1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: New Cricket comp not without controversy. Of course, we're to 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: launch our own n Z twenty franchise competition could have voted, 3 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: of course to join the Big Bash in Australia. Target 4 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: is the beginning of next year. Heath Mills is the 5 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: Players Association boss and is with us. 6 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 2: Good morning, Good morning Mike. 7 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: Given what happened with Dion yesterday, how much tension has 8 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: there been around this whole thing? 9 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 2: I was disappointed to see that yesterday. Yes, I guess 10 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 2: that as reflective there has been a little bit of negativity, 11 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 2: but not a huge amount. To be honest with you, Mike, 12 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 2: the vast majority of people we talked to throughout cricket 13 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 2: and New Zealand and internationally are really supportive of Z 14 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 2: twenty and what we're trying to achieve. So whilst I 15 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 2: think in life, when big decisions are made, it's going 16 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 2: to get some people with different views and that's fine. 17 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 2: Just delighted that New Zealand Cricket have managed to find 18 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 2: a way to make a decision so we can get 19 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 2: along with it and try and help in two need 20 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 2: to stand up over the next six months. 21 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: What's your sense of the theory versus reality, good idea 22 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: that might hit economic war or not. 23 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 2: I've been really encouraged by the level of interest in 24 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 2: the competition and potentially teams here. Now I think we're 25 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 2: institutionalized a bit to think that New Zealand's too small, 26 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 2: we don't have enough people, we don't have enough money here. 27 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 2: Bluggers point to other successful leagues around the world of Caribbean, 28 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 2: it's very successful league, biggest cricket event in the West 29 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 2: Indies now much more economy than New Zealand. Worst time 30 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 2: zoned for India Indian terms of broadcast, SA twenty has 31 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: been hugely successful. I just want us to be aspirational 32 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 2: about it. We can do it. There's a significant interest 33 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 2: in people owning cricket teams here in New Zealand, so 34 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:43,320 Speaker 2: let's try and stand it up. 35 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: How many people do you know want to own a 36 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 1: cricket team. 37 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 2: There are about twenty five to thirty odd people who 38 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 2: have expressed an interest, and that's an international investors. Obviously 39 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 2: some IPLTA owners. There are some of the owners out 40 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 2: of the US and the new Major League Cricket comp 41 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 2: they're are tech guys who have expressed interest. So well, 42 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 2: it's been what's been interesting for me personally is people 43 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 2: want to invest in New Zealand because it's for other reasons. Actually, 44 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,639 Speaker 2: they want to spend time here, they want to own 45 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 2: assets here. They know we have good laws, transparent laws, 46 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 2: it's a safe place to invest. So there's a whole 47 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 2: lot of other things going for us other than the 48 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,679 Speaker 2: cricket teams. And actually some of them want to bring 49 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 2: their businesses here to New Zealand and invest in other things. 50 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 2: It's other things. 51 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: It's encouraging. 52 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm excited by it, but there's a lot. There 53 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 2: is a lot of work to do and whether the 54 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 2: NZ twin you can get up in time for next 55 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 2: year it will be will be a challenge. But if 56 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 2: everyone leans and behind it now, I think they've got 57 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 2: a good chance of getting there. 58 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 1: Well, I've got you. Why'd you quit? What's going on here? 59 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: Where are you going? 60 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 2: It's much time, Mike. It's been twenty six years, so 61 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 2: it's probably been borwing for a year or two now, 62 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: and I've got an opportunity to spend half my time 63 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 2: in the executive chair role of the World Crickets Association 64 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 2: and help push a couple of matters there and in 65 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 2: front some of the issues and some of the challenges 66 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 2: we have in that environment. So but yeah, it's time, Mike. 67 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 2: I think we all get to the point where it's 68 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 2: probably better to have someone new come in and look 69 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 2: at things through with a different set of eyes. And 70 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 2: you know, I'm actually looking forward to making a bit 71 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:16,079 Speaker 2: of a change. Just got to get through the next 72 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 2: six months. 73 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: Good on you, all right, we'll go well. Keith Mills, 74 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: the Players Association chief ex there twenty six years. That's 75 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: a good runs in it. But you know, apparently you know, 76 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 1: you know. 77 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 2: For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to 78 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 2: news talks it'd be from six am weekdays, or follow 79 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.