1 00:00:06,707 --> 00:00:10,467 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,747 --> 00:00:13,667 Speaker 1: from Newstalks EDB Talk some cricket. 3 00:00:13,667 --> 00:00:17,187 Speaker 2: It might seem unseasonal, but an unhippy tour of England 4 00:00:17,187 --> 00:00:21,867 Speaker 2: for the White Ferns concluded on Thursday, that will be 5 00:00:21,907 --> 00:00:26,507 Speaker 2: all she wrote, an absolutely emphatic victory for England over 6 00:00:26,587 --> 00:00:31,507 Speaker 2: New Zealand that may well be it. Back they come. 7 00:00:33,187 --> 00:00:36,147 Speaker 2: England have won the match and the series. 8 00:00:36,747 --> 00:00:42,347 Speaker 3: And a comprehensive series victory achieved by England over the 9 00:00:42,347 --> 00:00:43,707 Speaker 3: White Ferns. 10 00:00:43,547 --> 00:00:47,147 Speaker 4: In the air and it will be taken by captain of. 11 00:00:46,987 --> 00:00:47,467 Speaker 5: The name. 12 00:00:49,667 --> 00:00:49,947 Speaker 4: Prayer. 13 00:00:50,067 --> 00:00:53,427 Speaker 2: Kemp picks up a wicked it has been a morning 14 00:00:53,667 --> 00:00:54,347 Speaker 2: from England. 15 00:00:54,787 --> 00:00:56,267 Speaker 3: Just beyond will. 16 00:00:56,027 --> 00:00:57,507 Speaker 5: It kick on? Will it go for four? 17 00:00:57,547 --> 00:00:59,947 Speaker 3: Will it be the game for England? Jonas has made 18 00:00:59,947 --> 00:01:05,027 Speaker 3: a complete hash of it that has allowed England to 19 00:01:05,107 --> 00:01:08,227 Speaker 3: secure victory the third match in. 20 00:01:08,187 --> 00:01:10,067 Speaker 5: A row, our four to win. 21 00:01:10,147 --> 00:01:12,947 Speaker 4: I think one day what fashion England might try and 22 00:01:13,147 --> 00:01:16,587 Speaker 4: chase this total down and it will trickle away to 23 00:01:16,667 --> 00:01:21,347 Speaker 4: the boundary to secure a seventh wicket win for England 24 00:01:21,667 --> 00:01:22,707 Speaker 4: here at the Oval. 25 00:01:23,267 --> 00:01:26,667 Speaker 3: This the two hundred and twenty International for the England women. 26 00:01:31,987 --> 00:01:36,147 Speaker 3: Tiding stop from the Skipper and the two to finish 27 00:01:36,227 --> 00:01:39,867 Speaker 3: things off and it was comfortable in the end for England. 28 00:01:39,947 --> 00:01:42,627 Speaker 2: So fairly groom listening there. The White Ferns losing all 29 00:01:42,707 --> 00:01:47,427 Speaker 2: three One day internationals and all five T twenty internationals 30 00:01:47,467 --> 00:01:50,587 Speaker 2: on their tour of England. Brian Stronach, as general manager 31 00:01:50,627 --> 00:01:53,187 Speaker 2: of High Performance for New Zealand Crickety joins US now 32 00:01:53,587 --> 00:01:56,707 Speaker 2: Brian eight matches, eight losses for the White Ferns. How 33 00:01:56,707 --> 00:01:58,187 Speaker 2: disappointed are you with that? 34 00:01:59,347 --> 00:01:59,547 Speaker 3: Here? 35 00:01:59,587 --> 00:02:02,427 Speaker 5: We get it. I think the team's gat it weird 36 00:02:02,467 --> 00:02:05,147 Speaker 5: gas of the individuals a gatto, that's that's not where 37 00:02:05,187 --> 00:02:07,107 Speaker 5: we want to be as a team. But there's also 38 00:02:07,187 --> 00:02:11,347 Speaker 5: some realizations that we're a young, developing side that has 39 00:02:11,347 --> 00:02:15,707 Speaker 5: some incredible aspirations and and some extreme talent and it's 40 00:02:15,747 --> 00:02:18,547 Speaker 5: taking some time. But no, they're not the results that 41 00:02:18,547 --> 00:02:18,907 Speaker 5: we want. 42 00:02:19,427 --> 00:02:22,267 Speaker 2: Do you agree that results are the main metric for 43 00:02:22,787 --> 00:02:23,867 Speaker 2: success for this team. 44 00:02:25,027 --> 00:02:27,427 Speaker 5: Yeah, at the end of the day, yes, that's what 45 00:02:27,467 --> 00:02:29,907 Speaker 5: sport's about, you going out to win and lose. I 46 00:02:29,947 --> 00:02:33,107 Speaker 5: think some realization around where we are compared to the 47 00:02:33,107 --> 00:02:36,507 Speaker 5: rest of the world and understanding that and we've got 48 00:02:36,587 --> 00:02:41,427 Speaker 5: some incredibly big goals that we want to achieve, and 49 00:02:41,787 --> 00:02:44,987 Speaker 5: it's going to take some time to get there, but ultimately, yes, 50 00:02:45,067 --> 00:02:46,547 Speaker 5: that's what we're doing in sports. 51 00:02:47,227 --> 00:02:50,827 Speaker 2: What are the major planks in your improvement strategy for 52 00:02:50,907 --> 00:02:51,787 Speaker 2: the white films. 53 00:02:52,907 --> 00:02:57,347 Speaker 5: I think experience and I think depths of talent are 54 00:02:57,387 --> 00:03:00,947 Speaker 5: the two big things that we have clear plans around, 55 00:03:00,987 --> 00:03:05,627 Speaker 5: and we're working towards the more fulfilling and working towards 56 00:03:05,707 --> 00:03:08,707 Speaker 5: but amately, they are the things where we've got to 57 00:03:08,707 --> 00:03:09,627 Speaker 5: improve and get better. 58 00:03:10,587 --> 00:03:14,587 Speaker 2: Is that domestic women's competition strong enough to produce the 59 00:03:14,627 --> 00:03:17,467 Speaker 2: depth that you're after to be a competitive international side. 60 00:03:18,587 --> 00:03:21,027 Speaker 5: I think you've got to look at that wider than 61 00:03:21,067 --> 00:03:25,027 Speaker 5: just a domestic cricket system. If you look solely at that, no, 62 00:03:25,787 --> 00:03:29,467 Speaker 5: but we have a system below that which also includes 63 00:03:30,107 --> 00:03:33,067 Speaker 5: different programs and l and a program on North South 64 00:03:33,227 --> 00:03:37,067 Speaker 5: program and so forth, and all that together, I think 65 00:03:37,067 --> 00:03:39,627 Speaker 5: over time will the whole strategy here is we've got 66 00:03:39,667 --> 00:03:43,027 Speaker 5: some real young talent with our white friends, and we 67 00:03:43,147 --> 00:03:46,107 Speaker 5: are building that talent and they're growing, but we don't 68 00:03:46,147 --> 00:03:48,387 Speaker 5: want to be in this situation again, so we have 69 00:03:48,467 --> 00:03:53,707 Speaker 5: to build that system behind it so when these players retire, 70 00:03:54,747 --> 00:03:57,187 Speaker 5: we've got ready to go players behind them and that's 71 00:03:57,227 --> 00:03:59,307 Speaker 5: the track that we've fallen into in the past. We 72 00:03:59,427 --> 00:04:00,067 Speaker 5: haven't done that. 73 00:04:00,867 --> 00:04:03,747 Speaker 2: So that structure that exists behind the domestic competition as 74 00:04:03,747 --> 00:04:06,347 Speaker 2: well as the domestic competition, once you get to them, 75 00:04:06,827 --> 00:04:09,627 Speaker 2: you believe that over time that will produce the depth 76 00:04:10,187 --> 00:04:11,747 Speaker 2: and the experience that you're after. 77 00:04:12,547 --> 00:04:14,747 Speaker 5: Over time, I think it will. I mean, we have 78 00:04:14,867 --> 00:04:17,907 Speaker 5: to do it so differently to some of the other 79 00:04:18,027 --> 00:04:20,427 Speaker 5: nations because we will don't have the depth of talent, 80 00:04:20,547 --> 00:04:24,427 Speaker 5: we don't have the resource. However, that's no excuse. We 81 00:04:24,507 --> 00:04:27,507 Speaker 5: still believe that we can do it, even with those 82 00:04:27,547 --> 00:04:30,627 Speaker 5: issues that we've got to overcome. And yeah, I sincerely 83 00:04:30,667 --> 00:04:31,907 Speaker 5: believe we will get there. 84 00:04:32,467 --> 00:04:35,427 Speaker 2: So you said, then you said experience and depth. Can 85 00:04:35,467 --> 00:04:38,187 Speaker 2: you just unpack that for us a little bit, Brian, 86 00:04:38,267 --> 00:04:41,467 Speaker 2: the operational stuff behind that strategy. 87 00:04:42,507 --> 00:04:47,747 Speaker 5: Yeah. I think cricket is largely late development sports, so 88 00:04:47,947 --> 00:04:53,147 Speaker 5: it takes time to come through and develop and perform consistently, 89 00:04:53,387 --> 00:04:55,827 Speaker 5: and I think that's the key consistently at the highest 90 00:04:55,867 --> 00:04:59,987 Speaker 5: level for us. Talent can mean you can perform at times, 91 00:05:00,027 --> 00:05:03,987 Speaker 5: but performing consistently is the key, and that's our aspirations. 92 00:05:04,547 --> 00:05:07,187 Speaker 5: You need to learn from experience to do that. You 93 00:05:07,307 --> 00:05:09,107 Speaker 5: need to go through that, and there needs to be 94 00:05:09,347 --> 00:05:12,347 Speaker 5: pressure and enough players to pick from to be able 95 00:05:12,387 --> 00:05:15,147 Speaker 5: to do that. And that's what our strategy is largely 96 00:05:15,187 --> 00:05:16,827 Speaker 5: based on, is creating that. 97 00:05:17,227 --> 00:05:20,187 Speaker 2: When you say over time, it'll take time, that sort 98 00:05:20,187 --> 00:05:23,387 Speaker 2: of thing, what sort of time frame have you targeted? 99 00:05:25,347 --> 00:05:28,107 Speaker 5: So I look at the Black Captain where they've got 100 00:05:28,147 --> 00:05:33,187 Speaker 5: to and that took I reckon an essence ten years plus. 101 00:05:33,587 --> 00:05:35,307 Speaker 5: Now I don't want it to take that long for 102 00:05:35,347 --> 00:05:40,267 Speaker 5: the watchings and our women's program in system, so we 103 00:05:40,307 --> 00:05:42,067 Speaker 5: want it to be quicker than that. But it will 104 00:05:42,107 --> 00:05:45,187 Speaker 5: take time. Now that doesn't give us an excuse though, 105 00:05:45,387 --> 00:05:48,907 Speaker 5: to not perform in between. We still want to go 106 00:05:48,987 --> 00:05:51,907 Speaker 5: to World Cups and win World Cups. We're just talking 107 00:05:51,947 --> 00:05:55,827 Speaker 5: about winning World Cups and peak events consistently as the goal. 108 00:05:56,787 --> 00:05:59,907 Speaker 2: What improvements or progress have you seen under Ben Sawyer 109 00:05:59,987 --> 00:06:00,667 Speaker 2: as head coach. 110 00:06:02,187 --> 00:06:04,067 Speaker 5: I've seen a lot of improvements. I look at our 111 00:06:04,067 --> 00:06:07,547 Speaker 5: bowling unit and how they're consistently performing. I look at 112 00:06:07,547 --> 00:06:11,187 Speaker 5: the individuals around batting at times and how they're improving 113 00:06:11,267 --> 00:06:14,667 Speaker 5: and performing. It's just not at the level where we 114 00:06:14,747 --> 00:06:16,467 Speaker 5: need it to be to compete with the best at 115 00:06:16,467 --> 00:06:19,187 Speaker 5: the moment, and that's the critical things that we hold 116 00:06:19,187 --> 00:06:20,187 Speaker 5: people accountable to. 117 00:06:20,827 --> 00:06:23,707 Speaker 2: So you hold Ben Sawyer accountable to the results of 118 00:06:23,707 --> 00:06:25,227 Speaker 2: the side, to. 119 00:06:25,707 --> 00:06:28,467 Speaker 5: Players getting better, which the results of the size is 120 00:06:28,547 --> 00:06:28,907 Speaker 5: part of. 121 00:06:29,627 --> 00:06:32,227 Speaker 2: But main metric though as results, isn't it, Brian, We 122 00:06:32,267 --> 00:06:34,227 Speaker 2: said that before you know, the White Fans and the 123 00:06:34,267 --> 00:06:36,907 Speaker 2: Black camps job is to win cricket matches, right. 124 00:06:37,667 --> 00:06:41,107 Speaker 5: Yeah, over time. So I don't agree that the sole 125 00:06:41,267 --> 00:06:44,667 Speaker 5: metric is winning games because that does give us indications 126 00:06:44,667 --> 00:06:47,507 Speaker 5: around how we're progressing and so forth. But if you 127 00:06:47,587 --> 00:06:50,307 Speaker 5: put some of our players and their experience and their 128 00:06:50,307 --> 00:06:54,267 Speaker 5: development opportunities up against some of those players, they don't compete. 129 00:06:54,547 --> 00:06:57,107 Speaker 5: So it's not solely on winning and losing, but that 130 00:06:57,227 --> 00:06:57,987 Speaker 5: is a big part of it. 131 00:06:58,067 --> 00:07:00,947 Speaker 2: Yes, do you back Ben Sawyer as White Fans coach? 132 00:07:01,707 --> 00:07:04,587 Speaker 5: Yeah, we're backing. We've got a World Cup just around 133 00:07:04,587 --> 00:07:08,747 Speaker 5: the corner. We're backing and fully towards that World Cup. 134 00:07:09,787 --> 00:07:14,827 Speaker 2: Are you open to being innovative, to trying different things 135 00:07:14,667 --> 00:07:16,307 Speaker 2: as you seek improvement. 136 00:07:17,627 --> 00:07:19,947 Speaker 5: I think we have to, especially through the system and 137 00:07:20,347 --> 00:07:23,267 Speaker 5: through the team, and I think that's some criticism that 138 00:07:23,387 --> 00:07:25,907 Speaker 5: can be pointed at us at times that we can 139 00:07:25,947 --> 00:07:28,747 Speaker 5: be a bit stubborn around what we're doing. But yes, 140 00:07:28,827 --> 00:07:30,787 Speaker 5: I agree with you that we've got to be open 141 00:07:30,827 --> 00:07:31,987 Speaker 5: to doing new things. 142 00:07:32,467 --> 00:07:35,827 Speaker 2: How worried are you that? Because the white fans have 143 00:07:35,867 --> 00:07:38,387 Speaker 2: got a lot of fans, A lot of New Zealand 144 00:07:38,387 --> 00:07:40,667 Speaker 2: cricket fans are fans of the Black Apps and of 145 00:07:40,707 --> 00:07:43,147 Speaker 2: the White Ferns. They support their domestic men's and women's 146 00:07:43,187 --> 00:07:45,907 Speaker 2: sides equally. I live in Wellington and I love watching 147 00:07:45,947 --> 00:07:48,067 Speaker 2: the Blaze as much as I like watching the Firebirds. 148 00:07:48,907 --> 00:07:53,027 Speaker 2: How worried are you that apathy might set in among 149 00:07:53,187 --> 00:07:54,547 Speaker 2: the women's fan base. 150 00:07:56,827 --> 00:08:01,187 Speaker 5: Well, the good thing is, at the moment, I agree 151 00:08:01,187 --> 00:08:04,227 Speaker 5: with you. We've got a great fan base who care 152 00:08:04,387 --> 00:08:07,187 Speaker 5: a lot and they say it's not good enough when 153 00:08:07,187 --> 00:08:11,267 Speaker 5: we're not performing, which is tough. That I agree is 154 00:08:11,267 --> 00:08:13,907 Speaker 5: a really good thing. It drives us and it holds 155 00:08:13,947 --> 00:08:17,067 Speaker 5: us accountable. I think the biggest thing that we can 156 00:08:17,107 --> 00:08:19,547 Speaker 5: do is just show that improvement and show that we're 157 00:08:19,547 --> 00:08:23,587 Speaker 5: working towards it and are the results of this to 158 00:08:23,907 --> 00:08:26,747 Speaker 5: good enough to show that, no they're not, but behind 159 00:08:26,747 --> 00:08:28,987 Speaker 5: the scenes that we're pushing towards that massively. 160 00:08:30,427 --> 00:08:32,787 Speaker 2: Are you optimistic about that improvement, Brian, because I look 161 00:08:32,827 --> 00:08:36,347 Speaker 2: back to the you know, the series against Pakistan back 162 00:08:36,387 --> 00:08:40,907 Speaker 2: in December, you know, over in South Africa in October, 163 00:08:41,267 --> 00:08:43,067 Speaker 2: back to the last T twenty World Cup when the 164 00:08:43,107 --> 00:08:46,507 Speaker 2: side didn't make the semi finals. Are you are you 165 00:08:46,547 --> 00:08:48,947 Speaker 2: optimistic that improvement will come. 166 00:08:50,027 --> 00:08:52,547 Speaker 5: Yeah. I am optimistic around our systems and our team 167 00:08:52,627 --> 00:08:55,907 Speaker 5: moving forward. Yep. Those results are not where we want 168 00:08:55,907 --> 00:08:59,507 Speaker 5: them to be, but yes, I'm incredibly optimistic around where 169 00:08:59,547 --> 00:09:01,747 Speaker 5: the White Friends and woman's cricket at New Zealand can 170 00:09:01,787 --> 00:09:03,027 Speaker 5: get to. Definitely. 171 00:09:03,227 --> 00:09:04,987 Speaker 2: Do you have a performance target in place for the 172 00:09:04,987 --> 00:09:06,347 Speaker 2: next T twenty World Cup in October? 173 00:09:07,947 --> 00:09:10,387 Speaker 5: A performance target? Yeah, I mean our intention is to 174 00:09:10,387 --> 00:09:13,427 Speaker 5: go out and try and win it. That's that Ultimately, 175 00:09:14,147 --> 00:09:16,227 Speaker 5: like I said, we have a long term strategy around 176 00:09:16,227 --> 00:09:18,627 Speaker 5: the White fans. That doesn't give us the excuse to 177 00:09:18,747 --> 00:09:21,267 Speaker 5: go out and not perform. So we are trying to 178 00:09:21,307 --> 00:09:22,547 Speaker 5: go to that World Cuff and win it. 179 00:09:23,027 --> 00:09:24,667 Speaker 2: So what if I was to give you a call 180 00:09:24,707 --> 00:09:27,547 Speaker 2: in November and nothing's changed, we then. 181 00:09:28,987 --> 00:09:32,147 Speaker 5: Well nothing changed changes, then we would have to make 182 00:09:32,187 --> 00:09:36,067 Speaker 5: some changes. And ultimately I'm accountable for the performance of 183 00:09:36,107 --> 00:09:38,587 Speaker 5: this team and moving in the right direction. So that's 184 00:09:38,667 --> 00:09:41,947 Speaker 5: the critical piece where we've got to ensure things keep 185 00:09:42,027 --> 00:09:45,027 Speaker 5: changing and moving forward, and I'm, like I said before, 186 00:09:45,067 --> 00:09:46,627 Speaker 5: I'm incredibly optimistic around that. 187 00:09:46,747 --> 00:09:48,347 Speaker 2: All right, Well that was going to be my last question. 188 00:09:48,427 --> 00:09:52,467 Speaker 2: So optimism remains your your main emotion around the White Ferns, 189 00:09:52,507 --> 00:09:55,107 Speaker 2: even despite what's happened in the last month or so 190 00:09:55,187 --> 00:09:55,627 Speaker 2: in England. 191 00:09:57,627 --> 00:10:01,707 Speaker 5: Optimism and disappointment. There's no hiding behind the fact that 192 00:10:01,787 --> 00:10:05,907 Speaker 5: we wanted to succeed better in England. But I'm not 193 00:10:06,027 --> 00:10:08,267 Speaker 5: losing face and the fact that we're improving and can 194 00:10:08,387 --> 00:10:09,467 Speaker 5: improve and blow improach. 195 00:10:09,747 --> 00:10:11,667 Speaker 2: All right, Brian, I appreciate you taking the time for 196 00:10:11,707 --> 00:10:14,387 Speaker 2: a chat. Brian Stronik hit a hiph performance at New 197 00:10:14,467 --> 00:10:15,107 Speaker 2: Zealand Cricket. 198 00:10:15,147 --> 00:10:18,787 Speaker 1: There for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen 199 00:10:18,907 --> 00:10:22,147 Speaker 1: live to News Talk st B weekends from midday or 200 00:10:22,187 --> 00:10:24,147 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.