It's definitely a valid point that some of the batting in the women's Super Smash has left a bit to be desired. But on the other hand, I've been encouraged by the emergence of some pretty promising young bowlers, like Marama Downes, Bree Illing and PJ Watkins. As an example, here's the first wicket of Illing's career: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Q4ABcRdMCy6YtajR/?mibextid=ZbWKwL
And we can't talk about the Super Smash without mentioning the outrageous all-round tournament that Amelia Kerr is having. Three unbeaten half-centuries and two five-wicket hauls in the last week alone!
Happy new year Dylan, glad you managed a decent break. I hope you feel refreshed and ready to face 2024.
A few comments on the Super Smash and Women’s SS as these have dominated my holiday viewing and I also managed to get to three games over the NY period. I wholeheartedly agree with your comments Dylan and would add the following:
- Standard: sometimes not especially high in both the SS and WSS. The BBL is obviously a much better standard when I switch over to watch it.
- Coverage: quodos to TVNZ for bringing it to us, it has been a real reminder to me if the power of free to air sports coverage. My 10 year old has religiously watched every game simply because of its accessibility. On the downside the commentary is really bad, and when I’m alone I watch with the TV on mute. Scotty Stevenson needs to stick to facilitating not making cricket insights as he can’t even yet distinguish between right and left handed batters (yes really).
- Depth: there are some green shoots coming through - Tim Robinson, Zak Foulkes, Zara Jetly, Muhammad Abbas to name a few but not enough and it is evident that our incumbent national players really lift the standard. Even the likes of Blundell and Nicholls have looked leagues above in a format that doesn’t play to their strengths. Amelia Kerr is a rock star that stands head and shoulders above all in the WSS.
- Production: when a really good player does present often they’re not NZ grown. Eg when I saw Holly Armitage for the Hinds I thought immediately “get her in the White Ferns” but turns out she’s English and not even in their top team....in the mens a lot of the better players not already in the BCs are South African products (Ferns, Delport etc). Great if they’re eligible but perhaps a question mark on our system.
- Predictability: some of the games have following a predictable and boring path of big scores posted and obviously not going to be mowed down within 5 overs of the reply. There’s a lack of gap hitting and power in both comps - the women’s being especially affected, sometimes the standard can be eye wateringly amateur.
Overall though I’m pleased we have vibrant feeder comps and it has been great to see the players coming through. It’d be nice to have a few more overseas pros to lift the standard and keep the comps credible but thats on the edges.
Totally agree with your thoughts Andy, mirror mine. Some of the catching is worse than my efforts (and I sucked at catching). On production I'd also add that the direction of what camera to show is lacking. For example sometimes for a close run out they are still focusing on the player when the stumps are broken. I can imagine directing isn't easy but feel it's letting them down at times.
I wonder what part a potential lack of cricket knowledge plays in that Matt...sometimes key moments for insight are lost to inane chatter about ice creams, and if the frontman doesn’t understand the game maybe the producer, camera staff etc don’t either...
It's definitely a valid point that some of the batting in the women's Super Smash has left a bit to be desired. But on the other hand, I've been encouraged by the emergence of some pretty promising young bowlers, like Marama Downes, Bree Illing and PJ Watkins. As an example, here's the first wicket of Illing's career: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Q4ABcRdMCy6YtajR/?mibextid=ZbWKwL
And we can't talk about the Super Smash without mentioning the outrageous all-round tournament that Amelia Kerr is having. Three unbeaten half-centuries and two five-wicket hauls in the last week alone!
Happy new year Dylan, glad you managed a decent break. I hope you feel refreshed and ready to face 2024.
A few comments on the Super Smash and Women’s SS as these have dominated my holiday viewing and I also managed to get to three games over the NY period. I wholeheartedly agree with your comments Dylan and would add the following:
- Standard: sometimes not especially high in both the SS and WSS. The BBL is obviously a much better standard when I switch over to watch it.
- Coverage: quodos to TVNZ for bringing it to us, it has been a real reminder to me if the power of free to air sports coverage. My 10 year old has religiously watched every game simply because of its accessibility. On the downside the commentary is really bad, and when I’m alone I watch with the TV on mute. Scotty Stevenson needs to stick to facilitating not making cricket insights as he can’t even yet distinguish between right and left handed batters (yes really).
- Depth: there are some green shoots coming through - Tim Robinson, Zak Foulkes, Zara Jetly, Muhammad Abbas to name a few but not enough and it is evident that our incumbent national players really lift the standard. Even the likes of Blundell and Nicholls have looked leagues above in a format that doesn’t play to their strengths. Amelia Kerr is a rock star that stands head and shoulders above all in the WSS.
- Production: when a really good player does present often they’re not NZ grown. Eg when I saw Holly Armitage for the Hinds I thought immediately “get her in the White Ferns” but turns out she’s English and not even in their top team....in the mens a lot of the better players not already in the BCs are South African products (Ferns, Delport etc). Great if they’re eligible but perhaps a question mark on our system.
- Predictability: some of the games have following a predictable and boring path of big scores posted and obviously not going to be mowed down within 5 overs of the reply. There’s a lack of gap hitting and power in both comps - the women’s being especially affected, sometimes the standard can be eye wateringly amateur.
Overall though I’m pleased we have vibrant feeder comps and it has been great to see the players coming through. It’d be nice to have a few more overseas pros to lift the standard and keep the comps credible but thats on the edges.
Totally agree with your thoughts Andy, mirror mine. Some of the catching is worse than my efforts (and I sucked at catching). On production I'd also add that the direction of what camera to show is lacking. For example sometimes for a close run out they are still focusing on the player when the stumps are broken. I can imagine directing isn't easy but feel it's letting them down at times.
I wonder what part a potential lack of cricket knowledge plays in that Matt...sometimes key moments for insight are lost to inane chatter about ice creams, and if the frontman doesn’t understand the game maybe the producer, camera staff etc don’t either...
Welcome back mate .
I also used to be a movie reviewer, and I made some howlers!