Cricket Coverage in New Zealand

For a large number of years now, New Zealand domestic cricket has been poorly covered by the media in this country.  And to make matters worse, New Zealand Cricket seems complicit in that lack of coverage.

But to be fair, the media has other things to look after and the summer game here is low on that priority list to cover.  And why cover it?  Websites like BlackCaps.co.nz and Cricinfo cover everything cricket, not only in this country but from the greater world games.  But is that enough?

Well judging by a comment from a radio sports host it is not.  His comment said (loosely speaking) the domestic game, particularly the Ford Trophy is a nothing contest and of poor quality and doesn't deserve covering.  My thoughts at the time of the comment was "well if you want to improve it, provide tacit coverage and bring the masses into the game".  But we know that won't happen!  That would mean sports journos would have to drag themselves away from their Twitter screens, go to a game, and provide "expert" coverage so the masses "Can" buy into the game.

The sports jock also intimated that the level of cricket was substandard and not worth covering which really got me thinking.  You see all the current winning Blackcaps players have played or still play in all forms of the three competitions (HRV Cup for T20, Ford Trophy for One Dayers, and Plunket Shield in 4 day comp) and got their grounding in that substandard level of cricket.  And they always will, not because the media don't want to cover it, but because they want to hone their skills and give some inspiration to those coming through from age group cricket.  So what of the coverage supplied by New Zealand cricket to their flagship competitions?

Well the HRV Cup gets coverage on Sky TV.  That's it.  The rest is covered by avid cricket fans and sometimes writers on blogs, Twitter or other social media?  Sure BlackCaps.co.nz covers some, but that's more geared towards live scoring and archives material on players and teams.  Very little posturing in opinion pieces or selling the game to the wider public.  Where they should be targeting in the very least is full coverage of all games in the Ford Trophy and Plunket Shield on national sports news bulletins and across the media as a whole.  There's a double edged sword to this.

Firstly, a lot of the older less computer savvy cricket fans get to see the game they love covered professionally.  Secondly, if you put the game in full public view, i.e. television, even for three minutes or so, you get young lads and lasses seeing the glory of the game and you get new players.  Yup, it's called advertising.  You put a little out, you get greater return.

So my plea to the media is this.  Instead of downplaying the importance of the domestic game, get off your arses and go to the games and report on them and put it in your papers, on the radio, or on our screens.  And to New Zealand Cricket, put more money into getting those journos off their butts.  Get Media coverage on the TV.  Spend a little to buy a lot.  The game really is worth it.

And my parting shot on the level of cricket.  Recently Otago performed with distinction in the Champions Trophy.  Our domestic cricket really is That Good!!