Williams Sodhi, Munro face Black Caps call as T20 rises dodging fight – Gallen
PAUL Gallen says Sonny Bill Williams is dodging him and the Sharks skipper is close to giving up on his fight with the cross-code superstar.
The fight has the potential to earn Gallen big dollars — some say in excess of $A500,000 — but after striking a deal to fight SBW, it looks like falling over because of a dispute with broadcasters. But Gallen smells a rat. He is of the belief that SBW is dodging him.
‘‘I think the issue here is that Sonny is worried about me,’’ Gallen said. ‘‘I’ve watched him very closely this year and he is looking a bit fragile. He’s had a couple of head knocks and I think they are worried about what will happen when I get hold of him.
‘‘They know that I am not like anyone he has fought. I will come at him and keep coming. I don’t have a reputation as a boxer to protect.
‘‘I don’t want to fight anyone else except for Sonny and that would worry them. I’ve got nothing to lose and that’s a concern for Sonny.’’ I’ve watched him very closely this year and he is looking a bit fragile. He’s had a couple of head knocks and I think they are worried about what will happen when I get hold of him.
Williams made it very clear to this column that he wants to fight Gallen. SBW said that Gallen’s sledging of him was a reflection of the kind of person Gallen is.
Gallen formed the opinion the fight won’t happen after a long conversation with William’s agent, Khoder Nasser. ‘‘I want to say that I respect Khoder and he has put on 50 fights for Main Event,’’ Gallen said. ‘‘He knows what he is doing and he is telling me that he wants the best possible result for me and Sonny when it comes to the finances. I have no reason to doubt him.
‘‘I know he has my best interest at heart when it comes to the fight, but I can’t understand why the deal has not happened with a network.
‘‘Everywhere I go people come up to me and say they are looking forward to the fight and they reckon it would be the best fight in years. I’ll be very disappointed if I don’t get to fight Sonny because people want to see it. At this point, I really don’t think that it will happen.’’ The Sun-Herald Decisions, decisions. Mitchell McClenaghan made his; now Ish Sodhi, Colin Munro and Corey Anderson loom as the next Black Caps facing significant calls on their cricket careers in the next year.
No further departures from New Zealand Cricket’s contracted 21 are imminent, but for some there’s thinking to do as Twenty20 opportunities arise with a backdrop of national selectors’ whims or injuries.
At just 24, Sodhi is an intriguing case. He should have a long international career at the tips of his spinning fingers but hasn’t yet cracked it as a first choice for coach Mike Hesson.
In the last home summer, Sodhi played just two T20 internationals and two ODIs, and in the past year a solitary test, against India in Kanpur. In between, the gifted legspinner capped his three-match Australian Big Bash cameo with a stunning 6-11 for Adelaide Strikers which, you’d expect, will have them clamouring for his services in December-January.
Problem is, that clashes with New Zealand’s T20 Super Smash and Black Caps home internationals against West Indies and Pakistan, which all NZC contracted players are obliged to be available for.
It means Sodhi, if he wants to return to Australia for any period of time, requires a no objection certificate from NZC.
For the entire Big Bash an overseas player could earn $75,000. Compare that to an annual NZC retainer of $85,000 for those ranked 18-21 (rising in increments to $210,000 for top-ranked Kane Williamson), with match fees of $8500 per test, $3500 per ODI and $2500 per T20 international (of which there are nine this home summer). They’re dwarfed by Australian or English pay packets.
‘‘We might see some players opt out of a national contract if they’re fringe members of the T20 and ODI team. Because they’re not playing a lot of cricket and they’re not high up the contract list, they could have the opportunity to play in three or four competitions,’’ said New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association chief executive, Heath Mills.
‘‘I don’t think there’s going to be a flood of players leave. I’m pretty confident about that. Whilst there’s test cricket, and that’s the pinnacle of the sport and there’s a meaningful test programme, then players will want to remain contracted.’’
It’s a similar poser for Munro I don't think there's going to be a flood of players leave. who is ensconced in the Caribbean Premier League, one of at least seven well-paid T20 leagues. The left-handed power hitter is a T20 regular for New Zealand but a fringe ODI player - he may be tried as an opener this summer - and is out of favour in the test side.
‘‘I’m aware that some players have weighed up ‘am I better to go and get three or four T20 gigs or remain contracted’, and obviously he [Munro] is in that category. There may said Mills.
Still it’s a significant gamble to cut ties with NZC, and the accompanying benefits of monthly pay cheque, insurance and a high performance programme with injury rehabilitation support.
Anderson is, perhaps, the most likely to follow McClenaghan’s lead in the next year or so.
The big-hitting allrounder has a good reputation in the IPL and was in stellar form for Somerset in England’s T20 Blast before a recurring back injury cut short his stint at four matches.
He still covets test cricket but with the injury restricting his bowling, Anderson might have to consider T20 only which would open the doors to leagues around the world. be one or two more,’’