Cricket

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has appointed former all-rounder and national selector Dion Nash to its board of directors. Nash's appointment fills the vacancy created by Martin Snedden, who stepped down after a distinguished career in cricket administration.Nash brings a wealth of experience to the NZC board, having played 32 Tests and 81 ODIs for New Zealand from 1992 to 2002. He was a key member of the title-winning squad in the 2000 ICC KnockOut, which was later renamed the Champions Trophy. In his fifth Test, Nash showcased his all-round abilities by scoring a half-century and taking ten wickets at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground.After retiring from international cricket, Nash served as a selector for the New Zealand men's team from 2005 to 2008. He has also pursued a successful career in business, gaining valuable experience in corporate governance and strategic planning.NZC chair Diana Pukepatu-Lyndon welcomed Nash's appointment, highlighting his expertise in both cricket and business. "It's good to have someone with Dion's cricket and business experience coming onto the board at a time when Martin is stepping down," she said. "Dion has a strong interest in not just the playing of the game but [also] the business of the game, and that should help stand us in good stead."Nash expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve on the NZC board. "I'm honored to be appointed to the NZC board and look forward to contributing to the ongoing success of New Zealand cricket," he said. "I believe my experience as a player, selector, and businessman will be valuable in helping NZC navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead."Nash's appointment is expected to strengthen NZC's leadership and governance, as the organization continues to navigate the evolving landscape of international cricket.

Rachin Ravindra, the rising star of New Zealand cricket, has once again showcased his exceptional batting prowess, this time on Indian soil. In the recently concluded first Test match against India at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Ravindra played a pivotal role in his team's historic eight-wicket victory.Ravindra's impressive performance, which included a match-winning 134 and an unbeaten 39, earned him the Player of the Match award. His ability to adapt to the challenging Indian conditions and play with composure and precision was evident throughout the match.Speaking after the match, Ravindra attributed his success to a combination of form and meticulous preparation. He emphasized the importance of understanding the nuances of playing in India, particularly the need to maintain a solid stance and move forward and back to create scoring opportunities."I guess it's a combination of both (form and preparation)," Ravindra said. "As long as I have clarity of what needs to be done and I know what my plan is, it's great."Ravindra's preparation for the tour included a week-long stint at the Chennai Super Kings high-performance academy in Chennai, where he worked closely with coach Sriram Krishnamurthy. This experience proved invaluable, as it allowed him to acclimatize to the different surfaces and bowling styles he would encounter in India."Preparation does help," Ravindra said. "When you've got six Tests in a row, you're always looking to do something extra. Lucky enough it all worked out today."Ravindra's performance in Bengaluru was particularly special for him, as his father, Ravindra Krishnamurthy, was in attendance. The city holds a special significance for Ravindra, as his family hails from there."It's a nice city, and a nice wicket to bat on," Ravindra said. "So the odds are in my favor. Whenever I play in Bangalore, it's quite nice to have the support. My phone starts blowing up. The fans are great too, I love the support. It's nice having dad and close family here, it always makes it special."Ravindra's success in India is a testament to his talent, hard work, and adaptability. As New Zealand continues its tour, he will undoubtedly be a key player for the team, looking to build on his impressive start and contribute to further victories.

New Zealand's domestic cricket season will undergo a significant change in 2024-25, with the Ford Trophy, the men's 50-over competition, kicking off the season instead of the traditional Plunket Shield. This marks the first time in six years that the Ford Trophy will open the domestic campaign.The season will commence on October 20 with three rounds of Ford Trophy matches. Defending champions Canterbury will face Wellington in one of the opening day fixtures. The Plunket Shield will then take over from November 11, with two rounds scheduled before New Zealand's home series against England. The first Test against England begins on November 28, coinciding with the third set of Plunket Shield games.Similarly, the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, the domestic one-day tournament for women, will start on November 16, aligning with Australia's inbound tour, which includes three ODIs. Six rounds of Johnstone Shield games will be played before New Zealand takes on Australia in the first ODI on December 19.The change in the domestic schedule was made after consultations with players, coaches, and turf managers. Richard Brewer, NZC head of cricket operations, explained that the move will provide different pitch conditions for both competitions, presenting new challenges for batters and bowlers. Additionally, the alignment of the Plunket Shield with the England Test tour is seen as an added benefit.For men, five rounds of the Ford Trophy will be followed by four in the Plunket Shield until December 10. The Ford Trophy resumes on February 6 and concludes with the final on March 2 in Dunedin. The Plunket Shield then takes over again from March 5, with the domestic season concluding with the Plunket Shield final round from March 29 to April 1.For women, the Johnstone Shield breaks after six rounds on December 15 and restarts on February 8. The final will be played on March 1 in Dunedin.The NZC is yet to confirm dates for the men and women's Super Smash, the T20 competition.

The exodus of Kiwi cricketers from national contracts to lucrative T20 leagues has raised concerns about player availability for New Zealand, according to captain Tim Southee. Star players like Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, and Finn Allen have recently opted for casual contracts, prioritizing franchise cricket over central contracts with New Zealand Cricket.Southee acknowledged the challenges this trend poses, particularly given New Zealand's limited player pool. "It's a small cricketing country in terms of numbers," he said. "It would be great to have as many people as possible available for New Zealand, but the way the world is going, it's getting harder and harder."New Zealand faces a demanding schedule in the coming months, with six Tests in the subcontinent, including three against India. The conditions will be vastly different from those in New Zealand, and Southee expects spinners to dominate."Conditions are foreign to what we're used to," Southee said. "But we're excited about the chance of playing six Test matches on the bounce here in the subcontinent."Southee, a pace bowler, may miss a game or two due to the expected dominance of spinners. "We've got four quality pace bowlers at our disposal," he said. "So it's about working out what balance is right."After the India series, New Zealand will host England for a Test series, concluding their World Test Championship duties. Southee emphasized the challenges of playing nine Tests in a short period."It's a challenge for every side," he said. "For players playing multi-formats, you have to balance the chopping and changing nature of busy schedules."Despite Afghanistan's inexperience in Test cricket, Southee warned against underestimating them. "Afghanistan has been an improving side for a number of years," he said. "They've got a lot of confidence from their success in the T20 World Cup and the one-day World Cup."

Sarah Tsukigawa, a former New Zealand all-rounder, has been appointed as the national selector for women's cricket. With 42 ODIs and 19 T20Is under her belt, Tsukigawa brings a wealth of experience to the role.Tsukigawa's responsibilities will encompass selecting players for the national team and identifying talent within the women's cricket pathway. She will collaborate with New Zealand's head coach, Ben Sawyer, to ensure a seamless transition between levels.As New Zealand prepares to host Australia and participate in the Women's T20 World Cup in the UAE, Tsukigawa's expertise will be crucial. The squads for both tournaments will be announced on September 10.Tsukigawa expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity: "I've always wanted to get back involved in women's cricket and give back to the game that has given me so much." She previously held leadership positions at Otago, including captain, assistant coach, and selector.Tsukigawa's experience as a player and selector will provide valuable insights into the selection process. She believes in the current White Ferns squad and the pathway being developed for future players.Liz Green, NZC Head of Women's High Performance, emphasized the importance of talent identification and succession planning. Tsukigawa's unique skillset, combining player and selector perspectives, will be instrumental in these areas.With Sophie Devine's decision to step down as T20I captain after the World Cup, Tsukigawa's role may extend to identifying her successor. Devine remains committed to leading the team in ODIs.Tsukigawa's appointment is a testament to her passion for talent development and her understanding of the women's cricket landscape. Her contributions will undoubtedly strengthen New Zealand's women's cricket program.

The club vs country debate has become a pressing issue in New Zealand cricket, with several high-profile players opting out of central contracts. Test captain Tim Southee acknowledges the challenge, attributing it to the "changing landscape of international cricket."Southee hopes for collaboration between cricket boards and franchise leagues to address the issue. He emphasizes that New Zealand's board is working towards a solution that benefits both parties.The proliferation of lucrative offers in franchise leagues has contributed to the dilemma. However, Southee insists that his focus remains on representing New Zealand. He believes the team will not be affected by the contract decisions, as there are players with and without contracts on the current tour.Among those who have declined contracts are Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, and Adam Milne. Williamson is part of the squad for the upcoming Test against Afghanistan, the first of six Tests in the subcontinent.Southee views the subcontinent tour as an exciting challenge, particularly for the spinners. New Zealand boasts a strong spin contingent, including Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, and Glenn Phillips.Afghanistan's spin threat is also acknowledged by Southee. He expects the spinners to play a significant role in the subcontinent conditions.Southee admits to not being at his best towards the end of the previous summer. However, he feels refreshed and ready for the upcoming challenges.The Test against Afghanistan will be played from September 9 to 13, followed by tours of Sri Lanka and India.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced the addition of all-rounders Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson to its central contracts list, replacing Devon Conway and Finn Allen who declined offers last month.Smith, 26, is yet to make his international debut but has impressed in domestic cricket, particularly in red-ball cricket. He was the leading wicket-taker in last season's Plunket Shield with 33 wickets at an average of 17.18 for champions Wellington. He also had a successful stint with Worcestershire in the County Championship, claiming 27 wickets in seven matches."Nathan's been on our radar for a while having been a significant performer in domestic cricket for some time," said New Zealand head coach Gary Stead. "He's been particularly impressive in red-ball cricket and we think he has the skills to be successful in international cricket when he gets a chance."Clarkson, 27, has played three ODIs and T20Is for New Zealand. He featured in series against Bangladesh, Australia, and Pakistan last season."Josh has been involved in both white ball squads over the past twelve months which shows the strides he's made in his game," Stead said. "He's a hard-hitting player with plenty of skills and has shown in his chances so far that he can offer a lot with bat and ball on the international stage. Josh will provide depth and adds value given the volume of white ball cricket on the horizon."The vacancies on the contract list arose when Conway and Allen opted out to take up T20 league deals during January. Conway, who will play in the SA20 for Joburg Super Kings, was offered a casual playing contract, while Allen, who signed a two-year deal with Perth Scorchers in the BBL, will remain eligible for selection on a case-by-case basis.New Zealand return to action next week with a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida before traveling to Sri Lanka for two Tests and then India for three.

Lou Vincent, the former New Zealand cricketer, has finally received his commemorative cap for playing 100 ODIs, nearly 17 years after reaching the milestone in 2007. The cap was presented to Vincent by Sir Richard Hadlee in Auckland at a small ceremony attended by his family and former teammates.Vincent, who finished his ODI career with 2413 runs in 102 matches, also played 23 Tests and nine T20Is for New Zealand between 2001 and 2007. After his international career, he played in the Indian Cricket League (ICL) and on the domestic circuit until 2014, when he was banned for life by the ECB for corrupt activities.In December 2023, the ECB revised the punishment, allowing Vincent to return to working in domestic cricket. Vincent expressed gratitude for the support he received during his ban appeal and acknowledged the work he has done to educate young players about match-fixing.NZC chief executive Scott Weenink stated that the board had been holding onto Vincent's commemorative cap for over a decade. While acknowledging Vincent's past actions, Weenink praised his efforts to combat match-fixing and said that presenting him with the cap was the least they could do.According to Vincent, Hadlee, who had first selected him for New Zealand, was emotional while presenting the cap. Vincent expressed his admiration for Hadlee and thanked him for taking the time to honor him.Vincent's 100th ODI appearance came in Cape Town in December 2007, where he scored 18 runs and took his only ODI wicket by dismissing Jacques Kallis. Now 45 years old, Vincent is slowly returning to cricket and recently played in a five-day match to raise awareness on men's mental health.Vincent reflected on his life after cricket, expressing gratitude for his family and his current lifestyle. He emphasized that he is focused on the present and enjoying the simple things in life.

New Zealand's women's domestic cricket teams have finalized their contracted player rosters for the 2024-25 season. The signings include a mix of experienced veterans and promising young talents.Central DistrictsCentral Districts have added uncapped right-arm seamer Grace Foreman to their roster. Foreman has impressed through Taranaki and Central Districts' pathway systems and joins Anna Gaging as the new faces on the team.CanterburyCanterbury have signed batter Emma Irwin, who previously represented the team. Irwin was part of the New Zealand Under-19 side at the World Cup last year.AucklandAuckland have elevated fast bowler Sophie Court to their contract list. Court has risen through Auckland Cricket's Talent and Pathway programme and was part of the Auckland Under-19 team that won the national under-19 tournament this year.Northern DistrictsNorthern Districts have signed allrounder Carol Agafili, who has represented the team in the past and also played for Samoa in T20Is.WellingtonWellington have added right-hand batter Gemma Sims to their roster. Sims played for Wellington in the Super Smash last season.OtagoOtago have awarded their maiden contract to Isy Parry. Parry has been a standout performer in Otago's age-group teams.The contracted players will represent their respective teams in the upcoming domestic season, which includes the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield (one-day competition) and the Super Smash (T20 competition).