January 23, 2025 • 10 mins
Black Caps great Chris Cairns says he would love for two New Zealand franchises to enter Australia's Big Bash League
The 54-year-old believes the move would raise the quality of the T20 tournament and generate more rivalry and interest.
Cairns highlights the success of other sporting codes involved in trans-Tasman competition...and feels cricket is lagging behind.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncie Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I'm Greagat on the program now and a good day
to Chris Ken's Chris, Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
How do I trust you? Well?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Looking forward to a great twenty twenty five and some
wonderful cricket and all your focus currently is about the
T twenty game, the combination between Australia and New Zealand,
the Big Bash and the Super Smash. Why is this
not a team? Why is this not the same sport?
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Why is it not a thing?
Speaker 4 (00:40):
I agree to look over that whole Christmas New Year period.
I mean, there was obviously that New Zealand England series,
and then we had a just a delightful series with
the Indians and Aussies over there, and then it's rolled
into the Big Bash and of course the New Zealand comp.
But look, I mean, you've got to be honest. I
(01:01):
haven't seen any of the New Zealand comp. I just
you know, it's sort of downplayed a bit. And you know,
the Big Bash seems to be the premiere property on TV.
But I think I'm not sure if I've talked to
you about it before, but I you know, I've often
questioned why, you know, why our players aren't in the
(01:22):
comp And you know, if.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
We look at the soccer that occurs.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
With Wellington and Auckland involved in the Australian comp we
look obviously with the Warriors and and what they what
they do and what they have, and then we've got
Super Rugby. But for some reason, cricket seems to be lagging.
And I don't know whether that's a Cricket Australia thing mate,
that is perhaps not as forthcoming as what New Zealand
cricket wanted to be, but it sort of makes sense
to have not I don't I don't think there should
(01:47):
be one team.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
I'd have two. I'd have an Auckland team and a
Custis team in it.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
So what does this stand to gain for the Australians.
I suppose that's what you're going to look at. What's
in it for them?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Well?
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Five million people. I mean, it's a it's a market
right at the end of the day. And I think
it strengthens the competition too, because I do think at
the moment, and this is another thing that I often
wondered about about how New Zealand is a classed as
international players are going over to play in Aussie and
the Big Bash. But you know all the other leagues
(02:18):
and teams that operate in the Winter Coats that seem
to embrace New Zealanders within their outfit and they have
numerous players. Look, we know that the All Blacks have
an issue with players playing outside of New Zealand and
you know, and they can't wear the black jersey if
they head away. But from a cricketing perspective, you know,
(02:39):
if you took out, for example, there's eight Big Bash teams, right,
so if you took out, so that's thatty eight players
who are playing first and foremost if you took out
the lack of a better term, the worst twenty players.
So if you injected the best twenty New Zealand players
into that competition as it currently stands, the level of
quality and the level of play would raise straight away overnight.
(03:03):
So you know, having New Zealanders in that, but then
opening it up to having New Zealand teams into the
camp as well. At the moment they've got eight teams
at play ten games, they could easily have ten or
eleven teams and still play ten games play each other one.
So look at the theories all there why it.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Hasn't been explored. Look, I'm sure they're talking about it.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
But yeah, I just find it astounding that, you know,
they're not talking about it more and moving towards a
solution to get New Zealand or New Zealand teams into
the big batch.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
I think Christians is fair to say New Zealand Cricket
have been very front forward. They really have been right
the way through the last few years, so they probably
are thinking about it. I'm suspecting that the effect on
the local game and how that would affect somepose gat
income crowds who can go regularly over the summer period
to these matches, that would probably be first and foremost putting,
(03:55):
as I say, the fan at the center of the
room and worrying about their own backyard.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Yeah, a good point, although it has it a guests
that I don't know if the smash would run it
a profit. I would guess it would run the loss
when you look at the costs involved in the travel,
all the requirements for compliance at a ground, what they
charge to get into the gate. You know, I'd be
really interested to have a look and see what the
(04:21):
plus minus is on the Smash itself as a competition.
And so you know what would happen if we had
teams in the Big Bash will again probably similar to
what happens here at a national level for soccer or
for rugby league. There are competitions that exist. I mean,
if I'm running two teams in the Big Bash from
(04:41):
a New Zealand perspective, and look, there's two great brands
just sitting there in the Auckland Bass and the Cannery Wizards. Right,
so if those two teams advance into the Big Bash,
we still run the T twenty competition, but take it
to the holiday places, take it to Nelson, and take
it to the mount and you know, take it to
New Plymouth around that summertime Christmas period and you know,
(05:06):
the player and that competition does.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
There's a pathway for them to get into the Big Batch.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
So so I don't see it as a negative. It
just yeah, it just has to be thought through. But
as I say, you've got two great franchises, and the
Aces and the Woods is sitting there waiting to be
injected into the Big Bash.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Are and look at the venue I've been down Christias. Recently,
I've looked this huge car stadium being developed that's screaming
out for packed stands for T twenty. Could they do that?
Speaker 3 (05:35):
And there is it too?
Speaker 5 (05:38):
Yeah, although it's all that's probably about the size of
the Eton Park like but I but I, you know,
it's a specific rugby stadium from what I can see
and look all credit to the council for doing it.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Looks spectacular, But no, Hagley is waiting.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
I would have the South Island franchise and as a
as a Canterbury Wizards playing a game down in Dunedin and.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Also a game in Nelson.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
You would have the Auckland franchise player in a game
in Wellington as well as a game in Hamilton and
the majority in Auckland. Much like the Sydney thunderdo they
play their games at the CG and they're sorry the
Sixers no, sorry, the Thunder play out in the West
and then they also playing camera so they have sort
of these outgrounds that some of the teams do. So yeah, look,
(06:28):
you're only adding to further New Zealand teams into a
model that's already functioning and existing. But I think it
strengthens both the brand for Australian Cricket and New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Cricket details wise, Chris Kens, would you open these two
franchises up to all the Australians as well? Will they
essentially become the same as as the Sixers all the
thunder as far as who can they employ?
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Yeah, hundred percent. I again, we're just using the NRL model, right.
It's just the opportunity for some Australian players to come
and play out here, you know, if the franchise wants
to do that. But given New Zealand sort of cricket
schedule now seems to sort of follow the Australian schedule
Dace where it sort of stops after that box I
(07:13):
sort of the New Year's Test in Sydney and then
and then sort of picks up whether it be in
February or whatnot. So there is that that window. I mean,
I'd much rather personally, I mean, Martin Guptell's playing, you
know here in that smash car.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
I'd much rather standplane than the big Bash, you know.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Like I mean, and the other New Zealand players that
are sitting out get them into that comp you know,
there's great international players the TV contracts are going to
be to be worth more, the players are going to
be paid more. So there's upside for everybody. And look,
I'm sure they're talking about this. The administrators would have
to be doing that, but it's just a case of
(07:48):
how they do it. But you know, putting a can
every team and an Auckland team in for me, it
just makes a whole lot of scenes.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Really, you're talking venues before Chris Kean's big enough to
hold something like that. If we had a whole lot
of crash at Australian players coming over here with the
cream New Useatum players too. We're not talking six thousand
people here, are we?
Speaker 1 (08:07):
No?
Speaker 4 (08:08):
And look I think New Zealand has you know, Hagley
has a it's a boutique ground and it's a it's
a beautiful ground, it's a lovely ground. But you know,
for that to be utilized, that's it's sort of I
mean Bloodstone down in Hobart is well, no, I don't
think is cool blunt. So now it's called Ninja and
so they they've got a slightly bigger study but that's
(08:30):
quite boutique.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
They've got the.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Grass bank there and you know, I don't think Hagley
Oval was out of place in that camp at all.
And you know whether you play at Eden Park that
there would be a decision that needs to be made.
But you know, having as I said, having an Auckland
and a Cannabory franchise in the Big Bash as it expands,
but still keeping you know, I think the Big Bash
has got a good program at the moment, for they
(08:55):
start in mid December and finishing the school holidays. You
know they've tweaked it and tried different variations before, but
the fans are sort of you know, signaled with their
feet where things are at. And you know Perth gets
an unbelievable following over there in the West, and you
know the teams will be traveling. It would take less
time to travel to New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
And what it does out to Western Australia.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
So so again, you know, building that competition up, having
New Zealand involved, I can only see.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
It positive and totally though, Chris, is there more of
an interest in the Big bast and there is in
the Super Smash for a New Zealand audience.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Yeah, good question mate, And you know I don't know
the answers to that because you know, I don't I
don't have the viewing figures, but one, you know, one
would think that with.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
The level of production that the Big Bash has.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
The you know, the international players that are there from
from overseas as well as the Australian international players that
are playing now, you know, you would think that that
product would as a superior one that they're putting out
here in New Zealand, just purely on costs. You know,
it costs a lot of money to produce these these matches.
So again for New Zealand to sort of go in
(10:02):
on the Big Bash itself, I think it makes sense
for both cricketing because you want Australian and New Zealand
ties to be strong as rugby does, as rugby league does.
So you know, I hope the deal makers are discussing
this and working towards a solution for it, because for me,
it's screaming out for it to heaven.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
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 Duncie Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I'm Greagat on the program now and a good day
to Chris Ken's Chris, Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
How do I trust you? Well?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Looking forward to a great twenty twenty five and some
wonderful cricket and all your focus currently is about the
T twenty game, the combination between Australia and New Zealand,
the Big Bash and the Super Smash. Why is this
not a team? Why is this not the same sport?
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Why is it not a thing?
Speaker 4 (00:40):
I agree to look over that whole Christmas New Year period.
I mean, there was obviously that New Zealand England series,
and then we had a just a delightful series with
the Indians and Aussies over there, and then it's rolled
into the Big Bash and of course the New Zealand comp.
But look, I mean, you've got to be honest. I
(01:01):
haven't seen any of the New Zealand comp. I just
you know, it's sort of downplayed a bit. And you know,
the Big Bash seems to be the premiere property on TV.
But I think I'm not sure if I've talked to
you about it before, but I you know, I've often
questioned why, you know, why our players aren't in the
(01:22):
comp And you know, if.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
We look at the soccer that occurs.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
With Wellington and Auckland involved in the Australian comp we
look obviously with the Warriors and and what they what
they do and what they have, and then we've got
Super Rugby. But for some reason, cricket seems to be lagging.
And I don't know whether that's a Cricket Australia thing mate,
that is perhaps not as forthcoming as what New Zealand
cricket wanted to be, but it sort of makes sense
to have not I don't I don't think there should
(01:47):
be one team.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
I'd have two. I'd have an Auckland team and a
Custis team in it.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
So what does this stand to gain for the Australians.
I suppose that's what you're going to look at. What's
in it for them?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Well?
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Five million people. I mean, it's a it's a market
right at the end of the day. And I think
it strengthens the competition too, because I do think at
the moment, and this is another thing that I often
wondered about about how New Zealand is a classed as
international players are going over to play in Aussie and
the Big Bash. But you know all the other leagues
(02:18):
and teams that operate in the Winter Coats that seem
to embrace New Zealanders within their outfit and they have
numerous players. Look, we know that the All Blacks have
an issue with players playing outside of New Zealand and
you know, and they can't wear the black jersey if
they head away. But from a cricketing perspective, you know,
(02:39):
if you took out, for example, there's eight Big Bash teams, right,
so if you took out, so that's thatty eight players
who are playing first and foremost if you took out
the lack of a better term, the worst twenty players.
So if you injected the best twenty New Zealand players
into that competition as it currently stands, the level of
quality and the level of play would raise straight away overnight.
(03:03):
So you know, having New Zealanders in that, but then
opening it up to having New Zealand teams into the
camp as well. At the moment they've got eight teams
at play ten games, they could easily have ten or
eleven teams and still play ten games play each other one.
So look at the theories all there why it.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Hasn't been explored. Look, I'm sure they're talking about it.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
But yeah, I just find it astounding that, you know,
they're not talking about it more and moving towards a
solution to get New Zealand or New Zealand teams into
the big batch.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
I think Christians is fair to say New Zealand Cricket
have been very front forward. They really have been right
the way through the last few years, so they probably
are thinking about it. I'm suspecting that the effect on
the local game and how that would affect somepose gat
income crowds who can go regularly over the summer period
to these matches, that would probably be first and foremost putting,
(03:55):
as I say, the fan at the center of the
room and worrying about their own backyard.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Yeah, a good point, although it has it a guests
that I don't know if the smash would run it
a profit. I would guess it would run the loss
when you look at the costs involved in the travel,
all the requirements for compliance at a ground, what they
charge to get into the gate. You know, I'd be
really interested to have a look and see what the
(04:21):
plus minus is on the Smash itself as a competition.
And so you know what would happen if we had
teams in the Big Bash will again probably similar to
what happens here at a national level for soccer or
for rugby league. There are competitions that exist. I mean,
if I'm running two teams in the Big Bash from
(04:41):
a New Zealand perspective, and look, there's two great brands
just sitting there in the Auckland Bass and the Cannery Wizards. Right,
so if those two teams advance into the Big Bash,
we still run the T twenty competition, but take it
to the holiday places, take it to Nelson, and take
it to the mount and you know, take it to
New Plymouth around that summertime Christmas period and you know,
(05:06):
the player and that competition does.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
There's a pathway for them to get into the Big Batch.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
So so I don't see it as a negative. It
just yeah, it just has to be thought through. But
as I say, you've got two great franchises, and the
Aces and the Woods is sitting there waiting to be
injected into the Big Bash.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Are and look at the venue I've been down Christias. Recently,
I've looked this huge car stadium being developed that's screaming
out for packed stands for T twenty. Could they do that?
Speaker 3 (05:35):
And there is it too?
Speaker 5 (05:38):
Yeah, although it's all that's probably about the size of
the Eton Park like but I but I, you know,
it's a specific rugby stadium from what I can see
and look all credit to the council for doing it.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Looks spectacular, But no, Hagley is waiting.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
I would have the South Island franchise and as a
as a Canterbury Wizards playing a game down in Dunedin and.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Also a game in Nelson.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
You would have the Auckland franchise player in a game
in Wellington as well as a game in Hamilton and
the majority in Auckland. Much like the Sydney thunderdo they
play their games at the CG and they're sorry the
Sixers no, sorry, the Thunder play out in the West
and then they also playing camera so they have sort
of these outgrounds that some of the teams do. So yeah, look,
(06:28):
you're only adding to further New Zealand teams into a
model that's already functioning and existing. But I think it
strengthens both the brand for Australian Cricket and New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Cricket details wise, Chris Kens, would you open these two
franchises up to all the Australians as well? Will they
essentially become the same as as the Sixers all the
thunder as far as who can they employ?
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Yeah, hundred percent. I again, we're just using the NRL model, right.
It's just the opportunity for some Australian players to come
and play out here, you know, if the franchise wants
to do that. But given New Zealand sort of cricket
schedule now seems to sort of follow the Australian schedule
Dace where it sort of stops after that box I
(07:13):
sort of the New Year's Test in Sydney and then
and then sort of picks up whether it be in
February or whatnot. So there is that that window. I mean,
I'd much rather personally, I mean, Martin Guptell's playing, you
know here in that smash car.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
I'd much rather standplane than the big Bash, you know.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Like I mean, and the other New Zealand players that
are sitting out get them into that comp you know,
there's great international players the TV contracts are going to
be to be worth more, the players are going to
be paid more. So there's upside for everybody. And look,
I'm sure they're talking about this. The administrators would have
to be doing that, but it's just a case of
(07:48):
how they do it. But you know, putting a can
every team and an Auckland team in for me, it
just makes a whole lot of scenes.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Really, you're talking venues before Chris Kean's big enough to
hold something like that. If we had a whole lot
of crash at Australian players coming over here with the
cream New Useatum players too. We're not talking six thousand
people here, are we?
Speaker 1 (08:07):
No?
Speaker 4 (08:08):
And look I think New Zealand has you know, Hagley
has a it's a boutique ground and it's a it's
a beautiful ground, it's a lovely ground. But you know,
for that to be utilized, that's it's sort of I
mean Bloodstone down in Hobart is well, no, I don't
think is cool blunt. So now it's called Ninja and
so they they've got a slightly bigger study but that's
(08:30):
quite boutique.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
They've got the.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Grass bank there and you know, I don't think Hagley
Oval was out of place in that camp at all.
And you know whether you play at Eden Park that
there would be a decision that needs to be made.
But you know, having as I said, having an Auckland
and a Cannabory franchise in the Big Bash as it expands,
but still keeping you know, I think the Big Bash
has got a good program at the moment, for they
(08:55):
start in mid December and finishing the school holidays. You
know they've tweaked it and tried different variations before, but
the fans are sort of you know, signaled with their
feet where things are at. And you know Perth gets
an unbelievable following over there in the West, and you
know the teams will be traveling. It would take less
time to travel to New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
And what it does out to Western Australia.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
So so again, you know, building that competition up, having
New Zealand involved, I can only see.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
It positive and totally though, Chris, is there more of
an interest in the Big bast and there is in
the Super Smash for a New Zealand audience.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Yeah, good question mate, And you know I don't know
the answers to that because you know, I don't I
don't have the viewing figures, but one, you know, one
would think that with.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
The level of production that the Big Bash has.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
The you know, the international players that are there from
from overseas as well as the Australian international players that
are playing now, you know, you would think that that
product would as a superior one that they're putting out
here in New Zealand, just purely on costs. You know,
it costs a lot of money to produce these these matches.
So again for New Zealand to sort of go in
(10:02):
on the Big Bash itself, I think it makes sense
for both cricketing because you want Australian and New Zealand
ties to be strong as rugby does, as rugby league does.
So you know, I hope the deal makers are discussing
this and working towards a solution for it, because for me,
it's screaming out for it to heaven.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
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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