Chris Cairns: former Black Cap on the Big Bash potentially moving into New Zealand

It has been reported that NZ Cricket and Cricket Australia have been in talks over the past 12 months around the possibility of a New Zealand team's inclusion in the Big Bash by 2028

Upon hearing the news, Nick spoke with former Black Cap and ODI captain Chris Cairns to hear his thoughts on the possible expansion. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncie Waldergrave
from News Talks'd be.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Good, I Chris Neck, Look, it feels like this has
been something that has been on the table, off the table,
and now on the table again. What do we I
think we've had fourteen editions of the Big Bash across
the Tasman What what say you? Is this a good
idea looking at this through the eyes of New Zealand cricket.

Speaker 3 (00:31):
Absolutely, I've been an advocate of it for quite some time.
I know there was perhaps a little bit of hesitancy
on the New Zealand side as well about how you
can buy in our domestic super Smash competition given that
the Big Bash runs at the same time. But I
think where Franchise Cricket is heading and the recent developments

(00:51):
by Cricket Australia to sort of bring in the Boston
consulting group to sort of review their whole domestic plan
with a road leading to significant investment the Big Bash
that New Zealand there's a logical addition to that comp petition.
So I think it's a great thing.

Speaker 2 (01:08):
Just talk us through from our listeners perspective. It might
not be aware what's the stat to solve the Big
Bash in Australia Because as I mentioned, you know, so
burst onto the scene with all this excitement around twenty
eleven twenty twelve, we have seen more and more competitions.
You now look at South Africa, they have one that
runs basically at the same time. So where are they
at You say they've got a consultant in they are

(01:29):
they looking at all options? Are they even sort of
struggling where to look next?

Speaker 3 (01:34):
I think they've identified that. Well, the key is getting
the international players to play, and you know, the way
that they structure the Big Bash the international guys, the
Australian guys only played gosh only maybe two or three
games during that Big Bash season. So I do think
that there's an appetite to understand how an Australian season
would unfold. Given that you've got those premium five test matches,

(01:59):
you know, in particular that Boxing Day and New Year's
tests that've got that people test there. So you know,
they're juggling a lot of balls with how it can work.
But given I think the fact that around the world
now you know there's significant investment, private investment going into
these leagues, I do think that Cricket Australia want to
try and get a piece of that action. So you know,

(02:21):
given the nature of what they're doing. I heard Scott
Wenner talking today that, you know, to have New Zealand
Cricket joined at the hip with Cricket Australia off the
back of this, I think that's a super smart play
to get that involved. And what New Zealand Cricket now
needs to try and work out as how does a
domestic offering work back here whilst you've got a big
bash being played over there.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah. We had Scott Whank on the mic Costking Breakfast
this morning saying in some way, shape or form, the
domestic Super Smash would continue if this was to go ahead. Chris,
Is there a danger though that such a move could
detract from our domestic competition, could dilute it?

Speaker 3 (02:57):
No? No, no, not at all. I would should we say?
The best example is the National or the NRL over
and Aussie I mean, the Warriors are a huge part
out of that competition. You know, it's very well respected,
especially off the back of what they did for that
competition during COVID, and you know, I just see the
Big Bash has been exactly the same as the NRL.

(03:18):
And then off the back of what happens domestically, well,
I think during that seasonal aspect of the December January
I would take the New Zealand domestic competition back into
those holiday areas. You know, we used to go down
and play in alex We used to go down in
South Canterbury and to Maru. We played games in Levin,

(03:39):
whether it's Napier, into Talpo and to Fomray. So you know,
it takes just some thinking outside the box about how
that works. But taking those T twenty matches afternoon games
into holiday sort of hot spots and then in the evening,
you know, you've got to have that quality international cricket
coming from Australia via the Big Bash, of which New
Zealand's got a significant interest in. So I think if

(04:01):
they're able to bring it together and again Scott sort
of said on the show today with Mike that you know,
not rushing, we're looking at about a twenty twenty eight
sort of window here, so getting everything aligned over the
next couple of years to do that, I think it's
a great addition to the cricket calendar down here. In
the Southern Hemiston.

Speaker 2 (04:17):
Well, what has your observation been then on on the
status quo the Super Smash and it's current iteration when
it goes up against a Big Bash.

Speaker 3 (04:28):
It's just it's just quality of player. I don't think
the New Zealand product has the ability to attract those
international players. Look, I know we continuously punch above our
way to New Zealand with you know, the competitive nature
of player that we put on the field, so I
don't think we'll ever lose that. But as a as
an offering, you know, our market is too small, you know,

(04:49):
to get players out here, there's not enough money to
pay them. So by attaching ourselves to Australia again, I
just come back to that NRL comparison, you know that,
you know that's what that's what we're looking to create.
And then having that sort of second tier of holiday
offerings cricket that's out there that still get the young
guys coming through. I look at when I say guys,

(05:12):
I'm also talking about the girls game and what's involved
in that because that runs parallel with the Big Bash
as well. But if you've got that men's and women's
offering in the New Zealand side of things with young
players coming through who then potentially if there's injuries into teams,
you know, they're playing cricket and they'll step into possible
contracts and big bash. So look, you know, I do

(05:34):
think it can work. I just need some clever thinking.
And look, you know the way he's on a crick
has been doing and going about their business. You know
there's some good people involved there now and I think
that they'll come up with a great solution.

Speaker 2 (05:44):
Chris Kian's with us here when you look at the
NRL example and the Warriors being based in our biggest
city in Auckland, if this was to go ahead, is
that effectively a fatal complete? Could this work anywhere else
outside of Auckland? And then I guess the secondary to that,
how could you see it working from a from an
interest perspective around that privatization, around creating tribalism. I just wonder,

(06:06):
you know, how well are we going to have collective
buy and for a New Zealand soaper smash team if
it feels very Aukland centric?

Speaker 3 (06:11):
Yeah, I think so, because you know, again, like the Warriors,
they're the team that we support and what will happen
as well made. Us I suspect is that you know,
there'll be a big bash game at the Cape Tin
predominantly played in Auckland, but you'll get if it is
an Auckland franchise that decide to go with, you know,
there'll be a game at the Cape Tin against the
particular Australian and perhaps a game done in Cristis as well. Hately,

(06:34):
So there will be opportunities for it to be. You know,
like the NRL, the Warriors do play games other games
around the country, predominantly in Auckland. That would make sense
for it to be in the commercial capital. That's a given,
and the fact that we're going to have a team
in there, and look, I'd throw another thing in there
as well made. And that I do believe that we
could have more New Zealand players. And again I've been

(06:54):
an advocate for this as well. New Zealand players should
not be qualified as international players in the competition. We
have trade laws between New Zealand and Australia, employment laws
and the ability to move between both countries without visas
to work. So I honestly think that, again, I like
rugby league, there are a lot of New Zealand rugby

(07:16):
league players that play over in Australia for Australian franchises.
But we've also got a key E centric heavy team
that plays for the Warriors. But you know, the more
players that we can get from New Zealand playing in
that competition and as I said, they should they should
not be classified as international players. The more players we
can play at that top where we'll get in exposure,
the better it is for our game as well.

Speaker 2 (07:37):
Really interesting thoughts there from former Black a Christians. Really
appreciate your time as always, Chris, and certainly one to
watch over the next few months and the into the summer.
My pleasure.

Speaker 3 (07:49):
Look, it's great initiative. The more the more high quality
cricket we can get coming into this country, the better.
It's fantastic.

Speaker 1 (07:54):
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