T20 cash register rings loud
Ker-ching. You can almost hear the echo of the humble cash register from New Zealand Cricket headquarters, as we brace for an unprecedented run of seven Black Caps Twenty20 internationals – eight if they make the tri-series final.
T20 overload is upon us, with cricket’s cash cow being milked for all it’s worth. NZC will bank millions, with a Friday nighter against Australia at Eden Park (also venue for the final), and two against England in Wellington and Hamilton next month providing the biggest boost to its coffers.
And why wouldn’t they? NZC chief executive David White said in November that gate takings typically make up 10 per cent of its annual revenue. Last year that was $48.7 million, down $4m on the previous year, as NZC declared a $9.3m loss for 2016-17. That was largely, White explained, due to changes in the ICC’s funding model which sees the bulk of NZC’s hefty payout delayed until later in the World Cup cycle.
On that percentage NZC would hope to skyrocket past $5m in gate takings from this home summer in which the Black Caps won their first 12 matches and still 14 remain including five ODIs and two tests against England.
Money yells loudest in cricket, particularly in T20 where 24 New Zealanders will go under the hammer on Saturday and Sunday in the Indian Premier League auction.
Led by captain Kane Williamson in the marquee group, all will have dreams of becoming an instant millionaire like Trent Boult did a year ago. He and others like Colin Munro or Colin de Grandhomme – on recent international performances – could well fetch a big price again when the eight franchise owners and coaches sit around tables in Bangalore raising the paddle carrying their team logo.
Twenty20 makes the cricketing world go around, but there can be too much of a good thing. Especially when it’s rammed down viewers’ throats – almost literally with the incessant burger references in the just-completed Super Smash.
NZC’s humble domestic competition held its own strongly. Standards were high and a host of individual performances would have stood up in the top T20 leagues. It was largely good viewing and didn’t need the cheesy commercial fast food references at every turn, especially with the sponsor’s logo front and centre.
International Twenty20 is a pure money-maker for home boards. But, really, no-one will lose any sleep if the Black Caps suddenly lose this three-match series to Pakistan.
Sales are rocketing along at Eden Park as fans pay to bellow at the Australians and roar on a trans-Tasman victory, but a national state of cricketing emergency won’t be declared if New Zealand miss out on the tri-series final.
The saddest will be the bean counters at NZC headquarters, with another big crowd in Auckland beckoning for a potential final between the hosts and Australia or England.
By then, though, most die-hard cricket fans will be clamouring for the humble old one-day international, when England arrive as the form side of world cricket after their series win over Australia.
New Zealand beat Pakistan 5-0 which was no mean feat against the Champions Trophy winners. They led from the front, attacking with bat and ball, and found a way to snuff out any Pakistan fightback. Still, the woeful efforts from some of the visitors’ top-order away from familiar climes, called out by their coach Mickey Arthur, leaves an asterisk.
England are the real deal, with batting depth, power hitting galore and a nicely balanced bowling attack which was excellent at the death in Sydney on Sunday. For Williamson’s side there’s no tougher current yardstick over five matches; England winning 3-2 in their previous series in 2015.
Then we’ll even see some test cricket. Remember that venerable game played in whites? The ultimate measure of a team’s ability won’t happen until late March after a three-month hiatus, and there’s only two of them. If only it was three ODIs and three tests against England. Three-test series are dwindling but, surely it can be arranged when the big nations visit.
There it is again, that sound of the cash register. Ker-ching.