WEBVTT - On The Front Foot Episode 213: The merits of NZ Cricket partnering with MLC 0:00:09.093 --> 0:00:11.973 You're listening to a podcast from News Talk sat B. 0:00:12.373 --> 0:00:15.213 Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on 0:00:15.333 --> 0:00:19.573 iHeart Radio. 0:00:21.293 --> 0:00:24.733 Take another pair, Bill, get in, It's a trick, it 0:00:24.853 --> 0:00:30.933 is out, The test is over. Smokes a beauty, It 0:00:30.973 --> 0:00:31.573 is out. 0:00:32.253 --> 0:00:32.933 And here he goes. 0:00:33.013 --> 0:00:35.613 This delivery has a user to Gold. 0:00:37.693 --> 0:00:41.093 On the Front Foot with Brian Waddell and Jeremy Cody, 0:00:41.413 --> 0:00:45.293 powered by News Talk sad B at iHeart Radio. 0:00:47.413 --> 0:00:49.453 Hello on the Front put back with you. 0:00:50.173 --> 0:00:51.453 What's up this week? Well? 0:00:51.573 --> 0:00:56.173 A share in an upcoming MLC venture an unnamed team, 0:00:56.293 --> 0:01:00.253 no venue? Is it a risky business venture or possible 0:01:00.293 --> 0:01:03.893 financial windfall of front? A New Zealand game, sad to 0:01:03.933 --> 0:01:08.133 hear the passing of Keith Stackpole, aged eighty four men 0:01:08.133 --> 0:01:12.813 who I call a likable Australian because he was a 0:01:12.973 --> 0:01:16.413 very friendly man, but he possessed a lethal blade when 0:01:16.413 --> 0:01:20.013 he played. And plans for the New Zealand a squad 0:01:20.293 --> 0:01:24.413 in Bangladesh. What do they want to achieve? Colin Munroe 0:01:24.453 --> 0:01:28.213 getting upside too with umpires in the Prakistan League. But 0:01:28.853 --> 0:01:32.813 some interesting cricket points to talk about this week, and 0:01:32.853 --> 0:01:37.253 I've invited along two of my financial experts to help 0:01:37.333 --> 0:01:41.053 me in this adventure that New Zealand cricket game for 0:01:41.533 --> 0:01:45.653 Jeremy Coney with a fist of shares in every major 0:01:45.733 --> 0:01:49.093 company the world over, and Peter Holland who sold them 0:01:49.093 --> 0:01:52.733 to him, have how along to day to help me 0:01:53.853 --> 0:01:57.013 decide what is going on? Do you think we can 0:01:57.053 --> 0:02:00.253 sort this issue out? Guys? Just a quick one before 0:02:00.253 --> 0:02:02.733 we explain what it is. How do you feel about 0:02:02.813 --> 0:02:03.933 the venture idea? 0:02:04.013 --> 0:02:09.213 Jerry Mixed. Don't know enough about what the what the 0:02:09.293 --> 0:02:12.133 contract actually is at the moment. I don't even are 0:02:12.213 --> 0:02:13.453 they paying money for it? 0:02:14.413 --> 0:02:16.773 Well, that's the thing that I think has to be determined. 0:02:16.773 --> 0:02:19.733 What about you most it is something of a dilemma 0:02:19.773 --> 0:02:23.493 for ENZIDC. Do you sit on your hands do nothing 0:02:24.333 --> 0:02:29.453 or do you look to expand your operations in your 0:02:29.533 --> 0:02:37.053 and your business? It's it's it's a it's a question companies, businesses, 0:02:37.493 --> 0:02:43.453 organizations are frequently faced with and and INSC along with others. 0:02:44.533 --> 0:02:47.973 Is a is it a really difficult phase now, particularly 0:02:47.973 --> 0:02:52.493 with the proliferation of this franchise cricket. So yeah, I'm 0:02:52.693 --> 0:02:55.573 on the fence each way, but but I do have 0:02:55.613 --> 0:02:57.933 some views around what I've picked up and can glean. 0:02:58.053 --> 0:02:59.493 So we can talk about that a bit later. 0:03:00.533 --> 0:03:02.413 Yeah, we'll talk about that in the moment. Just explain 0:03:02.493 --> 0:03:04.533 what it is for those who may have missed it. 0:03:05.013 --> 0:03:06.453 I don't know where you've been if you have, but 0:03:06.573 --> 0:03:09.533 it's been in the news. But Cricket has agreed terms 0:03:09.533 --> 0:03:13.973 with the American company True North Sports Ventures to launch 0:03:14.013 --> 0:03:18.293 a new Major Cricket League franchise and that's to debut 0:03:18.613 --> 0:03:21.373 in twenty twenty seven. So we don't know what it's 0:03:21.413 --> 0:03:24.013 going to be called, where it's going to be based. 0:03:24.613 --> 0:03:29.493 The MLC Major League Cricket founders co founders Samir Matter 0:03:29.853 --> 0:03:32.733 and VJ. Sheron of Arsen are the majority owners of 0:03:33.133 --> 0:03:36.573 entities which hold exclusive rights to own and operate to 0:03:37.013 --> 0:03:40.493 MLC expansion franchises. There's a lot of words, isn't it, 0:03:40.733 --> 0:03:43.173 The first of which will be launched by TNS and 0:03:43.213 --> 0:03:46.773 twenty twenty seven. Now, this guy Trinavasen owns the television 0:03:46.853 --> 0:03:50.213 company that or is the chief executive of the television company. 0:03:50.053 --> 0:03:52.013 That is going to show all this game. 0:03:52.213 --> 0:03:56.093 Firstly, it's here from Cricket Chief executive Scott weeningk on 0:03:56.173 --> 0:03:57.813 this bold announcement through the week. 0:03:58.133 --> 0:04:00.013 What it does mean for Jilling cricket is that gives 0:04:00.093 --> 0:04:03.653 us an opportunity to continue to be innovative just as 0:04:03.653 --> 0:04:06.213 we are on the field, but also innovative off the 0:04:06.253 --> 0:04:10.453 field by looking for new opportunities to grow our revenue 0:04:10.493 --> 0:04:15.373 streams and diversify our revenue streams. Yes, so what we'll 0:04:15.413 --> 0:04:20.053 be doing is partnering with the founders of Major League 0:04:20.053 --> 0:04:24.173 Cricket to essentially provide the high performance services to one 0:04:24.213 --> 0:04:27.933 of their new franchises. We'll also have an opportunity to 0:04:28.413 --> 0:04:31.973 invest in that franchise as well, you know, take an 0:04:32.013 --> 0:04:36.013 equity stake. But for our high performance team it you know, 0:04:36.093 --> 0:04:40.413 it means that there's a pathway for both players, coaches, managers, 0:04:40.453 --> 0:04:46.253 strength and conditioning experts, physios to actually do some work 0:04:46.413 --> 0:04:49.213 in franchise cricket in another part. 0:04:48.973 --> 0:04:49.533 Of the world. 0:04:50.773 --> 0:04:52.533 We see this as a huge opportunity for these young 0:04:52.813 --> 0:04:55.893 cricket network as a whole. Players and coaches and the 0:04:55.933 --> 0:04:58.613 major associations will also be able to take advantage of 0:04:58.653 --> 0:05:01.453 the opportunities that this is going to create for our 0:05:01.493 --> 0:05:02.293 cricket network. 0:05:02.613 --> 0:05:06.893 So seen as a bold announcements, innovative move by some others, 0:05:06.973 --> 0:05:11.653 a risky venture, Jerry says it's hard to know at 0:05:11.733 --> 0:05:16.093 the moment what it will entail. It's nice to think 0:05:16.133 --> 0:05:19.613 that New Zealand Cricket may be able to generate revenue 0:05:19.613 --> 0:05:22.613 from this jerry, but is there a risk involved and 0:05:22.653 --> 0:05:24.853 what's it going to cost that I think of the 0:05:24.853 --> 0:05:26.933 things that we need to consider at the moment, isn't 0:05:26.933 --> 0:05:27.613 it Yeah? 0:05:27.733 --> 0:05:31.213 I think. Look, I'm not a necessor of whether an 0:05:31.253 --> 0:05:36.133 investment is a sound one or not. That's more Moose's business, really, 0:05:36.453 --> 0:05:41.573 But I do wonder if a sports team is a 0:05:41.613 --> 0:05:46.133 reliable investment or not. It depends how good they are, 0:05:46.293 --> 0:05:49.653 I guess. And as you pointed out, there are no 0:05:49.813 --> 0:05:52.373 players yet, there are no coaches, there's no ground, there's 0:05:52.373 --> 0:05:57.213 no games for this team, and you know there are 0:05:57.213 --> 0:05:59.733 no fans to follow them and go along and watch 0:05:59.773 --> 0:06:03.133 them and pay some money for it. So it feels 0:06:03.173 --> 0:06:05.973 that at this stage you just don't know quite what 0:06:06.133 --> 0:06:10.973 to say from a cricket perspective rather than investment one. 0:06:11.133 --> 0:06:17.173 You know, if New Zealand are offering players and a 0:06:17.213 --> 0:06:19.973 place for coaches to go and a place for management 0:06:20.013 --> 0:06:23.813 to go and high performance they've talked about and as 0:06:23.853 --> 0:06:27.413 he mentions, a seven figure sum there, so that's between 0:06:27.493 --> 0:06:31.093 one and nine million, isn't it Can New Zealand Cricket 0:06:31.293 --> 0:06:36.093 afford that? Is sport the right place to put the money. Anyway, 0:06:36.093 --> 0:06:39.293 if they want to diversify a bit their revenue stream, 0:06:39.893 --> 0:06:43.453 it would be disappointing to me if New Zealand Cricket cut, 0:06:43.653 --> 0:06:46.813 for example, a competition in order to pay for this, 0:06:47.133 --> 0:06:51.013 like say the Under seventeens or an a tour or 0:06:51.053 --> 0:06:56.293 the Hawk Cup, in order to lower domestic costs to 0:06:56.493 --> 0:07:01.853 enable it, that would be a disappointment if their development things. 0:07:01.693 --> 0:07:03.733 Most there's an element of risk in anything you do, 0:07:03.853 --> 0:07:07.053 isn't there in terms of talking finance, and I guess 0:07:07.173 --> 0:07:10.493 New Zealand crickets response onsibility is to foster and develop 0:07:10.533 --> 0:07:12.773 the game in New Zealand, and as Jerry says, run 0:07:12.813 --> 0:07:16.373 these competitions and fund them. And we don't know whether 0:07:16.493 --> 0:07:18.493 any of them are going to be a cut because 0:07:18.533 --> 0:07:22.653 of that. But I suppose, as you say, we have 0:07:22.773 --> 0:07:26.053 to look for other ways to finance the game because 0:07:26.093 --> 0:07:29.453 the ic C quite clearly through television rights and not 0:07:29.493 --> 0:07:31.453 going to fund it the same way as they have 0:07:31.493 --> 0:07:32.253 in the past. 0:07:33.373 --> 0:07:37.613 I heard an interesting interview with Scott Weene which which 0:07:37.733 --> 0:07:41.253 clarified in my minds now again you haven't seen fine 0:07:41.333 --> 0:07:45.253 print around what this. The use of the word investment 0:07:46.253 --> 0:07:50.653 seems to be somewhat jumbled, because investment implies we're putting 0:07:51.413 --> 0:07:54.973 some version of capital into an entity. The seven figures 0:07:56.013 --> 0:08:02.853 that when it was discussing, was a remuneration for the 0:08:02.933 --> 0:08:09.653 delivery of a high performance program for this team, for 0:08:09.733 --> 0:08:13.253 which they would be they would be paid. So this 0:08:13.413 --> 0:08:21.053 is not players. This was coaches, psykes, physios, essentially the 0:08:21.093 --> 0:08:27.253 infrastructure in setting up a franchise club for which they'll 0:08:27.293 --> 0:08:31.453 have to do anyway. But INSI see, will deliver the 0:08:31.493 --> 0:08:36.493 intellectual property and therefore the people around that, as I said, 0:08:36.493 --> 0:08:43.573 not players for which they will receive compensation remuneration. I 0:08:43.653 --> 0:08:46.733 understand that they've actually getted some sort of option to 0:08:46.853 --> 0:08:53.133 invest into the franchise, which seems to make some sense. 0:08:53.173 --> 0:08:56.493 Now one can invest into that. So say, for instance, 0:08:56.653 --> 0:08:59.453 the seven figure fund for fund for the setting up 0:08:59.453 --> 0:09:04.133 of this business and supplying of coaches, pikes, physios, etc. 0:09:05.453 --> 0:09:09.253 We'll say five million. What they could easily do is say, well, 0:09:09.253 --> 0:09:11.853 I'll take three and a half, but i'll leave one 0:09:11.853 --> 0:09:15.733 and a half in the bin, for which I will 0:09:15.773 --> 0:09:18.693 be given in inequity share in other words, it's the 0:09:18.693 --> 0:09:22.133 phrase used for that as an earning or otherwise known 0:09:22.173 --> 0:09:24.773 as sweet equity. In other words, I've worked for it, 0:09:24.813 --> 0:09:27.973 so I leave that in the business. So it may 0:09:28.053 --> 0:09:31.853 be that in terms of, you know, in banker terms, 0:09:32.293 --> 0:09:36.173 it's a cash neutral. They're not actually putting money in, 0:09:36.493 --> 0:09:40.173 but they are getting to their revenue line. In my 0:09:40.333 --> 0:09:43.133 example here three and a half million or what they 0:09:43.133 --> 0:09:45.493 could elect to take the lot the fight, in which 0:09:45.533 --> 0:09:47.893 case that would be reinvested into the end zen cricket. 0:09:48.133 --> 0:09:51.093 In other words, what they're doing, what they're implying when 0:09:51.133 --> 0:09:54.573 it was implying, was we get our revenue streams as 0:09:54.613 --> 0:09:57.093 they currently are. But this is another way to boost 0:09:57.373 --> 0:10:02.613 what cash in the coffers by supplying and delivering talent 0:10:03.893 --> 0:10:06.653 in the form that we just described to this franchise. 0:10:07.173 --> 0:10:09.213 The other thing that strikes me about this is that 0:10:09.933 --> 0:10:13.333 I'll compete with other franchises. It seems to be very 0:10:13.333 --> 0:10:15.613 well capitalized and others. There seems to be a lot 0:10:15.653 --> 0:10:22.093 of cash in behind this the MLC as it is, 0:10:22.573 --> 0:10:24.053 So if you're going to go into something, you might 0:10:24.093 --> 0:10:27.173 as well go where the money is, and that may 0:10:27.213 --> 0:10:30.853 have some benefits. Bearing in mind that the MLC has 0:10:30.893 --> 0:10:35.893 also played out of season for US, so that works 0:10:35.933 --> 0:10:39.133 as well. So it shouldn't interfere with a lot of 0:10:39.173 --> 0:10:44.693 what cricket delivers during our summer long and lengthy. But 0:10:44.773 --> 0:10:46.413 I hopefully that sort of breaks it down a bit. 0:10:46.813 --> 0:10:50.213 Yeah, I think. I mean, it's certainly a good time 0:10:51.493 --> 0:10:57.893 for Indian viewing in America. Those two guys that Wats 0:10:57.893 --> 0:11:01.253 mentioned they actually own is it Willow TV, which is 0:11:01.253 --> 0:11:04.613 going to show this and stream us. Four of the 0:11:04.733 --> 0:11:07.533 six sides at the moment are owned by the IPL. 0:11:08.493 --> 0:11:11.093 I mean, there's a Los Angeles Night Riders, you can 0:11:11.133 --> 0:11:15.373 tell where that comes from. There's the Mumbai Indian New 0:11:15.453 --> 0:11:17.653 York who won it last year. You know where that 0:11:17.693 --> 0:11:21.133 comes from. There's the Seattle Orcs which is owned by 0:11:21.293 --> 0:11:25.573 GMR Group. They own the Delhi Capitals, and there's the 0:11:25.613 --> 0:11:29.293 Super Kings as well. And the Washington Freedom. Actually you're 0:11:29.333 --> 0:11:34.213 talking about Talent Mos. Sanjay Goval owns them. He's an 0:11:34.213 --> 0:11:38.493 Indian American businessman and they have a New South Wales 0:11:39.133 --> 0:11:42.453 as their performance partner. They provide the same sorts of 0:11:42.493 --> 0:11:47.173 things you are talking about for the Washington Freedom. Another side, 0:11:47.293 --> 0:11:48.053 so it could. 0:11:47.933 --> 0:11:53.573 Be Victoria similarly has an arrangement somewhere in there in 0:11:53.653 --> 0:11:56.653 this as well. So Victoria and New South Wales seem 0:11:56.693 --> 0:12:00.293 to be providing similar type of services. 0:12:01.133 --> 0:12:03.813 So that's not a national body, is it, which is 0:12:03.813 --> 0:12:04.573 slightly different? 0:12:04.813 --> 0:12:08.573 No, not completely, but yeah, I guess that's an example 0:12:08.613 --> 0:12:13.053 of it. So perhaps there's some piggybacking on what New 0:12:13.093 --> 0:12:16.413 South Wales are doing, so that perhaps has some merit. 0:12:17.173 --> 0:12:20.133 So we're not it's always good to be a follower 0:12:20.293 --> 0:12:22.853 rather than the first in there and in case you 0:12:22.893 --> 0:12:23.973 get a bad. 0:12:24.013 --> 0:12:28.253 Yeah, or New South Wales is the venue that Neil 0:12:28.253 --> 0:12:31.293 Maxwell is involved in, and he's involved in the development 0:12:31.453 --> 0:12:35.493 of a number of these programs, the World Cricket Association, 0:12:35.653 --> 0:12:37.613 et cetera, et cetera. I mean there's so many of 0:12:37.613 --> 0:12:41.533 them developing now. The interesting thing that Scott Winning said 0:12:41.573 --> 0:12:44.653 in the press releases, as franchise cricket grows globally, New 0:12:44.773 --> 0:12:49.413 Zealand Cricket needs to adapt to seize strategic opportunities that 0:12:49.653 --> 0:12:53.053 ensure the sustainability of our cricket network. This helps to 0:12:53.053 --> 0:12:57.333 diversify our revenue streams, expands our global brand and fan base, 0:12:57.573 --> 0:13:01.613 and creates new talent development and retention pathways for both 0:13:01.653 --> 0:13:04.893 our players and coaches. A word salad really, isn't it? 0:13:04.893 --> 0:13:10.173 But is that something that you know we have to 0:13:10.293 --> 0:13:13.213 the fan base? I mean, how will New Zealanders log 0:13:13.333 --> 0:13:17.093 on to this unnamed team? Will they become part of 0:13:17.133 --> 0:13:20.813 the fan base or will we be relying on American 0:13:20.893 --> 0:13:23.813 fan base, Indians who live in the United States or 0:13:23.973 --> 0:13:26.293 West Indians who live in that part of the world. 0:13:26.653 --> 0:13:30.653 The other things that I suppose are extra add on, 0:13:30.693 --> 0:13:34.213 don't they, Jerry. Whether or not it's going to generate 0:13:34.293 --> 0:13:36.853 revenue is in the lap of the gods. 0:13:38.093 --> 0:13:40.653 Look, I'm not going to follow this team Wads because 0:13:40.653 --> 0:13:42.813 there's a New Zealand coach or a New Zealand physio 0:13:42.973 --> 0:13:44.373 or and you know, I'm just not going. 0:13:44.333 --> 0:13:44.733 To do that. 0:13:45.533 --> 0:13:47.653 What you tend to follow as the players, don't you? 0:13:50.173 --> 0:13:55.653 There the factors. Look at the moment, the rules of 0:13:55.693 --> 0:13:59.773 this competition say there are nine overseas players allowed per side. 0:14:00.573 --> 0:14:02.933 Now the New Zealand can't expect to get all of 0:14:02.973 --> 0:14:08.813 those nine. They might get four, maybe five, but you 0:14:08.813 --> 0:14:10.733 wouldn't think it'd be much more than that. You're not 0:14:10.773 --> 0:14:13.493 going to write off all the other players around the world, 0:14:13.533 --> 0:14:16.773 are you? I think the other thing for me is 0:14:17.133 --> 0:14:22.253 there are now over fifty men's and women's franchises tournaments 0:14:23.173 --> 0:14:28.333 operating around the world. Fifty three I think it is now. 0:14:28.373 --> 0:14:32.933 Even if it's an extraordinary number, if only two thirds 0:14:32.933 --> 0:14:35.773 of that number is correct, it's still a lot. Now. 0:14:35.773 --> 0:14:38.933 The MLC at this stage is a fledgling tournament. It's 0:14:39.013 --> 0:14:42.213 only been going since twenty twenty three. As I mentioned, 0:14:42.213 --> 0:14:47.493 as six sides competing. Now, the US are keenon sport. Yeah, 0:14:47.613 --> 0:14:50.453 but they already have their own bat and ball game, 0:14:50.573 --> 0:14:54.933 don't they. Let's not forget that. But despite all the diaspora, 0:14:55.013 --> 0:14:58.613 which is all those West Indians and the Indians there 0:14:58.613 --> 0:15:02.533 and the Pakistani's there where cricket is important, it's very 0:15:02.653 --> 0:15:06.253 much cricket a probation of sport over in the US. 0:15:07.013 --> 0:15:10.533 You know, there isn't the lega, see the knowledge, the 0:15:10.573 --> 0:15:15.293 love of the game that you get. For example, in India, 0:15:15.413 --> 0:15:18.613 they won't have people lining up to play or to watch, 0:15:19.493 --> 0:15:22.373 you know, the young won't be lying in their beds 0:15:22.493 --> 0:15:26.773 dreaming about this, to follow this. It's not India or 0:15:26.773 --> 0:15:30.893 the IPL where it's become a very tribal kind of thing, 0:15:31.533 --> 0:15:34.053 you know, just where they go and follow their team. 0:15:34.213 --> 0:15:38.093 They go to their ground. They have all their their merchandise. 0:15:38.733 --> 0:15:42.253 You know, it's like soccer is in England. So I 0:15:42.293 --> 0:15:45.933 think this tournament is going to take some time if 0:15:45.973 --> 0:15:51.693 it lasts, and very astute management, I would have thought. 0:15:51.813 --> 0:15:56.213 To grow the interest and the development of the game 0:15:56.253 --> 0:16:00.053 of a fan base, you need to be very proactive 0:16:00.093 --> 0:16:03.733 on the social I have good pricing all those kinds 0:16:03.773 --> 0:16:06.373 of things. The next thing is you've mentioned Brian is 0:16:06.413 --> 0:16:10.933 a venue and an infrastructure. I mean these six sides 0:16:11.293 --> 0:16:15.333 last year have two grounds that they play on. Two 0:16:15.413 --> 0:16:18.853 grounds of the six. They have the Grand Prairie Stadium 0:16:18.893 --> 0:16:24.173 in Dallas, Texas. They have Church Street Park in North Carolina, Morrisville. 0:16:24.453 --> 0:16:26.693 The first eight games were played in Dallas, the next 0:16:26.733 --> 0:16:30.133 seven were played in North Carolina and then back to Dallas. 0:16:30.453 --> 0:16:33.413 So you're traveling all the time. If you're a follower, 0:16:33.573 --> 0:16:36.053 you'd have to travel to watch your team or watch 0:16:36.093 --> 0:16:40.053 it on the telly, of course. But you know they're 0:16:40.093 --> 0:16:43.333 getting some names. Let's be fair, Mummins is going there 0:16:43.333 --> 0:16:46.293 and this next one, Travis Head is there, Steve Smith 0:16:46.413 --> 0:16:51.573 is there. So the Aussies are coming. So that's fine, 0:16:52.813 --> 0:16:56.413 that's fine, and I can certainly see a bonus for 0:16:56.453 --> 0:16:59.693 Scott Wiener and those who are negotiating for New Zealand 0:16:59.773 --> 0:17:02.653 Cricket when it comes to contract time with our players. 0:17:04.333 --> 0:17:06.773 At the moment, the pay for play for New Zealand 0:17:07.213 --> 0:17:10.613 is nowhere near any franchise offer that the players get. 0:17:11.373 --> 0:17:15.253 And all enz C can do really is to those 0:17:15.333 --> 0:17:20.093 players is to say, well, it's for your country, it's 0:17:20.093 --> 0:17:25.053 the heritage, it's where you come from and you play internationals. Now. 0:17:25.413 --> 0:17:31.573 You know now if they have this operation, there's more negotiation, 0:17:31.733 --> 0:17:34.973 isn't there. You're getting your contract, plus you might get 0:17:34.973 --> 0:17:38.053 a place in the Atlanta ard Varks or you might 0:17:38.093 --> 0:17:41.893 be in the Toronto Termites, and they'll have a place 0:17:42.013 --> 0:17:47.053 also for coaches and for management. So I can see 0:17:47.053 --> 0:17:51.853 some bonuses, some merits, but there are also I think 0:17:52.413 --> 0:17:55.493 some downside. It clashes with the Sri Lankan League. We've 0:17:55.533 --> 0:17:58.733 already got players there. It clashes with the first part 0:17:58.733 --> 0:18:01.813 of the hundred, so there'll be players who are going 0:18:02.053 --> 0:18:04.333 they'll have to go late to the hundred as well. 0:18:04.973 --> 0:18:08.293 Once every four years we go to England in July 0:18:09.373 --> 0:18:14.013 and that's when this tournament is played, so lesser players 0:18:14.053 --> 0:18:17.373 would be offered. I guess at that time, or we'd 0:18:17.373 --> 0:18:19.653 have lesser players in the New Zealand side. 0:18:20.173 --> 0:18:23.133 Yeah, that's some of the drawbacks that I guess will 0:18:23.173 --> 0:18:26.173 have to be investigated over a couple of years. Well, 0:18:26.213 --> 0:18:27.493 it's going to have to be done over a couple 0:18:27.493 --> 0:18:30.133 of years. Twenty twenty seven is when it first comes forward. 0:18:30.453 --> 0:18:35.213 And my other worry, Peter Holland, is one, will we 0:18:35.293 --> 0:18:43.293 have to pay Donald Trump's tariffs? Your political knows would 0:18:43.293 --> 0:18:44.533 have been in that snout, wouldn't it. 0:18:45.013 --> 0:18:47.813 I suspect that that that's probably not not in the 0:18:48.053 --> 0:18:49.333 on the Trump's des radar. 0:18:49.693 --> 0:18:53.013 It won't be on the list, just on that point. 0:18:53.013 --> 0:18:57.453 Around grounds, I did some digging and somewhere I found 0:18:57.573 --> 0:19:01.413 or heard that ten new grounds. I talked about this 0:19:01.573 --> 0:19:05.333 being backed by a lot of people with capital, ten 0:19:05.373 --> 0:19:10.133 new grounds are apparently being planned to be built now. 0:19:10.293 --> 0:19:12.853 I don't know what the timing is, so they are 0:19:12.893 --> 0:19:15.373 clearly aware of the constraints that you were talking about, Jerry. 0:19:15.813 --> 0:19:19.533 What I understood is that the MLC is the league 0:19:19.573 --> 0:19:22.813 where the ten six growing to ten teams is, but 0:19:23.013 --> 0:19:25.453 underneath there is a minor league where I gather there's 0:19:25.493 --> 0:19:29.413 something like twenty six teams which will support that. So 0:19:29.413 --> 0:19:31.093 In other words, I think they're trying to grow the game. 0:19:31.253 --> 0:19:34.093 Bearing in mind that cricket now is in the Olympics 0:19:34.133 --> 0:19:39.973 coming up, so they therefore in America obviously get automatic 0:19:40.093 --> 0:19:43.653 entry because being the host to the Olympics. So there's 0:19:43.733 --> 0:19:45.933 I can sort of see where things are happening, but 0:19:46.653 --> 0:19:49.613 I guess it's going to be quite fluid and a 0:19:49.613 --> 0:19:53.333 bit of a moving target. But I think where I 0:19:53.413 --> 0:19:56.773 land is if it means that an insit cricket is 0:19:56.773 --> 0:20:00.053 going to get some cash coming in the door three 0:20:00.173 --> 0:20:02.613 four five million a year, that can only be a 0:20:02.613 --> 0:20:06.493 good thing and provides opportunity to develop the infrastructure and 0:20:06.533 --> 0:20:10.693 the intellectual property that we have for our coaches, our curators, 0:20:10.733 --> 0:20:12.853 all those sort of people. I think it's only a 0:20:12.893 --> 0:20:13.413 good thing. 0:20:13.893 --> 0:20:16.453 And doesn't put tournaments that we've run now at risk, 0:20:16.493 --> 0:20:19.093 and that's fair enough. I quite agree with you. 0:20:19.453 --> 0:20:20.733 I agree with all that too. 0:20:21.693 --> 0:20:21.933 Yep. 0:20:22.213 --> 0:20:24.373 So it's going to be something interesting that we'll be 0:20:24.453 --> 0:20:29.333 watching very closely over a period of time. Twenty twenty 0:20:29.373 --> 0:20:31.773 seven when it comes to sort of cricket teams out 0:20:31.773 --> 0:20:35.213 and new competitions is not that far away. And I'm 0:20:35.253 --> 0:20:37.613 sure he's yelling cricket will have a lot more to say, 0:20:38.013 --> 0:20:39.693 just a quick one because I was going to talk 0:20:39.773 --> 0:20:43.853 or try and talk to the Wisdom editor this week, 0:20:43.933 --> 0:20:47.613 but I'll have to try and chase him down. But 0:20:47.773 --> 0:20:51.973 the latest edition of The Wisdom Orban Act the Cricketer's Bible, 0:20:53.173 --> 0:20:55.933 Lawrence Booth, the editor, says the World Test Championship is 0:20:55.973 --> 0:21:00.493 a shambles masquerading as a show piece. And he's also 0:21:00.613 --> 0:21:04.413 questioned Jay Shar's promotion from Board of Control of Cricket 0:21:04.413 --> 0:21:09.213 and India Secretary to the Chairman of the ICC. And 0:21:10.813 --> 0:21:13.293 Lawrence Booth has turned his attention to the World Test 0:21:13.373 --> 0:21:16.293 Championship and it's something we can discuss next week. But 0:21:16.373 --> 0:21:21.293 it's interesting that he has really I mean, they're strong 0:21:21.333 --> 0:21:24.533 words masquerading as a show piece. I tend to agree 0:21:24.573 --> 0:21:26.733 with them, do you, I do. 0:21:28.173 --> 0:21:33.613 Well, it's a poor tournament, isn't it. Yeah, well, you know, 0:21:35.973 --> 0:21:41.093 teams playing different numbers of games, teams playing some teams 0:21:41.133 --> 0:21:47.253 and not others. Two Test match series, they're not really series. 0:21:47.813 --> 0:21:49.693 They're a bit of a nonsense. We all know that 0:21:50.813 --> 0:21:52.773 if they go to three day tests, which I think 0:21:52.813 --> 0:21:57.373 which is what Lawrence Booth was talking about, will that 0:21:57.453 --> 0:22:02.013 mean four day tests that's a question that I have 0:22:02.133 --> 0:22:04.533 in the back of my mind to get those through. 0:22:06.013 --> 0:22:08.613 But Test cricket's been great in the last few years, 0:22:08.653 --> 0:22:12.213 hasn't it. I mean, we've got we've got to admit that. 0:22:12.293 --> 0:22:15.493 I mean, actually you could argue it deserves some more 0:22:15.493 --> 0:22:20.173 attention that it's getting. I remember that South African that 0:22:20.213 --> 0:22:24.173 weak side that came here, that South Africa actually have 0:22:24.293 --> 0:22:29.213 got no tests in their season coming up at home. None. 0:22:30.133 --> 0:22:33.613 Not not South Africa's fault at all. It's the big 0:22:33.653 --> 0:22:36.293 three wanting to play each other and not wanting to 0:22:36.293 --> 0:22:41.653 play the smaller sides Test champions. Well, how are India? 0:22:41.933 --> 0:22:44.173 I mean, India are not going to play Pakistan and 0:22:44.213 --> 0:22:46.973 tests are they? They're just not going to play them. 0:22:47.853 --> 0:22:53.893 And in that case, in that case, yeah, give the 0:22:53.933 --> 0:22:57.733 points to Pakistan. I mean, that's that's the problem. You see, 0:22:57.733 --> 0:23:00.693 no one is really challenging Pakistan, not even England and 0:23:00.773 --> 0:23:05.213 Australia that they're they're not. And what we've got was 0:23:05.293 --> 0:23:09.013 Shah going into the ic C chairman to me is 0:23:09.093 --> 0:23:15.813 cementing an inequitable, already inequitable situation. So it's a very 0:23:15.853 --> 0:23:20.933 haphazard kind of system I think for for the Test championship. 0:23:23.133 --> 0:23:28.213 That said, I'd rather there was a championship, a competition 0:23:28.373 --> 0:23:34.773 of sorts. Ye, it's with its weaknesses, but at least 0:23:35.533 --> 0:23:38.933 in some way, shape or form, test matches have a 0:23:38.933 --> 0:23:41.013 little bit of meaning. So if we do quite well, 0:23:41.013 --> 0:23:44.533 then there's a chance of us playing in a in 0:23:44.573 --> 0:23:49.973 a in a championship. I just would hope that the 0:23:49.973 --> 0:23:54.253 administrators are brave enough to acknowledge that in fact, with 0:23:54.293 --> 0:23:57.853 some with some tweaks, it could actually be really really interesting. 0:23:58.133 --> 0:24:00.693 And I know that in New Zealand our test matches 0:24:00.773 --> 0:24:03.813 this past season were pretty much sold out. 0:24:04.013 --> 0:24:08.333 What does that say, Well, there's a popularity there. That's 0:24:08.413 --> 0:24:10.693 that we don't get big numbers, of course, but the 0:24:10.773 --> 0:24:14.213 popularity and people love the game. You know, England send 0:24:14.213 --> 0:24:17.813 their barmie army out here, so it's something that you know. 0:24:17.933 --> 0:24:20.453 I want to discuss with Lawrence Booth. He spoke to 0:24:20.533 --> 0:24:23.093 us last year, remember when the Wisdom came out. So 0:24:23.413 --> 0:24:25.653 I'll get a touch with him in the middle of 0:24:25.653 --> 0:24:28.213 the night while I'm watching domestic cricket in England on 0:24:28.253 --> 0:24:34.533 the television. Jerry and if he's prepared to join us. 0:24:34.573 --> 0:24:35.213 I got to say. 0:24:35.213 --> 0:24:37.573 One of his best lines was and I love this 0:24:37.653 --> 0:24:40.733 line talking about the World Test Championship and the fact 0:24:40.773 --> 0:24:42.613 that you know it was decided on percentage of et 0:24:42.613 --> 0:24:45.293 C and he says the ic C cannot allow the 0:24:45.373 --> 0:24:48.853 Championship to continue as if designed on the back of 0:24:48.893 --> 0:24:58.493 a fag packet. Yeah, I think, yeah, indeed you left 0:24:58.533 --> 0:24:59.173 it no doubt. 0:24:59.733 --> 0:25:03.733