To start this blog off I'm linking you to the New Zealand Cricket Strategic Plan developed prior to 2011. It's not date stamped but in their goals there is a hint that they wish New Zealand to be number 1 or 2 in tests/ODI's by 2011. It makes for very interesting reading and given the recent performances of the senior sides maybe farfetching.
NZC Strategic Plan
Take from that what you will. I'm guessing the minds that wrote that were in the right place, but seriously the heart wasn't and I'll expand on that in due course.
Once upon a time New Zealand ranked as high as 4th in World ICC ODI Rankings. That was around ten years ago and it's prudent to suggest teams post Fleming captaincy have been unable to maintain that ranking. In fact we have been so poor that we have slipped back to 8th and in fact about to slip to 9th as a resurgent Bangladesh overtake us. So where does the fault lie? Coaching, selections, player base, poor domestic competition and other reasons that all meld together to provide a substandard team?
And let's not forget that vision statement when we refer to test cricket. For so long now we have dwelt at 8th on the table, only because the teams below us haven't moved appreciably upwards so for the time being we are safe. But in past year there has been improvement within the team with creditable results v England. Sure the Bangladesh series was a draw and there were some glimmers of hope from young players, but regrettably the "same ole, same ole" seems to pervade the team when it has the chance to further it's cause. Test cricket is the pinnacle for all cricketers and the current selections seem to be bearing fruit though some senior players need to step up more often and lead by example. That sadly is a trait of all Blackcaps teams, be it tests, ODI's or T20's. The only thing keeping them there is that "next big score". If they were to produce at least to their average every test they have good reason to remain included.
So what of that vision? Where is NZ Cricket at in building the game locally. I saw a figure in that Vision Statement that said they were targeting having over 100,000 people playing cricket throughout the season. Have they achieved this? Well possibly not. If the numbers at my old haunt, Foxton, are anything to go by the numbers have dropped (since I last played in 2003). Foxton used to field three teams, a senior side that played in the Horowhenua/Kapiti competition (with an English import), a senior B side and a Prezzies side. And there were always plenty of numbers to fill both teams each weekend. For the past 5 years I see they have dropped the Prezzies side so a door for some younger less skilled players has closed. Sign of the economic times, or player numbers based decline? I'm sure if you look around your local clubs you'll find similar results. So what flow on affect does this have on the National teams?
Well to put it bluntly, there is a player drain, numbers are down. More and more kids these days have other distractions and 6 hours on a Saturday in the sun just doesn't appeal. And this leads to a drop in the talent pool and eventually a weaker selection criteria for senior cricket. No I'm not saying the cricketers currently playing national domestic cricket or international cricket are sub standard, I am saying that there is a drop off of new talent to choose from. This can readily be backed up by looking at the Plunket Shield and seeing some players that are still playing long after they should have retired and some notorious underperformers or also rans. Yeah sure, you call them the backbone of the competition, but what of that talent coming through and not being given chances? That leads to disillusionment and that leads to loss of talent.
Now back to the National teams. The test team seems to have great promise. The coach has stamped his mark, the captaincy seems right for the cause, and some great talent and even better domestic performers are being picked. The ODI team had promise but once again just when you thought they could step up, they fail dismally. Whose fault is that? Same Captain, nearly the same team, differing results? Maybe there is too much pressure on that team to regain it's former glory and they are forgetting about the fundamental rule, win games first, then look at the rankings. The T20 squad is also in the same boat.
But are we putting too much pressure on our senior players to perform? Dare we cede that we are just not good enough these days? Or do we trundle out the NZ Cricket manifesto linked earlier and say, "NZC - perform". I'm fairly confident NZC want the teams to perform. I'm confident the cricketing public hasn't lost focus on their teams. but that may be waning. When you are 8th on all ICC Rankings and not looking like going up you have something to fear. Poor results leads to lack of interest, lack of interest leads to player drain, player drain leads to even weaker teams in the future, and the prophecy from NZC dies with the whites in the closet.
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