WEBVTT - On The Front Foot Episode 185: Nathan Smith celebrates his first Black Caps contract 0:00:09.133 --> 0:00:12.013 You're listening to a podcast from news Talk, said B. 0:00:12.413 --> 0:00:20.853 Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio. 0:00:20.293 --> 0:00:24.893 Y take another pat. It's a trick, it is out, 0:00:25.253 --> 0:00:30.653 The Test is over. Smokes a beauty, It. 0:00:30.733 --> 0:00:32.653 Is out and hear you guys. 0:00:32.733 --> 0:00:34.733 This delivery has in the music. 0:00:34.533 --> 0:00:39.773 To Gold on the Front Foot with Brian Waddell and 0:00:40.013 --> 0:00:45.013 Jeremy Coney powered by News Talk, said B at iHeartRadio. 0:00:46.533 --> 0:00:49.853 Hello, welcome once again on the Front Foot. A reward 0:00:49.933 --> 0:00:53.253 for all round us Smith and Bartson gaining Black Cats 0:00:53.293 --> 0:00:57.053 contracts is Joe Root, England's best ever batsman and it 0:00:57.173 --> 0:01:00.253 comes at a time that the Messiah gets another role 0:01:00.493 --> 0:01:05.413 in England cricket. Brendon McCollum, England's white all coach boy. 0:01:05.573 --> 0:01:08.133 England have really found a star in terms of their 0:01:08.693 --> 0:01:14.893 haven't they. Jeremy gaddyloadds well, they certainly seemed to be 0:01:15.013 --> 0:01:17.813 happy with his performance. 0:01:17.333 --> 0:01:20.733 Don't they. I mean the Test side wasn't doing very 0:01:20.813 --> 0:01:23.333 well was it when he took over? Was it one 0:01:23.453 --> 0:01:26.373 from seventeen or something like that? They had one with 0:01:26.533 --> 0:01:29.813 Joe Ruters cap'n. So that wasn't too hard for Brendan 0:01:29.893 --> 0:01:33.453 to change. You'd have to say, but his you know, 0:01:33.613 --> 0:01:37.573 the results and his style. I think they won nineteen 0:01:37.653 --> 0:01:41.173 out of twenty eight. I think I read somewhere, So 0:01:41.493 --> 0:01:46.053 that's all improved. And it's actually been the white ball 0:01:47.053 --> 0:01:50.933 formats that have imploded, haven't they in England? You know, 0:01:51.053 --> 0:01:55.613 they had that awful ODI in India where everybody beat them, 0:01:56.093 --> 0:01:59.093 and then they had that average performance in the T twenty. 0:01:59.493 --> 0:02:04.413 So it's kind of when McCullum originally arrived, it was 0:02:04.453 --> 0:02:06.493 the other way around, wasn't It was the red bull 0:02:06.573 --> 0:02:09.733 struggling and the white ball was yards that won everything 0:02:09.813 --> 0:02:14.013 and so on. Now it's flipped on its head, so 0:02:15.133 --> 0:02:16.973 he may see that as a chance to make a 0:02:17.093 --> 0:02:19.573 bit of a more of an impact. And you know, 0:02:20.173 --> 0:02:22.733 the other point I would think about that he's got 0:02:22.813 --> 0:02:26.853 the job at a time when Morgan's team as being 0:02:27.053 --> 0:02:31.173 kind of dismantled, isn't it. It's being seven and renewed. 0:02:31.973 --> 0:02:35.573 So you know, Morgan's out and Maine Ali's out, and 0:02:35.693 --> 0:02:40.573 Bearstow and Jason Roy and that bowler, Liam Plunkett, they're 0:02:40.653 --> 0:02:43.653 all gone and in becoming all those new guys we 0:02:43.813 --> 0:02:46.533 talked about last week, you know, Bethel and Moseley and 0:02:46.653 --> 0:02:51.773 Jordan Cox and all that lot, so you know he 0:02:52.173 --> 0:02:54.733 may help Josh Butler as well. Josh Butler, I don't know, 0:02:54.813 --> 0:02:56.773 how how do you see him? I always see him 0:02:56.773 --> 0:02:59.413 as a wee bit burdened as a captain. 0:02:59.973 --> 0:03:02.213 Yeah, he doesn't look as though he's enjoying himself to 0:03:02.293 --> 0:03:04.253 a certain extent. He does when he's in and runs 0:03:04.653 --> 0:03:08.613 and being able to accelerate the team performance. But you know, 0:03:08.693 --> 0:03:12.093 there seemed to be just a sort of a mismatch 0:03:12.133 --> 0:03:15.693 between he and Mott, the previous coach, and he may 0:03:15.813 --> 0:03:18.053 well be able to fit in because I think he's 0:03:18.093 --> 0:03:21.333 the McCullum style, isn't he. He's a go get him, 0:03:21.613 --> 0:03:25.733 take every opportunity you can, don't be scared. And I 0:03:25.813 --> 0:03:29.093 think he's a McCullum type player, isn't he. 0:03:29.373 --> 0:03:33.013 I think by instinct he is, and that he's overburdened 0:03:33.053 --> 0:03:35.573 a little bit by all the all the figures and 0:03:35.653 --> 0:03:39.733 all the you know, suggestions and so on that might 0:03:39.853 --> 0:03:43.253 come his way. And I think Brendan will allow him 0:03:43.293 --> 0:03:45.253 just free him up a bit, don't you think. And 0:03:45.613 --> 0:03:48.773 the other thing. The other thing, I think that some 0:03:48.973 --> 0:03:51.733 of the players, you know, that they will now with 0:03:51.893 --> 0:03:55.653 him being white and red ball. They'll get a common message, 0:03:55.773 --> 0:04:00.573 you know, a constant kind of similar message over both 0:04:00.653 --> 0:04:04.453 the red ball and the white ball, and players quite 0:04:04.693 --> 0:04:08.893 like that. When you do get you know, say, the 0:04:09.013 --> 0:04:10.893 red ball are going really well on the white ball, 0:04:10.973 --> 0:04:14.373 aren't You're always kind of got players looking over the fence, 0:04:15.293 --> 0:04:17.373 you know, saying, gee, I wish I was in there, 0:04:18.333 --> 0:04:22.333 and what's wrong with our one? You know, comparing coaches. 0:04:22.933 --> 0:04:25.693 So that will stop all that. I think the only 0:04:25.853 --> 0:04:29.053 question is, of course the old one is a schedule 0:04:29.133 --> 0:04:31.173 too tough? Will it allow it? Will he is it 0:04:31.293 --> 0:04:36.173 too much? And will he need somebody else, you know 0:04:36.333 --> 0:04:37.413 to help him? At times? 0:04:37.933 --> 0:04:40.573 I think he's got fairly good back up. They seem 0:04:40.613 --> 0:04:42.053 to have a lot of people around well, I've got 0:04:42.053 --> 0:04:43.973 a lot of people around the Test team, and they 0:04:44.013 --> 0:04:46.333 seem to have a lot of coaching and support staff 0:04:46.613 --> 0:04:49.213 around their white ball team. Gee, we've done a good 0:04:49.293 --> 0:04:52.493 job for overseas coaches, haven't we. You know, we've we've 0:04:52.533 --> 0:04:55.773 shunted Brendan McCullum off. We didn't want him. We've got 0:04:55.853 --> 0:04:59.533 rid of Daniel Vittori. We didn't want him. Jeetan Patel, well, 0:04:59.613 --> 0:05:01.853 he was here and then shot back to England as 0:05:01.933 --> 0:05:06.333 quickly as he retired, Stephen Flemm making millions of the 0:05:06.413 --> 0:05:09.973 coach and we've got a great job for world cricket. 0:05:09.933 --> 0:05:14.333 Don't it, Shane Bond. Yeah exactly. So it's been spinners 0:05:14.413 --> 0:05:18.373 and fast bowlers and batsmen and hitters. It's been all sorts, 0:05:18.453 --> 0:05:18.773 hasn't it. 0:05:18.893 --> 0:05:20.213 And I hope they do. 0:05:20.893 --> 0:05:23.293 I've said that before. I hope they do in the 0:05:23.453 --> 0:05:26.093 end come back. And certainly, to be fair, I think 0:05:26.173 --> 0:05:28.413 Fleming and Bond have done a little bit at times, 0:05:28.493 --> 0:05:32.653 haven't and maybe for Tory but with particular tournaments. But yeah, 0:05:32.933 --> 0:05:35.693 you're right. It's part of the player sort of moving 0:05:35.773 --> 0:05:37.853 around and coaches move around too. 0:05:38.533 --> 0:05:43.613 Yeah, I censored under you know, the current structure of 0:05:43.813 --> 0:05:47.893 a World cricket that their skills and other skills. You know, 0:05:48.013 --> 0:05:52.893 we look overseas to bring people into contract for coaching 0:05:53.013 --> 0:05:56.253 jobs and so forth, so you know, it's the current way. 0:05:56.453 --> 0:05:58.213 We were warned of that and it was pretty obviously 0:05:58.333 --> 0:06:01.493 coming to the fore. So, you know, interesting to see 0:06:01.693 --> 0:06:04.253 McCollum putting his feet up on the stand. He sits 0:06:04.293 --> 0:06:06.573 in those nice comfortable chairs as he watches the game, 0:06:06.893 --> 0:06:09.933 doesn't look too worried about what's going on in the world, 0:06:10.013 --> 0:06:13.893 feed up and enjoying it chatting with these team players. 0:06:14.213 --> 0:06:17.773 Good luck to him. Contracts well, we've talked about contracts 0:06:17.813 --> 0:06:23.493 a bit recently. Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson have received 0:06:23.773 --> 0:06:28.293 contracts now they are available after Conway and Allan opted 0:06:28.333 --> 0:06:33.133 out of central contracts. Smith and Clarkson all round US 0:06:33.573 --> 0:06:38.293 Conway and Alan batsman. Nathan Smith said his response to 0:06:38.893 --> 0:06:41.053 the offer from New Zealand cook Att took him no 0:06:41.213 --> 0:06:44.373 time at all to agree to after a tough season 0:06:44.413 --> 0:06:47.733 with Worcestershire. He had to come home early because of injury. 0:06:48.373 --> 0:06:48.573 Yeah. 0:06:48.933 --> 0:06:50.973 I think I played eight four day games and ten 0:06:51.013 --> 0:06:52.813 weeks or something like that, so on the back of 0:06:52.853 --> 0:06:54.693 a home summer, so it was Yeah, the workload was high. 0:06:54.773 --> 0:06:57.693 That such a valuable experience. I loved my time, loved 0:06:57.733 --> 0:06:59.093 my time there and be keen to go back. 0:06:59.173 --> 0:07:01.653 So you must have come home or come away from 0:07:01.733 --> 0:07:04.973 that pretty happy with what you achieved in terms of performances. 0:07:05.253 --> 0:07:06.973 Yeah, I think so. Yeah, I think just sort of 0:07:07.013 --> 0:07:09.693 the form just rolled on from the home summer. Really, 0:07:09.693 --> 0:07:13.093 you know, my body was in good shape. Just love 0:07:13.173 --> 0:07:14.533 playing for them as well. They a great bunch of 0:07:14.573 --> 0:07:16.133 guys and that sort of goes a long way as 0:07:16.173 --> 0:07:18.213 well when you go into a new environment and they're 0:07:18.213 --> 0:07:21.613 good people. So yeah, just just love the experience. 0:07:21.693 --> 0:07:24.693 Really, you talked about your body being in good shape. 0:07:24.693 --> 0:07:26.493 You've had problems in the last few years, haven't you. 0:07:26.653 --> 0:07:30.333 So you're really getting over a major injury break, didn't you. 0:07:30.573 --> 0:07:30.733 Yeah. 0:07:30.733 --> 0:07:33.333 I suppose the last couple of years, barring the last 0:07:33.373 --> 0:07:35.773 six months, the eight en months before that were they 0:07:35.813 --> 0:07:38.213 were challenging. You know, a couple of back stress fractures. 0:07:39.773 --> 0:07:41.813 It's quite testing times, but I think through that you 0:07:42.133 --> 0:07:43.733 sort of learn a lot about yourself. It gives you 0:07:43.733 --> 0:07:46.213 a little bit of perspective as well, and it's a 0:07:46.253 --> 0:07:47.853 hell of a lot better playing than I spent a 0:07:47.893 --> 0:07:49.293 lot of time sitting on the couch watching a lot 0:07:49.293 --> 0:07:52.013 of guys play. So it's nice to you know, have 0:07:52.093 --> 0:07:55.053 a sort of a prolonged period of playing consistently, and 0:07:55.493 --> 0:07:57.453 you know, I think that's probably it's probably why the 0:07:58.013 --> 0:08:00.493 results are so good, you know, just playing all the time. 0:08:00.773 --> 0:08:03.373 Can you pinpoint any area of your game where you 0:08:03.453 --> 0:08:05.653 think you've improved or have tried to improve? 0:08:06.813 --> 0:08:09.293 I think probably just on the back of on the 0:08:09.373 --> 0:08:11.253 on the back of being fitter and stronger. I think 0:08:11.293 --> 0:08:13.733 I've probably gained a little bit of pace, and the 0:08:13.813 --> 0:08:16.573 consistency of the pace is there through sort of second 0:08:16.573 --> 0:08:21.253 and third spells. I think that's probably why I've started 0:08:21.293 --> 0:08:23.093 taking a few more wickets. Maybe it's just that consistent 0:08:23.133 --> 0:08:25.293 pace throughout the day has helped. 0:08:27.253 --> 0:08:27.493 For me. 0:08:27.573 --> 0:08:29.933 I think moving forward, I think it's probably probably the 0:08:29.973 --> 0:08:32.613 consistency in the batting that's gonna It's gonna take me 0:08:32.693 --> 0:08:34.733 to the next level. So that's been a big focus 0:08:34.773 --> 0:08:35.773 over the last twelve months. 0:08:36.213 --> 0:08:38.573 And the other thing is that's probably a tough question 0:08:38.733 --> 0:08:41.893 to answer. Do you have a preference for the format 0:08:41.973 --> 0:08:45.733 of the game or is it just all your preference 0:08:45.773 --> 0:08:46.813 in terms of every format. 0:08:47.013 --> 0:08:49.613 Oh yeah, I love I love crickets, so all formats 0:08:49.653 --> 0:08:51.853 are great. They have their own little niches. But for me, 0:08:51.973 --> 0:08:54.093 I'm a purist, so I love the long format of 0:08:54.133 --> 0:08:56.973 the game. It's probably a format that I've had the 0:08:57.013 --> 0:09:00.333 most success in so far. So that doesn't say I'm 0:09:00.373 --> 0:09:02.933 not I'm not trying to become an all three format player. 0:09:02.933 --> 0:09:06.573 I definitely think I can play all three formats. So yeah, 0:09:06.653 --> 0:09:09.413 for me, it's just about trying to stay on the park, 0:09:09.493 --> 0:09:13.373 stay fit and hopefully perform for whoever I'm playing for. Yeah, 0:09:13.373 --> 0:09:16.253 I think I think probably had a strong domestic summer 0:09:16.333 --> 0:09:20.173 last year and then continued continued again for Worcester over 0:09:20.213 --> 0:09:22.813 the over the winter. So probably just the form in 0:09:22.853 --> 0:09:25.973 the last twelve months. I'd say that's that's the goal anyway, 0:09:26.013 --> 0:09:27.973 to try try about seven and a Test team. I 0:09:28.093 --> 0:09:31.413 think what sets me apart from from other seamers potentially 0:09:31.533 --> 0:09:33.813 having that batting there that can add a little bit 0:09:33.853 --> 0:09:37.653 balance to a side. So I'm always going to try 0:09:37.733 --> 0:09:39.933 work on that and get as good as I can 0:09:39.973 --> 0:09:41.653 with my batting to try to help the team. 0:09:42.133 --> 0:09:43.733 You took the new ball for what do you do? 0:09:43.813 --> 0:09:46.133 For Wellington? You took the new ball for what's you do? 0:09:46.173 --> 0:09:49.053 You see yourself essentially as a new ball bowler or 0:09:49.653 --> 0:09:54.373 an all around who bats. You know, people put in categories, 0:09:54.413 --> 0:09:54.693 don't they. 0:09:55.733 --> 0:09:57.573 I suppose I try not to categorize it too much. 0:09:58.413 --> 0:10:00.293 I feel like I've got a little bit more skill 0:10:00.333 --> 0:10:02.253 with the ball then just bowling with a new ball. 0:10:03.973 --> 0:10:05.293 I like to take the new ball. I think it's 0:10:05.293 --> 0:10:06.973 a real strength of mine, but I think I can 0:10:07.013 --> 0:10:08.813 also add impact with the old ball as well, which 0:10:08.813 --> 0:10:10.653 I think is going to be important for me moving 0:10:10.693 --> 0:10:12.093 forward to intetional cricket. 0:10:12.693 --> 0:10:16.053 Former black Caps bowling coach Shane Jurgenson, who's now the 0:10:16.133 --> 0:10:20.013 Wellington coach of Smith's side as well placed to assess 0:10:20.413 --> 0:10:23.093 the pace bowlers a bit of he and he applauds 0:10:23.413 --> 0:10:24.373 the black Caps choice. 0:10:24.573 --> 0:10:27.733 It's amazing. It's a credit to create Wellington and the 0:10:27.813 --> 0:10:29.693 hard work that's gone on behind the scenes over a 0:10:29.733 --> 0:10:32.493 long period of time and you know, fantastic for Nathan 0:10:32.573 --> 0:10:36.933 and to have that opportunity for him. It's been a 0:10:37.013 --> 0:10:39.493 long road for Nathan. I played first class cricket for 0:10:39.573 --> 0:10:41.933 quite a while now with O Targo and what he's 0:10:41.973 --> 0:10:44.173 done when he's come to Wellington and the opportunity he's 0:10:44.213 --> 0:10:47.693 had a lot of support and for him personally to 0:10:47.733 --> 0:10:50.333 come back from a serious back injury, his stress fracture 0:10:50.373 --> 0:10:52.853 of the operation and to have the impact he had 0:10:52.893 --> 0:10:55.613 for us last year was you know, a nice reward 0:10:55.653 --> 0:10:55.893 for him. 0:10:56.293 --> 0:10:56.413 Oh. 0:10:56.533 --> 0:10:59.693 I think for him attention to detail. He's quite an 0:10:59.693 --> 0:11:03.333 open young man to learning, which is good. You know, 0:11:03.533 --> 0:11:06.813 tough boy from the South and he loves the opportunity 0:11:06.813 --> 0:11:09.573 to learn and develop his game. As you say, he's 0:11:09.613 --> 0:11:11.693 basically he isn't all round it and can provide an 0:11:11.693 --> 0:11:15.213 impact with the ball, with the bat and also in 0:11:15.293 --> 0:11:18.533 the field he's lightning across the turf trying to catching 0:11:18.933 --> 0:11:21.693 and fielding the ball retrieving it. So yeah, he can 0:11:21.773 --> 0:11:24.133 certainly have a player that can have an impact and 0:11:24.853 --> 0:11:29.773 create an opportunity for the team. That's to make a 0:11:30.493 --> 0:11:32.933 position of where the team might be in a difficult 0:11:32.973 --> 0:11:35.413 position and he can make make a difference in a match. 0:11:35.493 --> 0:11:37.533 So that's a type of exciting cricket he can bring 0:11:37.613 --> 0:11:38.013 to the game. 0:11:39.013 --> 0:11:41.653 It's a new era for fast ballers in New Zealand 0:11:41.693 --> 0:11:45.213 now the older group is starting to decline a little bit, 0:11:45.293 --> 0:11:48.013 We've got some new players. Nathan was talking about one 0:11:48.013 --> 0:11:50.613 of the things that being a watershowers being able to 0:11:50.693 --> 0:11:53.933 increase his pace. Have you noticed that? Is he quick enough? 0:11:53.973 --> 0:11:54.733 Can he get quicker? 0:11:55.213 --> 0:11:55.373 Oh? 0:11:55.453 --> 0:11:57.853 Yeah, it certainly increase that. I think it's something he's 0:11:57.853 --> 0:11:59.933 been working on the last twelve months, is attacking the 0:12:00.053 --> 0:12:04.893 crease almost like taking himself out of that the role 0:12:05.013 --> 0:12:08.653 of all being seen as maybe a swing bowler into 0:12:09.133 --> 0:12:11.573 potentially being able to bowl in all different types of 0:12:11.653 --> 0:12:13.893 the not just new ball. And I think that's certainly 0:12:14.013 --> 0:12:16.453 something in him and I have spoken about, and he 0:12:16.573 --> 0:12:19.293 has a strong desire to being able to bowl at 0:12:19.293 --> 0:12:21.093 all parts of the innings. 0:12:21.133 --> 0:12:22.453 And I think for us in the. 0:12:22.453 --> 0:12:24.693 Plunket chieerd last year, there are certainly times where he 0:12:25.373 --> 0:12:28.373 up the ante and bold short short deliveries, short ball 0:12:28.453 --> 0:12:30.613 plan to try and create a bit of doubt with 0:12:30.653 --> 0:12:32.453 the batter, and he certainly had an impact. 0:12:32.653 --> 0:12:34.973 You look around the world and the international teams that 0:12:35.013 --> 0:12:37.853 are looking for faster bottles and like Chicken really ball 0:12:37.933 --> 0:12:41.493 fast and New Zealand have got a couple on the 0:12:41.613 --> 0:12:44.733 new breed and he could join them with that ability. 0:12:45.093 --> 0:12:48.253 Yeah, I think for him, Yeah, he certainly worked on 0:12:48.333 --> 0:12:54.013 his fitness, attacking the wicket, getting stronger. He slides onto 0:12:54.013 --> 0:12:55.493 the bat a bit quicker than you think, and he's 0:12:55.533 --> 0:12:58.053 got some really good skills and I think with Nathan 0:12:58.133 --> 0:13:02.013 what you can have is someone that for us he 0:13:02.253 --> 0:13:04.093 was right up there with one of our best T 0:13:04.253 --> 0:13:08.733 twenty bowlers last year and that's the ability that he has. Hopefully, 0:13:09.133 --> 0:13:11.373 you know he will continue to grow and keep learning 0:13:11.453 --> 0:13:13.893 and he's always curious wants to get better, So there's 0:13:13.933 --> 0:13:15.973 no doubt he's going to be a strong contender for 0:13:16.053 --> 0:13:17.573 all formatsman's future. 0:13:17.773 --> 0:13:20.253 For of the seams that are developing now. 0:13:21.053 --> 0:13:26.453 I think, you know my role, there's some really good, exciting, 0:13:27.533 --> 0:13:32.853 exciting young fast bowlers. I think there's certainly going to 0:13:32.933 --> 0:13:35.733 be opportunities for these guys. And to see another one 0:13:35.813 --> 0:13:40.093 of our guys, Ben Sears with his opportunities and there's 0:13:40.093 --> 0:13:42.293 been a number of players over a long period of time, 0:13:42.613 --> 0:13:45.653 Jacob Duffy, and there's another one that comes to mind 0:13:45.693 --> 0:13:47.653 as Ben List. You know, there's going to be more 0:13:47.653 --> 0:13:50.933 opportunities for these guys and opportunity for them to step 0:13:51.013 --> 0:13:54.413 up into those roles. And look, I think it's sort 0:13:54.413 --> 0:13:57.893 of you know, no doubt you've also got Kyle Jamison. 0:13:57.933 --> 0:14:02.173 So there's still a number of quality, high quality fast bowlers, 0:14:02.293 --> 0:14:05.453 and you know that's the balance of the opportunities and 0:14:05.693 --> 0:14:07.733 the roles that are around for the guys is to 0:14:07.773 --> 0:14:11.613 step up for the team. And yeah, so's certainly going 0:14:11.693 --> 0:14:14.813 to be still competition for the spots for you know, 0:14:14.893 --> 0:14:16.333 the black Ops and years to come with him. 0:14:17.213 --> 0:14:21.453 So that response by Jergensen gives an indication of selector 0:14:21.533 --> 0:14:24.653 thinking to opening batsmen out middle order all around has 0:14:24.693 --> 0:14:28.773 included white ball thinking, I think for the future or 0:14:28.893 --> 0:14:31.173 is a test match thinking for some of these players. 0:14:31.613 --> 0:14:35.613 What do you think, Jerry Well, it certainly seems as o' 0:14:35.693 --> 0:14:38.533 clarkson has already played a few ODI's and te tweeties, 0:14:38.533 --> 0:14:42.213 hasn't he. It looks as though New Zealand liked to 0:14:42.373 --> 0:14:45.613 introduce their even their Test players through the white ball 0:14:45.733 --> 0:14:52.813 formats and get them used to international level. I yeah, 0:14:53.093 --> 0:14:56.373 I don't know Josh Clarkson quite so well. I don't 0:14:56.413 --> 0:14:58.093 know either of them quite as well as you do. 0:14:59.013 --> 0:15:02.853 I looked up their figures. Smith looks a more of 0:15:03.173 --> 0:15:06.653 a bowling prospect. He impressed me with the way he spoke. 0:15:06.933 --> 0:15:10.373 Was he's aware that, you know, he can use the 0:15:10.453 --> 0:15:13.573 ball at different times. In other words, he can use 0:15:13.613 --> 0:15:16.293 the open the bowling with the new ball. He's done 0:15:16.333 --> 0:15:18.973 that for Wellington and Worcestershire, hasn't he. He can bowl 0:15:19.093 --> 0:15:22.373 first change. Then he said in that interview that he 0:15:22.533 --> 0:15:25.413 was working on the old ball, which is a good thing. 0:15:25.573 --> 0:15:29.013 You know. He's thinking about what can I do to 0:15:29.173 --> 0:15:32.573 add to my game in order to prepare for the 0:15:32.693 --> 0:15:35.533 you know what's up in front of me. He knows 0:15:35.613 --> 0:15:37.333 that he's got to do more as a batsman at 0:15:37.413 --> 0:15:40.453 number seven, he said, So I like all that that 0:15:40.733 --> 0:15:45.213 that he's a thoughtful player making himself useful. And when 0:15:45.253 --> 0:15:47.253 I looked at his figures, a couple of things stood 0:15:47.293 --> 0:15:50.613 out for me. This is Nathan Smith. The first thing 0:15:50.773 --> 0:15:55.213 is he's got five wicket bags and first class cricket 0:15:55.813 --> 0:16:00.613 six times. Now that's that's a man who can you know, 0:16:01.173 --> 0:16:04.453 who can change a game. You know, when you take 0:16:04.493 --> 0:16:07.853 a five wicket bag, you know he's got that ability. 0:16:07.893 --> 0:16:11.533 He's got four wickets four times as well. He's getting 0:16:11.533 --> 0:16:15.613 a wicket ut just every just over nine overs, and 0:16:16.373 --> 0:16:19.853 so you know that's that's a good component. I think 0:16:19.933 --> 0:16:25.893 he's bowling. We need a middle order seema who can 0:16:25.973 --> 0:16:29.733 hold a bat. Now there's batting. He's had eighty two 0:16:29.893 --> 0:16:34.093 first class innings and he's got thirteen fifties. Now to me, 0:16:34.173 --> 0:16:37.013 he's good. So I've got one hundred, but thirteen fifties 0:16:37.213 --> 0:16:40.893 to me, that's a fifty every six innings and a bit. 0:16:42.053 --> 0:16:44.853 I can hold a bat, and I can get them 0:16:44.893 --> 0:16:48.253 in different situations. It says thirteen of them, and I 0:16:48.333 --> 0:16:50.173 can get them at different times in the game with 0:16:50.293 --> 0:16:55.333 different conditions you know, and different bowlers. Those are all 0:16:55.573 --> 0:16:58.333 things I think are quite positive about Nathan Smith. He's 0:16:58.413 --> 0:17:00.853 not there yet not the finished product. No one's saying 0:17:00.853 --> 0:17:04.213 he is, but those are good signs. 0:17:05.493 --> 0:17:08.453 Yeah, those stats to me, as you say, show a 0:17:08.533 --> 0:17:12.493 player who can latten different circumstances and you want somebody 0:17:12.573 --> 0:17:15.573 who can hit quick runs if required. He can do that. 0:17:16.093 --> 0:17:18.813 You want someone who can play a solid innings as 0:17:18.893 --> 0:17:21.413 a support. And to me, he fits into the bill 0:17:21.573 --> 0:17:25.533 of say something like Santner Embraceville, somebody who could bat 0:17:25.573 --> 0:17:27.613 at Test level. And the fact that he's talking about 0:17:27.653 --> 0:17:31.773 improving his batting to be a number seven batsman gives 0:17:31.813 --> 0:17:36.293 the indication that that's the way he's thinking. And you know, yeah, 0:17:36.333 --> 0:17:39.093 you're right, he's not the finished product. But he does 0:17:39.453 --> 0:17:42.533 hit the cricket headlines at times, doesn't he And you 0:17:42.613 --> 0:17:44.853 know he does change the course of a game and 0:17:45.413 --> 0:17:46.813 they are all important features. 0:17:47.133 --> 0:17:51.813 Yeah. Well, last game he played, you know, and in England, 0:17:52.013 --> 0:17:54.533 I think it was against Durham, I saw he got 0:17:54.573 --> 0:17:57.453 two lots of four wickets and I just quickly flipped 0:17:57.493 --> 0:17:59.773 open the paper to have a look at it. And 0:17:59.813 --> 0:18:03.933 he got Alex Lees twice. So there's an England opener. 0:18:04.413 --> 0:18:07.613 He got Beddington, that fellow who's from South Africa who 0:18:07.653 --> 0:18:10.973 came out here just last year and he got Ben 0:18:11.093 --> 0:18:14.613 Stokes who was playing. So he gets good players out 0:18:15.693 --> 0:18:18.333 obviously with the new ball, getting those top orders, so 0:18:18.493 --> 0:18:20.853 that's all good. And he got a fifty one not 0:18:21.013 --> 0:18:24.973 out against naturally. How many New Zealanders are playing once? 0:18:25.693 --> 0:18:30.573 I mean he was playing I think against nottingham at 0:18:30.613 --> 0:18:33.653 trent Bridge. This was a T twenty, his last T 0:18:33.813 --> 0:18:37.653 twenty match. He came in. Worcestershire who he plays for, 0:18:37.813 --> 0:18:41.453 were fifty eight for six and he got fifty one 0:18:41.613 --> 0:18:43.493 not out and got them through to one hundred and 0:18:43.573 --> 0:18:49.093 fifty four and then they won the match. And he 0:18:49.253 --> 0:18:53.413 was playing against Ben Lester for Nottinghamshire who got two 0:18:53.493 --> 0:18:58.013 for twenty and Will Young also both those guys from 0:18:58.053 --> 0:19:00.653 New Zealand and Will Young got the top score for 0:19:00.773 --> 0:19:06.853 Nots twenty five. They are good signs different formats responding 0:19:06.933 --> 0:19:08.133 at the first class level. 0:19:08.453 --> 0:19:10.773 I've been through a list of the county teams and 0:19:10.853 --> 0:19:13.493 I haven't got all the players we've played throughout the year, 0:19:13.853 --> 0:19:16.453 but so far I've got a list of twenty seven 0:19:16.773 --> 0:19:20.053 New Zealand players in England this year playing for counties, 0:19:20.333 --> 0:19:23.933 and that doesn't really minor county yep. I mean there's 0:19:23.933 --> 0:19:29.293 a young bowler from christ Church. Kendry player Fraser Sheet 0:19:29.573 --> 0:19:31.693 who has had a game for Glamorgan. I think he 0:19:31.733 --> 0:19:34.693 played in the last round for Glamorgan. Not one of 0:19:34.733 --> 0:19:37.693 the top counties, but they're getting experience and that level. 0:19:38.053 --> 0:19:41.133 And you know the names that are there. You will 0:19:41.253 --> 0:19:44.493 know Wagner's playing, Tom Bruce, Jimmy Neisham's had a game, 0:19:45.733 --> 0:19:49.573 Phillips has been over there, Ravendra has been there playing 0:19:49.613 --> 0:19:52.133 a form of the game for sides over there. But 0:19:52.293 --> 0:19:54.773 names you might not hear. James Hartshorn who played for 0:19:54.853 --> 0:19:57.973 Wellington and the Plunket Shield. Logan van Beek has just 0:19:58.053 --> 0:20:01.893 taken up a contractor Worcestershire and place at. Nathan Smith 0:20:03.093 --> 0:20:06.773 and some of these young players Zach Fuchs. Michael Ray, 0:20:06.893 --> 0:20:10.533 bowling from down in the South Island, has also been 0:20:11.373 --> 0:20:15.213 playing at Warwickshire. So this is a good off season 0:20:15.893 --> 0:20:19.653 play for these players and hopefully they're still available to play. 0:20:19.693 --> 0:20:22.853 Forty twenty seven names. Boy, that's a lot. 0:20:23.133 --> 0:20:28.293 Yeah, yeah, so Wads Clarkson more of a white ball 0:20:28.413 --> 0:20:32.493 player at the moment, you'd think, Yeah, the average is 0:20:32.493 --> 0:20:37.093 about the same. Average is about the same as Nathan 0:20:37.173 --> 0:20:41.293 Smith with the bat hasn't played as many games and 0:20:41.853 --> 0:20:45.813 not quite the bowler twenty three first class games, thirty 0:20:45.893 --> 0:20:49.773 two wickets, so he's getting just over one wicket a game, 0:20:50.893 --> 0:20:54.493 whereas Nathan Smith's getting kind of, you know, nearly three. 0:20:54.853 --> 0:20:57.453 And he's I think, you know, he's an explosive batsman. 0:20:57.533 --> 0:21:00.293 That's what they like at at the domestic level. But 0:21:00.413 --> 0:21:02.173 of course he's got to make that step up and 0:21:02.453 --> 0:21:04.613 he'll get a chance this year because this white ball 0:21:04.653 --> 0:21:09.293 cricket coming up later in the year. It may get 0:21:09.333 --> 0:21:13.133 a chance. There are nine Test matches that New Zealand 0:21:13.173 --> 0:21:16.333 are down to play for. There are injury possibilities, that's 0:21:16.493 --> 0:21:21.813 always a likelihood, and one or two of those outside 0:21:21.893 --> 0:21:24.933 the squad who have got Black Cap contracts could be 0:21:25.053 --> 0:21:28.293 playing Test match cricket before the end of the year. 0:21:28.693 --> 0:21:31.453 It's a tough cycle for these We don't realize, you know, 0:21:31.773 --> 0:21:37.533 nine Test matches in three different countries, India, Sri Lanka 0:21:38.053 --> 0:21:40.693 and then they come back home to New Zealand. They'll 0:21:40.733 --> 0:21:42.813 have to get used to bating and bowling in New 0:21:42.893 --> 0:21:44.093