate you doing so.
Just before you go, I was a Nelson on Friday night. Yes,
lucky enough to get invited along to the Nelson Sports Awards,
administered by Sport Tasman Port Tasman, of course, as the
name would suggest. Look after the Top of the South
(08:10):
and the reviews, I was hearing about your MC job
at the Moulbra Sports Awards the previous week. Goodness, gracious me,
I'm surprised you is aren't still burning with the praise
that was coming your way the way that you the
way that you apparently just just mesmerized the entire room
there and blend them.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Jesus, it was a slow start, pony. You know when
you try to crack a few jokes and no one
laughs and you get the sweats, you know, I know
what that's like. Yeah, it took a lot of work
to bring them around. But in the end, we were
you know, we were we were lucky because I think
there were some interesting characters who came up, not least
been O'Keefe and and Tamathy Tavetamanawa's first coach, Bill Bill Matthews.
(08:54):
So we were lucky. But I heard you did the
same at the Nelson Sports Awards, mate, So maybe we
need to do a swap and then do a and
get Deloitte and to do an official study of who
actually mc these these Tasman Sports Awards better.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
I can tell well, I can tell you what the
findings will be. Well, I've got a gut feel what
the findings will be. But yeah, maybe we need to
need to employ them. Great to jet Us always, mate,
thanks for stopping into the studio. Have an excellent risk
of your weekend, AWKU and lift see this afternoon. Are
you confident that they can get the three points against Newcastle.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Yes i am, but I'm more excited that the next
got up yesterday, so we need to sort of keep
pumping them and get them back on the charts.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
You know, Darby next week is Darby next week? So yeah,
they yeah, they springboard themselves on. Great to see your mate,
look forward to catching up again next weekend. James McCarney.
He's been part of our Sea mate, big part of
our Sunday afternoons.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said Be weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Sunday afternoons. We have the pleasure of the company of
James mcconey in studio this afternoon. Hello mate, get a poney.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
How are you mate?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Very good, great to see you're great to hear you.
You've got cricket on your mind this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yes, I do. There is something rotten in the state
of Denmark, poney, And by Denmark I mean the wider
New Zealand cricket community. And it's tough to sort of
make this interesting to the average punter. So everyone bear
with me, because we're talking about that new T twenty
competition that has been backed by Indian money and several
former black Cats Stephen Fleming, Jeff Allett, Daniel Vittori, and
(00:47):
it's created a war at New Zealand cricket. Are you
aware of this, pony, very aware of it?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yes, very Awever, I mean we're following it closely from
both sides. There is a lot of dialogue, a lot
of conversation about this. What are you taking from it?
What's front of mind when you're thinking about it at
the moment.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, Well, to me, it seems a little bit fishy.
But when New Zealand Cricket learned of the plans in September,
they asked consultants Deloitte to analyze the four potential options
for the future of twenty twenty cricket in New Zealand.
So one was the new Consortium. There was a big
bash theory, there was a kind of combo of other
things and maybe just the status quo stay the same.
(01:29):
But the Consortium didn't like that and they appeared to
have thrown their toys, And now they're trying to get
rid of Scott weenk, the CEO of New Zealand Cricket,
who by all accounts has done a pretty good job,
turned a loss into a profit in the past year.
I think even was given a pay rise for doing
such a good job, and now a few months later
(01:51):
they're trying to oust them. It just doesn't add up
to me Piney, and that's why I sort of think,
what's going on there? How is this? How's it got
to this? And I know that the consortium say I've
got the backing of the six major associations talking about
Northern District, Central Districts, ET cetera, et cetera, and they
(02:11):
spoke to those associations behind New Zealand Crickets back. But
I've heard that northern districts are actually saying pump the
brakes here. We want to hear all the proposals and
just see where it lands. But somehow WHENIX heads on
the block.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Well, we had Don mckinnanon last week. He is sort
of heading up the establishing Committee or the investigative Committee
of NZ twenty of you like. So we spoke to
him last week on the show and he said, well, yes,
we know, we're just one of four options that New
Zealand Cricket are considering. And he said, we think that's
good governance that they are looking at all the options.
(02:49):
And he's right, obviously, if you have her above something,
you don't just go for the bright shiny option every
time you consider all of the options. So I'm a
little bit like you. I'm not quite sure how it's
got to where it's got to. But if I've learned
anything about sport and professional sport in my time covering,
it's that often best practice can be jettisoned by differences
(03:12):
in personality. I'm not sure if that's what's happened here,
but I get the feeling it may be playing a part. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
The issue is, I mean, this is a story about
bordroom politics and some would say bored in politics, but hey,
we're going to make it interesting by saying that. I
think when Don McKinnon came on and we're talking about
not the politician, it's this is the sports administrator. I mean,
I guess he was probably trying to say the right things,
but I hear that you know that this is the
(03:38):
fact that Weenix Head is on the chopping block is
because that the consortium has backing inside the NZI Cricket boardroom.
So and that the irony is, you know, Dom McKinnon
is he's the chair of New Zealand's Sport Integrity Commission.
So I was going, well, where's the integrity and going
(04:02):
behind New Zealand Crickets back courting, you know, major associations,
then ambushing New Zealand Cricket with a proposal that either
has to be accepted or the CEO loses his job.
There's not much integrity there in my opinion. But the
thing is even Don might have to investigate himself, pony
and even though that seems like a joke. Who can
(04:23):
New Zealand Cricket complain to when the Integrity Commission is
the guy fronting the new private league that's sitting in
front of you giving you an ultimatum.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
If we zoom out from it just for a sec.
Do you what is your view on the current domestic
T twenty competition? Do you agree that it needs a
look at for one of these, you know, whatever the
proposal that whichever proposal they land on, do you agree
that that it needs to be changed, that it is
not currently doing the job that it's that it's there for.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Yeah, I think there needs to be a little bit
of jouging up. And it's quite tricky because remember the
Super Smash runs you know, parallel with New Zealand cricket games,
so you often don't have the best players available and
they might not be available even with the backing of
of the Indian investors, you know. But I think the
idea that when and the NZI Cricket were in talks
(05:14):
with the Big Bash, which is a huge league, and
if they could get a team or teams into the
Big Bash like the Warriors in the NRL or you know,
the Wellington, Phoenix and Aorkland their c in the A League,
and that the players can become domestic players. They're all available,
they don't count for your overseas player quota. Then it's
actually a pretty cool deal if they can get that through.
(05:35):
But then some maybe that's the big battle because the
major associations feel that they'll be left behind. But currently
the Super Smash has had years of not having the
best players playing, but they've also provided a lot of stars.
If you look at their you know that the best
players or the leader charts of every single Super Smash.
You know, Devin Conway became a black cap, same with
(05:58):
Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman. It is still a really good
feeder league. But look, they need to do something there.
And that's why I sort of feel, let's just see
what happens with this with the findings of Deloitte, and
let let a CEO who's actually got some vision to
sort of make a call. But if it doesn't fall
your way, I don't think it's worth throwing your toys
(06:18):
that like the consortium have. And what worries me Piney
is you know, I've watched the reporting and I wonder
who are the independent cricket journalists anymore. It's quite tricky
because you've got Heath Mills from the Players Association, who's
behind this. Well, he's drinking buddies with a lot of
cricket journalists who we know, and so I don't know
that probably either behind it or staying quiet on it.
(06:40):
So you've got that kind of faction as well. And
then you've got David Hallman, who is used to be
the boss of WADA and he's involved in Wellington cricket.
Now you know, the world antidoping guy. He's pushing the barrow.
And then you've got Victorian Fleming. And if I was
for Victoria or Fleming, I wouldn't want a bar of this.
That're sort of known for their leadership and the consortium
(07:01):
so far I think is shown quite the opposite. And
you know their bank balance might benefit, but I think
the money will diminish.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Very interesting thoughts, James, Very interesting.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
I mean has to be said news talks there be
you guys, there's got to be an investigation. Jeff two V.
I mean if Mike Costking, I mean handing your journalism
card if he doesn't dig deeper, because you can get
blinded by people with lots of money and they will
get paid. But the only person if we get into
the Big Bash or whatever. It's just you know, there's
(07:31):
no kickbacks or handouts or any kind of stuff. It's just,
you know, our best players get to play in the
Big Bash. So I don't know, it just seems weird
just seeing that suddenly this CEO has done a pretty
good job, has got his head on the chopping block.
That doesn't really add up. It's very very fishy, pony.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Interesting to hear an alternative view, because you're about the
first one I've heard to have voiced an alternative view
on this. So yeah, so I appreciate you doing so.
Just before you go, I was a Nelson on Friday night. Yes,
lucky enough to get invited along to the Nelson Sports Awards,
administered by Sport Tasman Port Tasman, of course, as the
name would suggest. Look after the Top of the South
(08:10):
and the reviews, I was hearing about your MC job
at the Moulbra Sports Awards the previous week. Goodness, gracious me,
I'm surprised you is aren't still burning with the praise
that was coming your way the way that you the
way that you apparently just just mesmerized the entire room
there and blend them.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Jesus, it was a slow start, pony. You know when
you try to crack a few jokes and no one
laughs and you get the sweats, you know, I know
what that's like. Yeah, it took a lot of work
to bring them around. But in the end, we were
you know, we were we were lucky because I think
there were some interesting characters who came up, not least
been O'Keefe and and Tamathy Tavetamanawa's first coach, Bill Bill Matthews.
(08:54):
So we were lucky. But I heard you did the
same at the Nelson Sports Awards, mate, So maybe we
need to do a swap and then do a and
get Deloitte and to do an official study of who
actually mc these these Tasman Sports Awards better.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
I can tell well, I can tell you what the
findings will be. Well, I've got a gut feel what
the findings will be. But yeah, maybe we need to
need to employ them. Great to jet Us always, mate,
thanks for stopping into the studio. Have an excellent risk
of your weekend, AWKU and lift see this afternoon. Are
you confident that they can get the three points against Newcastle.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Yes i am, but I'm more excited that the next
got up yesterday, so we need to sort of keep
pumping them and get them back on the charts.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
You know, Darby next week is Darby next week? So yeah,
they yeah, they springboard themselves on. Great to see your mate,
look forward to catching up again next weekend. James McCarney.
He's been part of our Sea mate, big part of
our Sunday afternoons.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said Be weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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