1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZB. 3 00:00:12,587 --> 00:00:15,467 Speaker 2: Domestic Super Smash cricket finals come up today at Hagley 4 00:00:15,507 --> 00:00:17,867 Speaker 2: Oval in the women's comp. The Wellington Blaze chasing a 5 00:00:17,907 --> 00:00:20,547 Speaker 2: third straight title up against Auckland who beg Northern by 6 00:00:20,587 --> 00:00:23,907 Speaker 2: eight wickets yesterday in the elimination final. Let's bring in 7 00:00:23,987 --> 00:00:27,667 Speaker 2: Blaze all rounder Zara Jetley. I think we can confidently 8 00:00:27,707 --> 00:00:30,787 Speaker 2: call you and all rounder now, Zara, because you've played 9 00:00:30,787 --> 00:00:34,187 Speaker 2: a far more prominent role with the bat for Wellington 10 00:00:34,227 --> 00:00:36,067 Speaker 2: this season. How much have you worked on your batting 11 00:00:36,667 --> 00:00:37,747 Speaker 2: in the off season. 12 00:00:38,387 --> 00:00:43,227 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's been a big journey with batting. I've I 13 00:00:43,307 --> 00:00:45,587 Speaker 3: went to the UK kind of three years ago searching 14 00:00:45,627 --> 00:00:47,787 Speaker 3: for someone that was gonna, you know, believe in me 15 00:00:47,827 --> 00:00:50,267 Speaker 3: as much as I believed in myself and I did 16 00:00:50,307 --> 00:00:54,467 Speaker 3: about four hours a day every day for eighteen months. Yeah, 17 00:00:54,827 --> 00:00:56,387 Speaker 3: it was a long, lengthy process. 18 00:00:56,747 --> 00:01:00,107 Speaker 2: And since you've got back, you know, was I guess 19 00:01:00,187 --> 00:01:03,107 Speaker 2: playing a greater role for the Blaze part of the 20 00:01:03,107 --> 00:01:05,707 Speaker 2: overall plan as well? And what sort of conversations have 21 00:01:05,747 --> 00:01:07,627 Speaker 2: you had that have led you to, you know, to 22 00:01:07,747 --> 00:01:08,107 Speaker 2: doing that. 23 00:01:09,187 --> 00:01:12,387 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think I've always wanted to be an all rounder. 24 00:01:12,547 --> 00:01:15,027 Speaker 3: Since I've been batting eleven for the last five years 25 00:01:15,067 --> 00:01:18,267 Speaker 3: and it's been very defeating as a player that's wanted 26 00:01:18,267 --> 00:01:21,187 Speaker 3: to bat in the top five. But ultimately what it's done, 27 00:01:21,467 --> 00:01:25,267 Speaker 3: it's driven me in many different ways and it's helped 28 00:01:25,307 --> 00:01:27,627 Speaker 3: me work really, really hard towards that goal. So goal 29 00:01:27,627 --> 00:01:30,867 Speaker 3: setting was really really important, especially a couple of years ago. 30 00:01:30,867 --> 00:01:33,107 Speaker 3: We camp was kind of a two to three year 31 00:01:33,187 --> 00:01:35,027 Speaker 3: plan around where I wanted to be with the bat 32 00:01:36,027 --> 00:01:38,787 Speaker 3: and what was required to get there. And those conversations 33 00:01:38,787 --> 00:01:42,947 Speaker 3: were obviously with Cricket Wellington our new high performance manager 34 00:01:43,027 --> 00:01:46,147 Speaker 3: Dave Wildash was great, but the person that ultimately got 35 00:01:46,187 --> 00:01:49,467 Speaker 3: me there was my coach in the UK's named Dave Simpkins, 36 00:01:49,467 --> 00:01:52,667 Speaker 3: who's just completely changed my game and those conversations were 37 00:01:52,707 --> 00:01:54,867 Speaker 3: the most important ones to get me where I am today. 38 00:01:55,107 --> 00:01:56,987 Speaker 4: So what are the major planks of this, Zara? 39 00:01:57,067 --> 00:02:00,467 Speaker 2: What did Dave and you work on mainly that has 40 00:02:00,627 --> 00:02:02,227 Speaker 2: got you to the point where you're now batting five 41 00:02:02,227 --> 00:02:05,387 Speaker 2: for the Blaze. It's just say, having hardly batted at all, 42 00:02:05,547 --> 00:02:08,147 Speaker 2: you know in the last few seasons, what are the 43 00:02:08,147 --> 00:02:08,827 Speaker 2: main planks of this? 44 00:02:08,947 --> 00:02:09,027 Speaker 3: Is? 45 00:02:09,027 --> 00:02:12,507 Speaker 4: It is it run scoring areas. Is it confidence? You know, 46 00:02:12,787 --> 00:02:15,547 Speaker 4: what is it that's led us to this point? Yeah? 47 00:02:15,587 --> 00:02:17,587 Speaker 3: So I think we talked a lot about process and 48 00:02:17,627 --> 00:02:20,347 Speaker 3: what that is, and ultimately that's building more trust and 49 00:02:20,347 --> 00:02:22,747 Speaker 3: confidence in your skills, you know, trust in your swaying. Okay, 50 00:02:22,787 --> 00:02:24,787 Speaker 3: So what that looks like for me is I have 51 00:02:24,867 --> 00:02:27,387 Speaker 3: to be technically very very accurate as a better because 52 00:02:27,387 --> 00:02:30,507 Speaker 3: I'm naturally smaller. I'm not a Rebecca Burns and I'm 53 00:02:30,507 --> 00:02:33,307 Speaker 3: not a Sophie divine that can you know, clear the rope, 54 00:02:33,427 --> 00:02:35,307 Speaker 3: and so that means I need to time the ball 55 00:02:35,347 --> 00:02:37,547 Speaker 3: a little bit better. My visual skill doesn't even prove 56 00:02:37,627 --> 00:02:39,667 Speaker 3: and technically I need to be a bit more accurate 57 00:02:39,747 --> 00:02:43,347 Speaker 3: and also technically more aware. So those are the conversations 58 00:02:43,387 --> 00:02:46,307 Speaker 3: I had with Dave, and yeah, it was it was 59 00:02:46,387 --> 00:02:48,947 Speaker 3: heavy content. I had to really knuckle down, and you know, 60 00:02:48,947 --> 00:02:51,107 Speaker 3: I've got to I've got about three journals that I've 61 00:02:51,107 --> 00:02:52,747 Speaker 3: filled up to the brim. 62 00:02:53,587 --> 00:02:55,067 Speaker 4: So that was cool, outstanding. 63 00:02:55,067 --> 00:02:57,467 Speaker 2: And amongst all of this, of course, I presume you've 64 00:02:57,467 --> 00:02:59,587 Speaker 2: still had to work on your bowling as well, which 65 00:02:59,627 --> 00:03:02,067 Speaker 2: is the other string to your bow, the one you've 66 00:03:02,067 --> 00:03:05,267 Speaker 2: always had, So how did you balance you know this desire, 67 00:03:05,267 --> 00:03:08,667 Speaker 2: a deep desire to be come better with the bat with, 68 00:03:08,907 --> 00:03:10,827 Speaker 2: you know, making sure that your bowling didn't suffer. 69 00:03:11,627 --> 00:03:16,067 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it was important to remind myself that 70 00:03:16,147 --> 00:03:19,067 Speaker 3: my primary skill is to bowl. If I'm to peer selected, 71 00:03:19,107 --> 00:03:22,347 Speaker 3: I'm ultimately a bowler. So it was mastering that craft 72 00:03:22,387 --> 00:03:25,507 Speaker 3: just as much as batting. So I bowled one hundred 73 00:03:25,547 --> 00:03:29,707 Speaker 3: overs a week while I was in the UK, and 74 00:03:30,067 --> 00:03:32,907 Speaker 3: I had fifty percent was technical drills and the other 75 00:03:32,947 --> 00:03:35,067 Speaker 3: fifty percent was visual And what that means is just 76 00:03:35,227 --> 00:03:38,147 Speaker 3: heading out a tug or going into competition like playing 77 00:03:38,187 --> 00:03:41,907 Speaker 3: games over the weekend. So bowling was just as important 78 00:03:41,907 --> 00:03:46,747 Speaker 3: as batting. And look, I did too much cricket. That's 79 00:03:46,827 --> 00:03:49,787 Speaker 3: that's just the reality. I let it consume me while 80 00:03:49,827 --> 00:03:51,907 Speaker 3: I was in the UK because I've got somewhere I 81 00:03:51,907 --> 00:03:52,507 Speaker 3: need to get to. 82 00:03:52,667 --> 00:03:58,227 Speaker 4: So and so, were you able to find balance though, Yeah, 83 00:03:58,307 --> 00:04:00,787 Speaker 4: I guess so. I was also working twenty five hours 84 00:04:00,827 --> 00:04:01,227 Speaker 4: a week. 85 00:04:01,387 --> 00:04:06,387 Speaker 3: I was studying at university doing marketing and finance, so 86 00:04:06,427 --> 00:04:07,347 Speaker 3: somehow I managed to do that. 87 00:04:07,387 --> 00:04:08,027 Speaker 2: I was also. 88 00:04:07,867 --> 00:04:10,827 Speaker 3: Coaching as well, so you know I managed to balance 89 00:04:10,867 --> 00:04:11,947 Speaker 3: it all. When it was fine, I. 90 00:04:11,947 --> 00:04:13,587 Speaker 4: Was great, incredible. 91 00:04:13,787 --> 00:04:16,027 Speaker 2: Well, it's led us to this point where here the 92 00:04:16,067 --> 00:04:19,187 Speaker 2: Blades are again in another final. In terms of the 93 00:04:19,227 --> 00:04:21,667 Speaker 2: season as a whole up to this points are in 94 00:04:21,707 --> 00:04:23,667 Speaker 2: terms of the Super Smash, seven wins from ten and 95 00:04:23,747 --> 00:04:26,747 Speaker 2: round robin comfortably top spots. How happy do you think 96 00:04:26,787 --> 00:04:28,947 Speaker 2: the coaches were with the way the team played across 97 00:04:28,947 --> 00:04:29,827 Speaker 2: the regular season? 98 00:04:30,907 --> 00:04:34,747 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think you know, we've we've had such great 99 00:04:34,787 --> 00:04:38,507 Speaker 3: success in the Supersmash prior and I think a lot 100 00:04:38,507 --> 00:04:40,307 Speaker 3: of people and a lot of conversations are about how 101 00:04:40,347 --> 00:04:42,467 Speaker 3: we rely on our overseas. And I think the really 102 00:04:42,507 --> 00:04:45,907 Speaker 3: really cool thing about this group of girls is that, 103 00:04:46,147 --> 00:04:48,187 Speaker 3: you know, the last four games, we haven't had any 104 00:04:48,307 --> 00:04:50,427 Speaker 3: and we've managed to win three out of four of 105 00:04:50,467 --> 00:04:53,307 Speaker 3: them quite comfortably. And I think, you know, there's so 106 00:04:53,387 --> 00:04:55,987 Speaker 3: much fight in this group. And yeah, like you said, 107 00:04:56,387 --> 00:05:00,147 Speaker 3: the coaches that we have, Johnny and Moe and even Joe, 108 00:05:00,147 --> 00:05:02,667 Speaker 3: they've just been so cool in terms of the performance element. 109 00:05:02,747 --> 00:05:05,267 Speaker 3: They just they don't put any pressure on us and 110 00:05:05,347 --> 00:05:08,307 Speaker 3: just allow us to express ourselves in every way, shape 111 00:05:08,347 --> 00:05:10,587 Speaker 3: or form, and all the girls just come out with 112 00:05:10,667 --> 00:05:13,347 Speaker 3: confidence and energy. And this year the culture has been 113 00:05:13,587 --> 00:05:14,947 Speaker 3: fantastic for the Super Smash. 114 00:05:14,987 --> 00:05:18,267 Speaker 4: So how do you reckon your match up against Auckland. 115 00:05:19,467 --> 00:05:21,667 Speaker 3: Yeah, Auckland's a great side. They've got a lot of 116 00:05:21,707 --> 00:05:24,067 Speaker 3: fight and you know they've bet us once in the 117 00:05:24,667 --> 00:05:26,507 Speaker 3: kind of the ten game. I think it was a 118 00:05:26,627 --> 00:05:29,947 Speaker 3: fourth round that we played them, and you know, I think, yeah, 119 00:05:29,947 --> 00:05:31,347 Speaker 3: they've got a lot of fight, but so do we 120 00:05:31,387 --> 00:05:33,427 Speaker 3: and I think, you know, I back us one hundred percent. 121 00:05:33,507 --> 00:05:36,507 Speaker 3: But Auckland, you know, have a great depth all the 122 00:05:36,507 --> 00:05:38,987 Speaker 3: way back into eleven. So you know, all we need 123 00:05:39,027 --> 00:05:41,947 Speaker 3: to do is, you know, it's just another game of cricket, right, 124 00:05:41,947 --> 00:05:44,987 Speaker 3: twenty two yards one hundred what for to one hundred 125 00:05:45,027 --> 00:05:47,267 Speaker 3: and forty two grand ball like that? That is it 126 00:05:47,347 --> 00:05:49,587 Speaker 3: is just another game of cricket and ultimately we know 127 00:05:49,627 --> 00:05:51,707 Speaker 3: how to win. So Auckland will put on a good fight. 128 00:05:51,747 --> 00:05:52,587 Speaker 3: Will be interesting game. 129 00:05:52,707 --> 00:05:54,707 Speaker 2: Yeah, we'll be looking forward to it. In terms of 130 00:05:54,747 --> 00:05:57,707 Speaker 2: the overs that you bowl, you specifically bowl during a 131 00:05:58,227 --> 00:06:01,707 Speaker 2: twenty over innings. Have you landed on a preference as 132 00:06:01,707 --> 00:06:03,907 Speaker 2: far as where you bowl is concerned. Do you prefer 133 00:06:03,907 --> 00:06:06,227 Speaker 2: the ball all four? It once and two here too there? 134 00:06:06,427 --> 00:06:07,707 Speaker 4: How does that sort of play out? 135 00:06:08,347 --> 00:06:08,547 Speaker 1: Yeah? 136 00:06:08,587 --> 00:06:12,387 Speaker 3: I think I kind of bowl based on what the 137 00:06:12,427 --> 00:06:15,267 Speaker 3: situation is, and you know, whatever the game requires, our 138 00:06:15,307 --> 00:06:18,787 Speaker 3: bowl accordingly, and you know you have conversations with your 139 00:06:18,827 --> 00:06:21,947 Speaker 3: captain around what that looks like for you. And you know, 140 00:06:21,947 --> 00:06:24,307 Speaker 3: if you're parent bowling and the power play bowling outside 141 00:06:24,347 --> 00:06:27,227 Speaker 3: the power play, those conversations chef too. So yeah, kind 142 00:06:27,227 --> 00:06:31,307 Speaker 3: of just bowl and yeah, it just bolted to the 143 00:06:31,347 --> 00:06:33,387 Speaker 3: situation that's that's given to me in the game. 144 00:06:33,587 --> 00:06:36,747 Speaker 4: How's Jess Kerr going as captain? Oh, she's awesome. 145 00:06:37,227 --> 00:06:41,387 Speaker 3: Yeah, ability to communicate is awesome. You know when you 146 00:06:41,427 --> 00:06:44,347 Speaker 3: know she had her first game was unfortunate because she 147 00:06:44,427 --> 00:06:46,987 Speaker 3: had to captain with the left hand or right hander, 148 00:06:47,107 --> 00:06:49,227 Speaker 3: and you know we had time constraints, we had to 149 00:06:49,227 --> 00:06:50,947 Speaker 3: really get through our overs. But she did such a 150 00:06:50,947 --> 00:06:53,747 Speaker 3: great job and you know the team came together and yeah, 151 00:06:53,747 --> 00:06:54,547 Speaker 3: I know she's awesome. 152 00:06:54,627 --> 00:06:56,947 Speaker 2: All right. Well, another final for the Blaze to look 153 00:06:56,987 --> 00:06:59,467 Speaker 2: forward to. Zara, Congrats on the part you've played to 154 00:06:59,467 --> 00:07:01,587 Speaker 2: get the Blaze to this point or the best as 155 00:07:01,627 --> 00:07:04,187 Speaker 2: you look to cap it up this afternoon at Hagley Oval. 156 00:07:04,387 --> 00:07:06,667 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, No, thank you, Zara, Zara, they're 157 00:07:06,707 --> 00:07:09,107 Speaker 2: out of the Wellington Blaze. So ten past two, about 158 00:07:09,107 --> 00:07:11,387 Speaker 2: half an hour away from a start, and that one 159 00:07:11,387 --> 00:07:14,027 Speaker 2: will have toss details for you in the next little 160 00:07:14,067 --> 00:07:17,467 Speaker 2: while Wellington blaze for Auckland Hearts for the Super Smash 161 00:07:17,507 --> 00:07:20,867 Speaker 2: Women's Grand Final. To follow is the men's BJ watling 162 00:07:20,947 --> 00:07:23,627 Speaker 2: with us after two to chat about his Northern Brave 163 00:07:23,667 --> 00:07:26,187 Speaker 2: as they come up against Canterbury and the men's final. 164 00:07:26,987 --> 00:07:30,147 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 165 00:07:30,267 --> 00:07:33,547 Speaker 1: to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow 166 00:07:33,587 --> 00:07:35,187 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio