WEBVTT - On The Front Foot Episode 204: Celebrating success and paying tribute 0:00:09.093 --> 0:00:11.973 You're listening to a podcast from News Talk Sat B. 0:00:12.373 --> 0:00:17.613 Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio, 0:00:19.453 --> 0:00:20.013 taken on the pad. 0:00:20.093 --> 0:00:21.013 Now we don't get in. 0:00:21.453 --> 0:00:22.133 It's your trick. 0:00:22.733 --> 0:00:23.293 It is out. 0:00:23.613 --> 0:00:24.453 The test is over. 0:00:26.693 --> 0:00:28.133 Goodness smooth, oh wow. 0:00:28.013 --> 0:00:31.013 Fus a beauty. It is out and here he goes. 0:00:31.093 --> 0:00:33.733 This delivery has in the user to Gold. 0:00:35.773 --> 0:00:39.173 On the Front Foot where Brian Waddell and Jeremy Coney, 0:00:39.493 --> 0:00:46.053 powered by News Talks Dead B at iHeartRadio. 0:00:48.333 --> 0:00:50.893 Hello, a month gone and the new year, and we're 0:00:50.933 --> 0:00:54.093 back doing what we do best. Talking Cricket on the 0:00:54.133 --> 0:00:58.253 Front Foot, which includes a prestigious accolade for immediate curve, 0:00:58.693 --> 0:01:01.573 comes with no surprise named the ICC Women's Player of 0:01:01.573 --> 0:01:05.653 the Year for twenty twenty four see twenty titles decided. 0:01:05.933 --> 0:01:08.173 Has the standard improved in the New Zealand game by 0:01:08.173 --> 0:01:11.133 the constant play in the short format? Will we ever 0:01:11.173 --> 0:01:13.973 be able to match the Ossies in promotion and crowd 0:01:14.053 --> 0:01:18.133 numbers they gained from BBL, but we have outdone them. 0:01:18.253 --> 0:01:21.653 The Wisdom World Test team has been named two black 0:01:21.693 --> 0:01:25.733 Caps no Ossies a fair outcut. We'll discuss that final 0:01:25.773 --> 0:01:29.733 eleven shortly. I thought i'd be just a little bit 0:01:29.813 --> 0:01:34.093 parochial this morning, chaps wearing my cricket Wellington shirt. 0:01:34.213 --> 0:01:34.933 You'll have yours on. 0:01:37.453 --> 0:01:39.373 I'm still in them a pajamas ones. 0:01:40.293 --> 0:01:41.973 I was going to ask that us the next question. 0:01:44.133 --> 0:01:46.533 I always Wellington jerseys to bed. 0:01:46.893 --> 0:01:49.973 Yes, exactly, yes, of course, Well a man who could 0:01:49.973 --> 0:01:53.493 have two on this morning because he was a Central 0:01:53.533 --> 0:01:55.613 Districts man and I don't know who he would have 0:01:55.613 --> 0:02:00.773 wanted to win the title. And yeah, not yet, but 0:02:00.773 --> 0:02:02.333 they didn't get anywhere. 0:02:03.253 --> 0:02:06.413 Okay, all right, well no, actually it was. It was 0:02:06.413 --> 0:02:09.933 a perfect outcome. And I was clearly keep from my 0:02:10.053 --> 0:02:14.853 old alumni to when the the men's version and thrilled 0:02:14.853 --> 0:02:19.093 for the women took the wee women to win. So yeah, yeah, 0:02:19.573 --> 0:02:21.973 I got, I got the I got the got the 0:02:22.013 --> 0:02:23.693 Cornell there excellent. 0:02:23.573 --> 0:02:27.493 Yes, indeed, well that's that's good. Let's talk about somebody 0:02:27.493 --> 0:02:30.653 who's got more than the Quernella. One of the stars 0:02:30.853 --> 0:02:35.693 of the women's game, Amelia k first New Zealander to 0:02:35.773 --> 0:02:38.253 win the Supreme Award and either the men's a women's 0:02:38.293 --> 0:02:42.413 category of the ICC winning the Women's Player of the Year, 0:02:42.853 --> 0:02:46.533 and for Amelia it was a special award ending what 0:02:47.093 --> 0:02:48.333 has been a demanding year. 0:02:49.733 --> 0:02:53.493 Yeah, I mean after the year that I guess heat's 0:02:53.573 --> 0:02:57.213 challenging periods for the group after ten losses on the bounce, 0:02:57.293 --> 0:02:59.933 but did to win the World Cup was pretty special. 0:03:00.053 --> 0:03:04.133 So that's obviously the highlight. And be able to contribute 0:03:04.173 --> 0:03:06.973 for New Zealand and have the award at the end, 0:03:07.013 --> 0:03:10.133 that's special, but it's not really something you play for. Yeah, 0:03:10.133 --> 0:03:13.413 I think it's huge. I love playing for New Zealand, 0:03:13.493 --> 0:03:16.573 I love representing the White Ferns. And for me, we 0:03:16.653 --> 0:03:19.413 have an outstanding group of players and support staff and 0:03:20.173 --> 0:03:23.293 I think within the last year my bowlings kind of 0:03:24.253 --> 0:03:26.453 improved so much and a lot of that comes down 0:03:26.453 --> 0:03:29.493 to the spin group we have. I love training with them, 0:03:29.533 --> 0:03:32.173 the spin coach with we have with Paul Wiseman, and 0:03:32.773 --> 0:03:35.853 just the fun we have with the ability to work 0:03:35.893 --> 0:03:38.973 hard in between. I think it's really important. And yeah, 0:03:39.093 --> 0:03:41.573 go out there and enjoy my cricket, keep things simple 0:03:41.693 --> 0:03:45.453 and love representing the team with some of the guest mates. 0:03:46.053 --> 0:03:48.693 So how special is it to be recognized among an 0:03:48.693 --> 0:03:51.093 outstanding group of women cricketers. 0:03:51.613 --> 0:03:54.293 Yeah, women's crickets growing and it's so good to see. 0:03:54.373 --> 0:03:57.213 And yeah, the other players that were nominated. I think 0:03:57.253 --> 0:03:59.973 we're also nominated for the fifty over it Player of 0:04:00.013 --> 0:04:03.333 the Year. And yeah, there's so many amazing cricketers around 0:04:03.333 --> 0:04:06.093 the world and we, I guess, get to see it 0:04:06.133 --> 0:04:09.613 more in the international but also in franchise leagues where 0:04:09.613 --> 0:04:12.213 sometimes you get to play with those players and it's 0:04:12.213 --> 0:04:15.613 so competitive. There's so many good players and it's just 0:04:15.653 --> 0:04:17.493 awesome to see the growth of the women's game. 0:04:18.453 --> 0:04:19.733 So what's the plan for this year. 0:04:21.133 --> 0:04:23.573 It's a good question. I just been trying to get 0:04:23.573 --> 0:04:26.333 better each and every year and work hard and find 0:04:26.373 --> 0:04:28.653 little things that are going to make me better. But 0:04:28.733 --> 0:04:31.573 I think this last year has been my bowling and 0:04:32.173 --> 0:04:34.893 not much has changed necessarily, but I think TEA twenty 0:04:34.933 --> 0:04:39.453 cricket players are coming hard at you, so just trying 0:04:39.493 --> 0:04:42.693 to bowl my best bawl and have builds that match 0:04:42.733 --> 0:04:45.333 that and keeping it really simple, and it seemed to 0:04:45.373 --> 0:04:48.373 work this year. We've also played in conditions that have 0:04:48.453 --> 0:04:50.933 suited my bowling, and I guess to buy where the 0:04:50.973 --> 0:04:53.973 watch ups are a bit slow and low, So I think, yeah, 0:04:54.053 --> 0:04:55.933 things were in my favor as well, which helps. 0:04:56.013 --> 0:04:57.693 And yeah, just simple plans. 0:04:58.053 --> 0:05:00.973 What about the prospect of being asked to captain the 0:05:01.013 --> 0:05:02.213 White Fans in the future. 0:05:02.613 --> 0:05:04.133 I'm not too sure at this stage. 0:05:04.213 --> 0:05:07.613 I think obviously she'd step down his Tea twenty captain 0:05:07.653 --> 0:05:10.853 after the world and there's things to think about there, 0:05:11.013 --> 0:05:13.893 and you know, after this well being break. I think 0:05:13.973 --> 0:05:16.453 for me, it's just focusing on what's next. At the moment, 0:05:16.493 --> 0:05:19.733 it's super smashed and trying to lead to Wellington Blaze 0:05:19.773 --> 0:05:23.293 well and when that title is the goal and then yeah, 0:05:23.293 --> 0:05:25.613 it's taking each thing as a thing as it comes. 0:05:25.653 --> 0:05:28.813 And when if I get asked to captain, it's going 0:05:28.893 --> 0:05:31.853 to be something to think about. It's not something you 0:05:31.973 --> 0:05:34.053 just want to say yes or no too lately because 0:05:34.053 --> 0:05:36.053 it's a huge onre to be out to captain new Zellen, 0:05:36.213 --> 0:05:38.453 So it'll take some thought and if I do it 0:05:38.493 --> 0:05:39.493 on and make sure I'm ready. 0:05:39.853 --> 0:05:42.413 Well, a lot of contenders for that award, did Jerry, 0:05:42.973 --> 0:05:46.773 but I think that it was probably ritually deserved across 0:05:46.773 --> 0:05:50.613 all forms of the game. Really, Amelia cur has just 0:05:50.693 --> 0:05:53.333 been a wonderful contributor to the woman's game. And you 0:05:53.373 --> 0:05:56.333 know she's been playing ten years, she's only twenty four. 0:05:57.053 --> 0:06:01.573 Yeah, you're right, Wa, it's been some journey for her, 0:06:01.613 --> 0:06:04.893 hasn't it, and she rightly acknowledges, you know, all the 0:06:04.933 --> 0:06:07.693 people that have played a part in the sort of 0:06:07.693 --> 0:06:12.333 cricketer that she's become already, and there's a fair few 0:06:12.413 --> 0:06:15.733 years left if she wants them. So I think she's 0:06:15.773 --> 0:06:19.293 been personally New Zealand's best or round player for a 0:06:19.333 --> 0:06:24.453 few years now, and that's all the players. Frankly, I 0:06:24.533 --> 0:06:28.653 guess because it was a t twenty World Cup year 0:06:30.013 --> 0:06:35.733 that that played quite a significant part in deciding the 0:06:35.813 --> 0:06:37.813 Player of the year, if you like. It was the 0:06:37.853 --> 0:06:44.013 sort of the highlight. And certainly in that competition she excelled. 0:06:44.613 --> 0:06:47.533 You know, I know that she didn't score the most runs. 0:06:47.533 --> 0:06:50.933 It wasn't an easy place to score runs. Actually, Dubai 0:06:51.053 --> 0:06:53.413 and Charger, they get the ball kept a bit low 0:06:53.533 --> 0:06:56.573 and it turned a bit and so it wasn't that 0:06:56.693 --> 0:06:59.413 easy for batsmen. There are a lot of catchers dropped. 0:06:59.653 --> 0:07:03.853 Hundreds of catchers dropped, weren't there in that in that tournament. 0:07:04.213 --> 0:07:08.293 But just if you look at say her bowling, for example, 0:07:08.613 --> 0:07:11.373 she had six matches, which is more than some of 0:07:11.413 --> 0:07:15.053 the other bowlers. Of course, making the final fifteen wickets, 0:07:15.093 --> 0:07:19.653 which is the most of any player, averaging seven economy 0:07:19.733 --> 0:07:22.533 rate of four point eight in the straight rate of nine, one. 0:07:22.813 --> 0:07:23.693 Bag of four. 0:07:24.373 --> 0:07:27.173 And if you then look at the people she got 0:07:27.213 --> 0:07:31.653 outs in the final against South Africa, she got the 0:07:31.693 --> 0:07:34.773 you know, the top player, wolf Art out from South 0:07:34.813 --> 0:07:39.093 Africa dismissed her. She also dismissed the number three bosh. 0:07:39.373 --> 0:07:41.333 Then you're to look in the wonder for the game 0:07:41.373 --> 0:07:44.013 before that, the Semi and the West Indies, she got 0:07:44.053 --> 0:07:48.533 DeAndre Dottin out there their top scorer and another thes 0:07:48.573 --> 0:07:51.813 two wickets. Pakistan she got Fatim Masana out, the top 0:07:51.853 --> 0:07:57.053 scorer for Pakistan and two others. Sri Lanka she got Atapatu, 0:07:57.133 --> 0:08:01.173 their top scorer. You can hear a pattern coming through, 0:08:01.253 --> 0:08:06.573 can't you. She gets good players out and she's always 0:08:06.613 --> 0:08:11.493 been even when they lost against Australia, Beth Mooney, Elise Parry, 0:08:11.973 --> 0:08:16.133 you know she got those players out and so she's 0:08:16.213 --> 0:08:20.413 always done that and she gets good players out and 0:08:20.453 --> 0:08:22.773 so that makes a heck of a difference to her side. 0:08:23.853 --> 0:08:26.133 And then of course with the bat and the final, 0:08:26.213 --> 0:08:28.173 she got the top score for New Zealand forty three 0:08:28.253 --> 0:08:32.373 or thirty eight. So you know she's a key player. 0:08:32.373 --> 0:08:34.453 There's no doubt about it. She's also could I just 0:08:34.533 --> 0:08:38.013 mentioned the catching. She is by far and away our 0:08:38.013 --> 0:08:42.133 most accurate catcher. I'm not saying she doesn't drop catch 0:08:42.173 --> 0:08:46.693 as ever, everyone does, but on that particular tournament, catchers 0:08:46.733 --> 0:08:49.573 went down like mellow puffs and a church vestry meeting 0:08:50.173 --> 0:08:54.013 and it was just that was to be honest, I mean, 0:08:54.053 --> 0:08:56.453 she was way ahead of everybody else there as well. 0:08:57.173 --> 0:08:58.653 So is that where I go to get my mellow 0:08:58.693 --> 0:09:00.373 puffs in a church vestry meeting? 0:09:01.053 --> 0:09:05.173 You do what you do, That's exactly where you go. Boy, 0:09:05.893 --> 0:09:06.413 that's right, you. 0:09:09.733 --> 0:09:12.373 Mos. I watched her play in the T two D 0:09:12.493 --> 0:09:16.813 finals over the weekend and you know, I instantly think 0:09:16.893 --> 0:09:20.653 of the female version of Kin Williamson. Is that a 0:09:20.693 --> 0:09:23.453 fair comparison. 0:09:24.453 --> 0:09:30.533 Well in the woman's game, yes and no. But her 0:09:30.533 --> 0:09:33.693 ability as an all rounder, as a truly, truly, very 0:09:34.013 --> 0:09:36.573 probably I argue you the best all round her in 0:09:37.133 --> 0:09:41.413 women's cricket. It's hard to go past that. I mean, 0:09:41.453 --> 0:09:45.213 she does it. And Jerry's point around. She she gets 0:09:45.853 --> 0:09:49.773 the best players out, she gets wickets, and that's not 0:09:49.893 --> 0:09:51.693 just in New Zealand. I mean I think she's just 0:09:52.413 --> 0:09:54.773 pretty much far too good for most of the people 0:09:54.773 --> 0:09:57.533 in domestic cricket. But she gets the best of the 0:09:57.573 --> 0:10:00.493 internationals out and that just says something and then and 0:10:00.533 --> 0:10:03.933 then goes in and that's it one or two or three. No, No, 0:10:04.173 --> 0:10:08.053 she's she's sister. Just just a class act. So perhaps 0:10:08.413 --> 0:10:10.653 even more because I don't think Cane bowls anymore or 0:10:10.773 --> 0:10:14.773 throws or whatever he used to do. So yeah, I'm 0:10:14.773 --> 0:10:17.973 a huge fan and of course just another great player 0:10:17.973 --> 0:10:20.693 out of Wellington, and yeah we should. 0:10:22.093 --> 0:10:22.373 Know this. 0:10:22.493 --> 0:10:25.733 I was just referring mainly to her batting and her 0:10:26.293 --> 0:10:33.613 ability to be innovative without taking risks or playing odd shots. 0:10:33.653 --> 0:10:37.133 I mean I watched her do what Glenn Turner used 0:10:37.133 --> 0:10:40.333 to do when the ODI game was first started, looking 0:10:40.413 --> 0:10:41.413 for areas to score. 0:10:42.093 --> 0:10:42.933 He used to chip the. 0:10:42.853 --> 0:10:45.373 Ball back over the bowler's head until they found a 0:10:45.413 --> 0:10:48.293 way of coming out. And she did that perfectly against 0:10:48.293 --> 0:10:51.293 Northern to get them through to a defendable total. I thought, 0:10:51.333 --> 0:10:53.693 you know, that is the sort of thinking that you 0:10:53.813 --> 0:10:56.733 need to be an achiever at the top level, and 0:10:56.813 --> 0:10:58.413 it comes to her naturally quite clearly. 0:10:59.013 --> 0:11:02.773 When I see a medicurve bat, I mean, she's a 0:11:02.813 --> 0:11:08.253 beautiful batter in the current current parlance. She plays cricket shot, 0:11:08.493 --> 0:11:12.213 whereas I think some of the some of her colleagues 0:11:13.133 --> 0:11:16.333 don't quite have that ability and therefore resort to, shall 0:11:16.333 --> 0:11:21.813 we say, somewhat more funky versions of trying to get runs. 0:11:21.893 --> 0:11:24.373 But she just has the ability to, as you say, 0:11:24.533 --> 0:11:27.293 play beautiful shots and then when she needs to she 0:11:27.333 --> 0:11:29.453 can play the ramp and whatever else. You No, she's 0:11:29.453 --> 0:11:32.093 some class act one hundred percent. 0:11:32.693 --> 0:11:32.933 Yeah. 0:11:33.053 --> 0:11:37.213 I think I watched her a little bit in the weekend. 0:11:38.733 --> 0:11:42.013 It's interesting, Wadds when you look at she started. I 0:11:42.053 --> 0:11:44.093 don't know how old she was when she started playing 0:11:44.253 --> 0:11:47.253 for New Zealand. Was twenty sixteen. She can't have been 0:11:47.293 --> 0:11:50.093 too oixteen. Yeah she started. 0:11:50.693 --> 0:11:51.253 Yeah, well, she. 0:11:51.253 --> 0:11:55.173 Batted anywhere between ten, number ten and number six at 0:11:55.213 --> 0:11:59.293 the start. Early on they obviously regarded her as a 0:11:59.293 --> 0:12:01.853 bowler first and then a batsman. 0:12:02.453 --> 0:12:04.693 But she moved up, you know. 0:12:05.053 --> 0:12:07.813 In twenty and twenty she went to number five and 0:12:07.853 --> 0:12:10.413 got runs there, and then number four she got that 0:12:10.413 --> 0:12:14.213 two hundred and thirty not out against Ireland actually that 0:12:14.213 --> 0:12:17.893 would help the average. And then she in twenty twenty 0:12:17.933 --> 0:12:24.333 two she became our number three basically, And I think 0:12:24.373 --> 0:12:27.173 I agree with Moose in the sense that you know, 0:12:27.333 --> 0:12:30.493 you generally have your best all round batsman in the side. 0:12:30.933 --> 0:12:31.813 At that position. 0:12:31.893 --> 0:12:34.013 You handle the new ball if you have to, you 0:12:34.093 --> 0:12:37.333 lose an early wicket, you handle the powerplay if you're 0:12:37.373 --> 0:12:41.373 playing ODIs and t twenties. And then when the advantage 0:12:41.373 --> 0:12:44.413 of the relaxation of the field restriction and the gaps appear, 0:12:44.973 --> 0:12:48.053 she can take advantage of that playing orthodox cricket shots. 0:12:48.653 --> 0:12:53.173 And it particularly is obvious to me when she plays 0:12:53.373 --> 0:12:57.213 in the off side. On the off side, she which 0:12:57.733 --> 0:13:00.413 it's a stroke that relies more on body shape. I'm 0:13:00.413 --> 0:13:06.013 not thinking about a cut, because those those big hitters 0:13:06.053 --> 0:13:09.453 can play cuts as well, but they can't play drives. 0:13:09.813 --> 0:13:12.893 The bottom hand comes into play and they heave it 0:13:12.933 --> 0:13:16.253 through mid on or they even try and go squarer 0:13:16.893 --> 0:13:19.213 as they you know, they look to supply a lot 0:13:19.213 --> 0:13:23.453 of power to the stroke and so but she doesn't 0:13:23.453 --> 0:13:23.773 do that. 0:13:24.773 --> 0:13:25.653 She drives. 0:13:25.973 --> 0:13:28.973 She drives over the bowler, she drives over the covers, 0:13:29.173 --> 0:13:32.333 she drives along the ground, she punches. 0:13:31.933 --> 0:13:34.373 Off the back foot. She's got all the shots. 0:13:35.533 --> 0:13:39.253 That's not to say she's perfect, but you know, she 0:13:39.453 --> 0:13:41.533 has all the shots, and so she can play the 0:13:41.613 --> 0:13:45.613 appropriate shot to the ball. That's bold to her and 0:13:45.693 --> 0:13:48.133 so you see that. You can see it straight away. 0:13:49.773 --> 0:13:53.173 She's averaging something like forty nine and nod eyes at 0:13:53.253 --> 0:13:54.093 number three. 0:13:54.733 --> 0:14:00.453 So she is our best player and she adapts. 0:14:00.533 --> 0:14:04.213 I thought in the weekend she dragged her Wellington team 0:14:04.253 --> 0:14:04.773 on too. 0:14:05.053 --> 0:14:07.653 She dragged them by the scruff of the neck. Come 0:14:07.693 --> 0:14:08.893 with me to win this. 0:14:09.453 --> 0:14:13.693 We got low scores, two low scores, one against Northern 0:14:13.773 --> 0:14:17.093 and one against Otago, who bowled beautifully, I thought. 0:14:17.413 --> 0:14:20.293 But she just dragged them along, said we can win this. 0:14:21.133 --> 0:14:22.893 We can win a little bit of help from the. 0:14:22.813 --> 0:14:25.493 Ossies, a couple of Ossie mates because she plays over 0:14:25.533 --> 0:14:29.733 there in the Big Bash. But nevertheless, you know she 0:14:30.013 --> 0:14:32.533 was the one pulling them along, no doubt about that 0:14:32.573 --> 0:14:33.213 in my mind. 0:14:33.813 --> 0:14:35.013 Yeah, and she was needed to. 0:14:35.093 --> 0:14:39.053 Of course, I know all sides have injury problems, but 0:14:39.133 --> 0:14:42.733 Wellington had something like six of their front line first 0:14:42.933 --> 0:14:48.413 team picks injured. Leek Casperick with a broken thumb, Zara 0:14:48.533 --> 0:14:50.973 Gently with a broken hand. There's another player I forget 0:14:50.973 --> 0:14:55.533 to name who has a hand injury, the girl Plimmer. 0:14:55.893 --> 0:15:00.853 She's recovering from a legan injury. Yeah, she's away from 0:15:00.853 --> 0:15:05.173 the team now, so you know it's tough, particularly in 0:15:05.213 --> 0:15:07.813 the women's game where they don't have quite the depth 0:15:07.853 --> 0:15:11.813 that might be valuable if the men's side have have 0:15:12.053 --> 0:15:16.173 an injury. So you know, she's she's certainly a remarkable player, 0:15:16.253 --> 0:15:20.373 I think, quite clearly the next choice as captain, although 0:15:20.653 --> 0:15:23.693 you wonder what that will do to her game at 0:15:23.933 --> 0:15:25.693 the top level, whether she's going to have to take 0:15:25.933 --> 0:15:27.653 even more responsibility than. 0:15:27.573 --> 0:15:28.253 She does now. 0:15:28.293 --> 0:15:32.813 But she seems to handle that responsibility with ease, doesn't she. 0:15:33.533 --> 0:15:36.653 Oh? She she seems to be have a very calm demeanor. 0:15:37.013 --> 0:15:39.893 I really like her demeanor. There's a calmness about it, 0:15:40.693 --> 0:15:47.293 much as Kam Williamson has. There's no panic. And I guess, yeah, 0:15:47.373 --> 0:15:51.373 defending one one hundred and four runs, well, they had 0:15:51.373 --> 0:15:53.573 a precedent from the prior year where they defended something 0:15:53.613 --> 0:15:59.493 like eighty odd runs, And yes, so they wasn't their 0:15:59.493 --> 0:16:03.613 first rodeo so to speak. But also I was quite 0:16:03.773 --> 0:16:05.413 I thought it was great to have a couple of 0:16:05.453 --> 0:16:11.573 Australians out playing in our our game, you know, exposure 0:16:11.613 --> 0:16:15.813 to them fantastic and and I wish we could have 0:16:15.893 --> 0:16:18.413 more of that to a certain extent and now domestic game, 0:16:18.493 --> 0:16:21.933 but that's another that's another topic of course. But and 0:16:21.973 --> 0:16:26.453 they did pretty well on my dad and contributed yeah much. 0:16:26.613 --> 0:16:30.133 Yeah, well, at some stage we can have that discussion. 0:16:30.413 --> 0:16:34.373 Brian Waddell, Jeremy Coney on the front foot. 0:16:34.613 --> 0:16:36.653 The Stags and the Blaze, the Dream eleven, the Super 0:16:36.693 --> 0:16:39.733 Smash champions, the Stags winning for the fourth time and 0:16:39.813 --> 0:16:43.213 Wellington Blaze going back to back in a competition they've dominated. 0:16:43.933 --> 0:16:45.933 She can't stay out of the news too long. 0:16:46.333 --> 0:16:47.093 Medi Kerr. 0:16:47.533 --> 0:16:49.973 She led the Blaze to success in a tight, low 0:16:50.013 --> 0:16:53.053 scoring match much the same as the elimination final on 0:16:53.053 --> 0:16:56.133 the Saturday. But she's class and has the knack of 0:16:56.173 --> 0:16:59.733 making good decisions even if she isn't the dominant individual 0:17:00.173 --> 0:17:03.493 now wonder she was happy. A great title to secure and. 0:17:03.693 --> 0:17:06.773 So so so time to go back to back and 0:17:06.853 --> 0:17:10.093 to do it defending a load, I mean after twenty 0:17:10.133 --> 0:17:13.973 overs when you hit to bowl well and just fight 0:17:14.093 --> 0:17:16.133 like how to win that game. And the character of 0:17:16.173 --> 0:17:19.333 the team showed not this year but last year as well. 0:17:19.453 --> 0:17:23.053 It's yeah, I'm so proud of the group. If you 0:17:23.093 --> 0:17:24.373 told me at the start of the day, I would 0:17:24.373 --> 0:17:26.733 have taken more than one hundred and five or whatever 0:17:26.773 --> 0:17:29.813 it was every single day, So I didn't think it 0:17:29.973 --> 0:17:33.053 was enough, but I believe every minute that we could 0:17:33.053 --> 0:17:35.573 win that game. And with run rate pressure and with 0:17:36.453 --> 0:17:39.253 taking wickets, we stayed in the fight. I'd love to 0:17:39.253 --> 0:17:41.573 play a fine and where we make it easier for ourselves. 0:17:41.613 --> 0:17:43.013 But yeah, it's very special. 0:17:43.973 --> 0:17:46.293 Yeah, I think first and foremost it's about winning the 0:17:46.333 --> 0:17:48.693 power play. There's two fielders out they can take the 0:17:48.733 --> 0:17:51.813 game on and just set the tone with five dots 0:17:51.853 --> 0:17:54.693 to start and just keeping on building pressure. And then 0:17:55.133 --> 0:17:58.453 Hannah Darlington was exceptional today to take four in a final. 0:17:59.133 --> 0:18:01.893 The wickets she got were massive and I think every 0:18:01.933 --> 0:18:05.893 bowler stepped up and played their role. Yeah, I'm so proud. 0:18:05.933 --> 0:18:08.853 I think nothing's faced us this year. We have two 0:18:08.893 --> 0:18:12.093 new coaches at the start of the campaign. They've been exceptional, 0:18:12.293 --> 0:18:15.293 so calm, and they've helped this group massively in a 0:18:15.333 --> 0:18:17.813 short space of time. And then to lose a lot 0:18:17.813 --> 0:18:21.653 of key players for us and to turn up today 0:18:21.733 --> 0:18:24.333 and for the whole comp with injured players that are 0:18:24.333 --> 0:18:27.293 on the sideline and to believe every single day is 0:18:27.333 --> 0:18:29.573 the most most important thing. And that's what I'm most 0:18:29.573 --> 0:18:29.973 proud of. 0:18:30.213 --> 0:18:32.933 And the coach you referred to as Johnny Bassett Graham, 0:18:33.093 --> 0:18:35.573 who was coach of the under nineteen men's team and 0:18:35.613 --> 0:18:38.773 he joined the Blaze midway through this season. At the 0:18:38.813 --> 0:18:40.413 twenty twenty competition. 0:18:40.493 --> 0:18:44.373 Two pretty fantastic games of cricket. Though, so very proud 0:18:44.413 --> 0:18:44.973 of the effort. 0:18:45.413 --> 0:18:48.853 The women had to play it pretty hard last year 0:18:49.173 --> 0:18:51.453 and it was as close as last year's contest as 0:18:51.453 --> 0:18:52.853 well this year's wasn't it. 0:18:53.293 --> 0:18:55.733 Yeah, very much so. I guess I had the fortune 0:18:55.733 --> 0:18:59.213 of watching that game at home last year. But really 0:18:59.213 --> 0:19:02.773 cool to see how, I guess the character of this team. 0:19:03.413 --> 0:19:06.133 They never say die, attitude, the fight to the end, 0:19:06.253 --> 0:19:08.853 and I guess just a yeah makes up then come 0:19:08.893 --> 0:19:12.293 from a pretty tough situations. Yeah, a really cool moment 0:19:12.333 --> 0:19:12.653 for us. 0:19:13.053 --> 0:19:13.293 Yeah. 0:19:13.533 --> 0:19:16.053 Character is important too for this team this year in 0:19:16.053 --> 0:19:18.453 particular because you had to do it the hard way. 0:19:19.013 --> 0:19:22.253 Every side gets troubled by injuries, but you had a 0:19:22.253 --> 0:19:22.813 fair feast of. 0:19:22.813 --> 0:19:23.213 Them, didn't you. 0:19:23.733 --> 0:19:27.613 Yeah, we did, and pretty pretty big players for their 0:19:27.693 --> 0:19:31.013 scroup in terms of what they add to the team 0:19:31.053 --> 0:19:35.893 and the individual performances, so you're obviously big losses and yeah, 0:19:36.133 --> 0:19:37.973 I guess it does show the character and the fight 0:19:38.053 --> 0:19:40.053 of this team how they were able to do it. 0:19:41.173 --> 0:19:43.453 You're new to coaching the side, what was the key 0:19:43.853 --> 0:19:47.373 to you in terms of coming to grips with coaching 0:19:47.613 --> 0:19:50.733 this team that has a proud record in this competition too. 0:19:51.533 --> 0:19:56.493 Yeah, I think I've made a pretty conscious effort remind 0:19:56.533 --> 0:19:59.333 the whole team that it's their success that they've had 0:19:59.413 --> 0:20:02.733 along the way to get here. It's, you know, a 0:20:02.813 --> 0:20:07.653 slight change and coaching set up shouldn't really impact that. 0:20:08.853 --> 0:20:10.973 It's very much just keeping on the recipe that they 0:20:11.053 --> 0:20:14.533 had that's been so successful over the years. And I 0:20:14.573 --> 0:20:17.293 guess just trying to keep them mie and calm, level 0:20:17.333 --> 0:20:20.533 headed and remind them that the game the players there 0:20:20.533 --> 0:20:23.413 to be enjoyed, so we've tried to just keep mice 0:20:23.453 --> 0:20:26.573 and relaxed and enjoyable. I guess, how did you feel 0:20:26.613 --> 0:20:28.733 with just one hundred and five on the board trying 0:20:28.733 --> 0:20:31.333 to defend that you would have loved a little bit 0:20:31.373 --> 0:20:34.933 more to defend for sure. I guess I was really 0:20:35.453 --> 0:20:39.053 confident in our ability in the field, and I guess 0:20:39.173 --> 0:20:42.773 the ballers across the board have the ability to squeeze 0:20:42.853 --> 0:20:45.813 or take wickets at different stages, so you're always hopeful. 0:20:47.013 --> 0:20:50.813 So I suppose you're also fortunate you have a world 0:20:50.853 --> 0:20:53.933 class player leading the side as well, and that makes 0:20:53.933 --> 0:20:56.453 a big difference in any team. I know she's only 0:20:56.493 --> 0:20:59.933 one person and the team make the performances, but it's 0:21:00.013 --> 0:21:01.453 nice to have that as your lead. 0:21:01.453 --> 0:21:01.693 Wasn't it. 0:21:02.253 --> 0:21:06.853 Yeah, she's a fantastic person first and foremost. How she's 0:21:06.973 --> 0:21:10.373 led this side as and truly awesome just to watch 0:21:10.413 --> 0:21:12.933 and be a part of. She's got a great cricket 0:21:12.933 --> 0:21:16.093 brain on her. We know how skillful she can be, 0:21:16.293 --> 0:21:19.773 and I guess, yeah, in big moments she's she's won 0:21:19.853 --> 0:21:22.533 in the ball in particular, and then it's just capable 0:21:22.613 --> 0:21:25.693 of opening the game up and turning turning a game 0:21:25.773 --> 0:21:28.413 on its head, I guess, which I think she did 0:21:28.493 --> 0:21:33.053 twice yesterday in the elimination final and then again today's 0:21:33.413 --> 0:21:35.493 sort of put us in a much better position. 0:21:35.853 --> 0:21:38.093 Yeah, because I guess she must have looked at Otago 0:21:38.173 --> 0:21:40.293 and thought, well, you know they've being the front runners 0:21:40.533 --> 0:21:41.613 and they have a pretty good. 0:21:41.453 --> 0:21:45.493 Sigh Yeah too, right, and you know they beat us 0:21:45.693 --> 0:21:49.253 twice in the sort of pool play well round robin stages, 0:21:49.373 --> 0:21:53.213