Cricketers need star performance

A virtuoso performance by New Zealand in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy would be handy for keeping the series relevant.

The success of Australia’s Big Bash League has brought the T20 cricket frenzy closer to home, and it seems inevitable the competition will strengthen. That makes it paramount the Black Caps get parity with Australia in the three 50-over contests starting on Monday at Eden Park.

New Zealand flatlined last month, losing 3-0 in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, and Australian public interest was relatively low compared with the crowds and television ratings generated by the BBL.

New Zealand were not solely to blame — Pakistan also struggled to spark interest — but 68-run, 116-run and 117-run defeats diluted the impact.

New Zealand Cricket produced a political masterstroke with the revival of the contest in June 2015 as part of a deal with Cricket Australia which included 10 tests and eight ChappellHadlee series over seven years.

Pragmatism dominated the deal — NZC agreed to the inaugural day-night test — but there was still a playerdriven element after New Zealand’s compelling one-wicket victory in World Cup pool play at Eden Park.

“Regular competition against one of the best sides in the world is healthy for the Black Caps, NZC and all the stakeholders in our game,” NZC chief David White said at the time.

NZ went on to win the first multimatch rubber since 2009-10 when they beat Australia 2-1 last season.

But the pre-Christmas trouncing, and the decision to morph one of those eight series into a T20 tri-series with England next summer, suggests CA’s interest might be waning. After this summer the Chappell-Hadlee series resumes in 2018-19 in New Zealand; takes a break in 2019-20, and returns in 2020-21 and 2021-22.

Before their recent defeats, NZ coach Mike Hesson had to defend the contest as some in Australia questioned its place in their schedule.

The three-ODI series punctuated Australia’s home tests against South Africa and Pakistan, as they bounced between playing with red, pink and white balls within a month. Hesson said he’d rather keep the trophy than climb to No 1 in ODI rankings.

The stage is set for the incumbent Black Caps to channel the ChappellHadlee forces of old and pit their 50-over CV against the world No 1s.

Who knows? Strong performances could prompt a Big Bash League deal next season. — Andrew Alderson