For many Kiwis, summer evokes thoughts of sizzling barbecues, lazy beach days, and the festive buzz that comes with the end of the year. But for our members and sports fans, there's something even more
exciting that marks this season—cricket!
A Kiwi summer isn’t complete without cricket, whether it’s a laid-back game at the beach, spending hours glued to the biggest matches on TV, or even better attending a game with friends and family.
As you read this the first few rounds of the Ford Trophy have already been contested with the Plunket Shield and Hallyburton Johnstone Shield just getting underway and the Super Smash coming to a venue near you from Boxing Day.
It is also a busy and exciting calendar for our Blackcaps and White Ferns with the White Ferns returning home as ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Champions, what a tremendous achievement and congratulations to all involved. The Blackcaps take on England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan (both home and away) over the summer including the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in late February which the Blackcaps won in 2000. The White Ferns host Australia on two occasions in December and March with Sri Lanka sandwiched between these two tours.
The international programme calendar faces increased pressure with the incremental growth of the various domestic leagues around the world, which results in a higher demand of the game’s best players as these two segments of the game compete. In August World Cricketer’s Association (WCA) announced it commenced an independent review into the structure of the global game.
This comes on the back of the work WCA (formally FICA) has done over the last decade, including its men’s and women’s Global Employment Reports. WCA has appointed a respected group of people to lead this workstream, which will review and produce a set of recommendations to the WCA Board with respect to the global structure of cricket across the men's and women's games. It will focus in particular on ICC Events, bilateral international cricket and domestic leagues as the major revenue generating cricket landscapes in which the best players in the world compete, and which fund the professional game pyramids and player career pathways underneath them.
As with all of WCA's work, the workstream will be player led, but will also include broader consultation across the game, including with current and ex administrators including ICC, owners, media, and others, and we look forward to seeing the findings of the review in the new year.
In this edition of Outright, we catch up with Blake Coburn who has transitioned to a career in law enforcement with the New Zealand Police. We canvas two players - one current and one past who are developing their own business. Louise Benns’ (nee Milliken) company Wingman acts as a co-pilot for farmers to improve their herd. On the other hand, Jake Gibson organises golf tours alongside playing cricket for Otago with his company Pin Seeker Golf Travels.
Our cover story features Makayla Templeton who whilst playing cricket for the Hearts last season was training to be a qualified paramedic and we meet our Player Services team Brad Rodden (Head of Player Services) and Kali Rapley-Inia (Member Services Coordinator).
So whether you’re at the in-laws for the Christmas break, swimming at the beach or relaxing in your hammock enjoying a good read we hope you enjoy this edition of Outright. Click here to read.
Wishing you all a safe and happy summer.
Nga - mihi nui
NZCPA