Fluffy, Soft, Unshining
Blackcaps flux state, Men's U19 OFC footy champs, wahine domestic cricket contracts, Welly Nix wahine squad building, Marko Stamenic x UCL & more
Kia ora and welcome to The Niche Cache. There are many ways to support our mahi. Patreon has an extra podcast each week. Word of mouth works great too. Engagement is fabulous and if you’re on our website, dwell on those ads. Love ya self.
Podcast
Subscribe: Apple | Spotify | Youtube
Reading Menu
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Paul Turner's Titans Foundations (Rugby League)
Kiwi-NRL Finals Round Tahi Preview (Rugby League)
The Wellington Phoenix’s Aussie Cup Run Is Over But The Real Yarns Are Only Just Beginning (Football)
Flying Kiwis – September 6 (Football)
The Football Ferns Beat Mexico Then The Football Ferns Beat The Philippines, Right On (Football)
Aotearoa vs Australia ODI Series Preview (Cricket)
Will Young Has Been Building Winter Foundations In England (Cricket)
Scotty’s Word
Aotearoa cricket has been in a quiet state of flux since World Test Championship glory. Retirements and contract stuff yank Blackcaps in all directions, while they lose games.
Last summer Blackcaps lost home Tests to Bangladesh and South Africa, then they were rolled by England away. Most T20I and ODI cricket played in this period has been against weaker nations and in tricky conditions against Australia, the same feeling from those Test losses flowed into this ODI series defeat.
Blackcaps enjoyed success as a crafty outfit who embraced battles and didn't do anything too drastic. Blackcaps are 2-6-1 in the World Test Championship and their only wins came when batting once - when Blackcaps have to bat twice in a Test, they lose. There was a drawn Test vs India but losing six of the seven Tests when batting twice suggests a lack of grit.
Bangladesh is the only team worse than Aotearoa in this WTC cycle.
When Papatuanuku and Ranginui are in Blackcaps favour, they bat once and win big. Anything other than that and they lose. That seems fluffy, soft, and the opposite of Blackcaps shine. Touring West Indies is tricky but not on the same level as a series in Australia and while I’d like to say that those Aussies exposed flaws, a few other nations have too.
In both losses Blackcaps took early wickets and then eased up allowing Australia to re-build their innings. This was annoying in the first game because it felt like Aussies chatting up their aggressive sporting nature. For it to happen again in another loss, makes it more notable. Chuck that trend among Test losses featuring zero grit and we're all left feeling underwhelmed by this team.
Both teams have good seamers and strong batting line ups. There is a blatant difference in spin bowling though...
Adam Zampa: 19ov, 6w @ 3.84rpo.
Glenn Maxwell: 13ov, 4w @ 4.69rpo.
Mitchell Santner: 17ov, 1w @ 4.05rpo.
Michael Bracewell: 13ov, 0w @ 4.23rpo.
Australia has taken 10w via spin, Aotearoa has taken 1w. Zampa also took 6w in three games vs Zimbabwe and in eight games this year, Zampa has 18w @ 19avg. Zampa played 15 games in 2019, 13 games in 2020, and 3 games in 2021. Australia's attacking intuition leads them to a wicket-taking leggy and they seem to be giving Zampa consistent opportunities to build in ODI and T20Is.
Blackcaps opt for Santner and Bracewell, and this specific instance has me curious about Ish Sodhi's leggies. Aotearoa lack aggression and allowing Australia to re-build also stems from not having the tools to attack. Sure, give Trent Boult more overs… but who is the other attacking bowler who can rip through a lower order?
Unfortunately for Bracewell he is part of this and as much as I enjoy his mahi, he hasn't commanded his opportunities. Bracewell is the safest of cricketers and I believe this is why he has been selected as those around him view Bracewell as a reliable team member capable of playing various roles.
Bracewell has not taken a wicket in five consecutive ODI games with a high score of 31 in this period. In two Tests, Bracewell took 5w @ 57avg/5.97rpo. Again, I really appreciate Bracewell and his ability, yet these aren't attacking numbers. Selecting Bracewell is a defensive move and when Santner is already being deployed as a defensive spinner, this is weird.
What happened after Ajaz Patel took 14w in a Test of Mumbai magic? He was dropped for Rachin Ravindra and that's not only a defensive move, it also highlights the lack of planning for spinners as Ravindra was quickly ushered out of the 1st 11 again. Then Patel played the first Test against England before making way for Bracewell.
Blackcaps don't select spinners as weapons, they select spinners A) for their batting and B) to play a defensive role. The Santner/Sodhi combo is a major T20I weapon but in Tests and this most recent ODI example there is a lack of what Aussies love - attacking intent.
‘Lost aura’ pops up as I write this. Test losses and ODI wobbles aren’t quite as bad as multiple All Blacks losses but Blackcaps have dipped and may keep dipping. What I have observed about Blackcaps under this regime is a decent culture and player development. Like All Blacks players rallying behind their coach and their mana, I’m curious how Blackcaps move forward. A funky summer awaits.
Ajaz Patel didn't dominate his first County Championship game with Glamorgan, taking 1w @ 2.73rpo in 30 overs for a draw against Worcestershire. Will Young also struggled with scores of 27 and 20 for Northamptonshire in their loss to Hampshire. Next round of games starts next Monday.
Women's domestic cricket contracts have started to trickle through, we’re only missing Wellington's first round of contracts at the time of writing. Most teams are rolling out the same group and this allows fans to get familiar with the wahine cricketers around Aotearoa who are now embedded in the local circuit.
Quick shout out to Prue Catton who grabs a contract with Auckland and spent the winter playing football for Auckland United. Aotearoa wahine are amazing as they usually have to work more than blokes while chasing their sporting dreams and some do so while playing two sports at a high level. After playing for Knights in NRLW earlier this year, Katelyn Vaha'akolo starts on the wing for Auckland and Charntay Poko in Canterbury’s midfield in the Farah Palmer Cup final. Aliyah Dunn and Parris Mason this year won national titles in netball with Central Pulse and then Tauihi basketball with Tokomanawa Queens.
Auckland have snared Makayla Templeton from Northern and she adds spin funk alongside Fran Jonas. Canterbury also picked up Kate Anderson from Northern in a nice piece of recruitment that should boost Anderson’s development. Last summer Anderson hit four 50+ scores in six innings (51avg/108.51sr) to finish second in HBJ Shield runs. Anderson and Kate Ebrahim were the only batters who scored 300+ runs last season.
Canterbury's announcement also featured Lea Tahuhu with a contract and Amy Satterthwaite as available to play, without a contract. This suggest that Satterthwaite will be keen for selection and there may be a situation where Satterthwaite is clearly the best batter in wahine cricket but not available for White Ferns.
Each team has clusters of immense young talent. Wellington are always in this conversation and they will again roll out a strong group of young cricketers, while Otago returns as a development farm. Eden Carson was the main benefactor of Otago's success last summer and I spent all summer yarning about Polly Inglis, Molly Loe, Sophie Oldershaw, and Emma Black so tap in.
Another round of rugby league finals in Australia...
NSW U21
Panthers: William Fakatoumafi, Daeon Amituanai, Ilai Tuia.
Rooters: Connagh Takairangi.
Knights: Keanu Wainohu-Kemp.
NSW Cup
Newtown: Mawene Hiroti, Kayal Iro, Jenson Taumoepeau, Charbel Tasipale, Reubenn Rennie.
Panthers: Preston Riki.
Bears: Siua Wong, Renouf Atoni.
Bulldogs: Zach Dockar-Clay.
Queensland U21s
Wynnum: Caius Fa'atili, Sefa Roache-Faimalo, Felix Fa'atili.
Redcliffe: Ali Leiataua, Kina Kepu, Zyon Maiu'u, Jacob Laban, Lleyton Finau, Demitric Sifakula, Valingi Kepu.
Queensland Cup
Burleigh: Esan Marsters, Nathaniel Peteru, Kea Pere.
Sunshine Coast: Will Warbrick.
Tweed: Lee Turner, Jamayne Isaako, Sam Lisone, Lamar Manuel-Liolevave.
Wildcard’s Notebook
The Men’s U19 Oceania Championships are underway over in Tahiti and the NZers strolled to a handy 8-0 win in game one against the Cook Islands. It was a game in which the New Zealand side took some time to get going, missing a few golden early chances, but the goals eventually began to flow. The lads were up five at the break. Things took a noticeable drop in intensity to start the second half but then after 66 minutes came a quintuple substitution (replacing the two strikers, the two wingbacks, and the number ten) and another little burst of goals followed.
Coach Darren Bazeley set his team up in a 3-4-1-2 formation, unsurprisingly with a heavy Wellington Phoenix influence in his line-up. The back three was entirely Welly Nixers (including captain and first teamer Finn Surman), as was the midfield duo. Chuck in a left wingback and the number ten and that’s seven of the starters affiliated with that one academy – not including goalie Henry Gray who is now at Waterside Karori but only left the WeeNix at the start of the year (to chase a few overseas trial experiences). Plus a couple more Nixers came off the bench.
The full line-up...
Henry Gray | Isaac Hughes, Finn Surman, Lukas Kelly-Heald | Everton O’Leary (Wilson Souphanthavong 66’), Fin Conchie, Jackson Manuel, Adam Supyk (Sebastian Barton-Ginger 66’) | Noah Karunaratne (Oliver Fay 66’) | Kian Donkers (Oliver Colloty 66’), Jay Herdman (Charlie Beale 66’)
Keep in mind that Eastern Suburbs trio Jackson Jarvie, Aaryan Raj and Joseph Knowles are not yet with the team as they’ve understandably been allowed to hang back to play the Chatham Cup final on Sunday. Yeah, the Chatham Cup final’s on Sunday btw. Auckland City vs Eastern Suburbs. City lost their long unbeaten streak last week when a rotated XI were beaten 2-0 by Auckland United in the final round of the Northern League but will still be heavy favourites as they seek their third trophy of the year (with a National League still to follow).
That game kicks off at 4pm on Sunday. The Kate Sheppard Cup also kicks off at 1pm on Sunday with Northern Rovers taking on Auckland United. Rovers were NFF league champs with only one defeat all season while United finished 17 points back in fourth place but definitely have the kinda team that could turn it up in a cup final. The men’s game has one clear favourite and a big underdog. The women’s final still has the obvious pick but shapes to be a much tighter contest. Can’t wait.
Side note aside, Kian Donkers (Cashmere Technical) got things started running onto a ball over the top from Lukas Kelly-Heald outta defence. Jay Herdman, the only overseas based player in the squad (Vancouver Whitecaps II), then missed a sitter after a cut-back and was also denied a couple times by the Cooks keeper Ngereine Maro who despite the concessions had a pretty outstanding first half. The 17yo goalie plays for Western Suburbs in Aotearoa, joining them back in January from out of the Canterbury region, pretty sure.
Finally about twenty mins in they scored a second as Adam Supyk showed some quick feet to get to get in behind and slide one across for Donkers to finish. Then on 35’ Donkers made it three, completing his hat-trick after RWB Everton O’Leary (Birkenhead) got past his marker and set him up. Herdman finally scored one of his own soon after, combining with Donkers in the move. Then Donkers had his fourth from the penalty spot after O’Leary had been fouled. Curious looking penalty take, to be fair...
Things got boring for a bit as the second half began. Distinct feel of going through the motions... until all the attacking players were changed out at once and nearly immediately Charlie Beale won a penalty which Oliver Colloty (Melville) buried. An Oliver Fay (Auckland United) shot from outside the box snuck in at the near post a bit later. Then some great work from Wilson Souphanthavong (Miramar Rangers), who was the pick of the substitutes, working with Beale, set up Colloty for another. In fact Colloty shoulda also had a hatty but he missed an open one late on, whoops.
8-0 final score. Tidy way to start. The kiwis should have another hefty win on Saturday at 1pm when they take on American Samoa in game two. Their final group stage game is then against Solomon Islands on Tuesday at the same time, the Sollies having beaten American Samoa 6-0 in their opener.
Remember how Claudia Bunge was being liked with Manchester United and Brighton? Well she’s re-signed with Melbourne Victory for a third season of A-League instead. That WSL interest didn’t quite come to fruition but having been a key player in consecutive championship seasons with the Victory already you’ve gotta think that the third time will be the charm. Bunge absolutely has the quality to have a long and successful career overseas – her performances for the Footy Ferns in recent times prove that much let alone what she’s done at A-League level. Big season incoming now that we know for sure that the scouts are paying attention.
Meanwhile the Wellington Phoenix have also done a bit more work on their wahine squad this week with Zoe McMeeken and Ava Pritchard both re-signing for year two while Marisa van der Meer has switched over from Melbourne City.
MVDM was in a good place at City. Played 55 minutes in their extra time semi-final loss to Sydney FC – meaning one more finals appearance than any of her current Phoenix teammates with the exception of Paige Satchell. But she did only get 245 minutes in total for them that season and at the Welly Nix she can immediately be a key starter. Similar thought processes to Paige Satchell’s own move. Game time is crucial. Also she probably would’ve been a Nixer last season had they been rubber stamped sooner - but by the time that happened she’s already signed with City.
MVDM was the starting left back for the U20s at their recent World Cup while Zoe McMeeken came on in each game as a right back substitute (Tui Dugan the starter). Combined with Mackenzie Barry and Kate Taylor who were early re-signings and there’s already a tasty back four in place.
Ava Pritchard was no guarantee to be back though, not after the club signed Paige Satchell to effectively take her position. Pritchard is a versatile enough player to make that work but the fact is the WahiNix have a limited number of places for kiwis in their squad. With Alyssa Whinham moving up to a senior contract (having been a scholarship player in year one), Betsy Hassett joining after several years in Iceland, and Satchell and MVDM both swapping Australian clubs for the Phoenix... several of last year’s squad were going to have to miss out (unless the ALW removes that dumb rule but best not to do more than pray for that one).
Grace Jale has already left for Canberra United so that cleared up one of those spots. But after the Van Der Meer signing, that still left Pritchard in a group with Te Reremoana Walker, Kelli Brown, and Saskia Vosper waiting nervously on the outer with one kiwi place remaining. Plus, hopefully, a couple scholarship players but I think they have to be 18yo or younger and never having had a pro contract before so that’s irrelevant to those four.
Pritchard played the most minutes of them by far (second only to Knott) however the arrival of Satchell threatened that. Plus Vosper and Brown would likely have been first choice had they not struggled with injuries throughout the season. Also Walker was an important defensive alternate who played some part in all but one game.
Pritchard got the nod. The fascinating thing now will be to see if any of those others can land on their feet with a gig at one of the Aussie clubs. Walker was affiliated with the Newcastle Jets academy prior to the Nix and has lived in Australia for several years so she’s the most likely. But Brown and Vosper certainly have a heap of pedigree and being a couple years older than some of these other Nixers could be well suited to joining a rival.
And, you know, plenty more Aotearoa candidates from outside last season’s Nix squad too. No need to stop there. As it stands the kiwis signed with Australian ALW clubs are: Grace Jale & Rebecca Burrows (Canberra United), Liz Anton (Perth Glory) & Claudia Bunge (Melbourne Victory). Malia Steinmetz and Hannah Wilkinson are also current free agents. Rebekah Stott and Ally Green have both moved to European clubs – Stott at Brighton (England), Green at Vålerenga (Norway).
Okay, so, in complete contrast to the Marko Stamenic yarn in Monday’s email it turns out that Stams did get picked for that FC København Champions League squad after all. Strange circumstances though because he absolutely definitely was not on the list to begin with. The probable reasons for that were all detailed in Flying Kiwis on Tuesday.
But then by that very same evening there he was on the list after all. Somehow asterisked as a B-List player despite seemingly not being eligible but one way or another he clearly did make it because he was an unused sub in the 3-0 loss away to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday morning NZT. Proof in the pudding.
Obviously nobody in Copenhagen or UEFA is going to serve up a detailed explanation of what happened with the 20 year old New Zealander on the fringes of a club not expected to make the knockouts. Gotta paint between the lines ourselves here.
Stamenic was not on the initial list. 29 players were listed for FCK within this overall squad roundup piece – 20 A-Listers and 9 B-Listers. Stamenic was not one of them. But navigate through to the club’s profile on the UEFA site and there he is. 28 players listed there. 20 A-Listers and 8 B-Listers (including Stamenic).
Right so... what happened there? First of all I got stitched up with my research is what happened lol. All that mental labour only for them to switch things up late notice – although we got what we wanted so I’ll take that L every day of the week no dramas.
It’s possible that UEFA simply made a mistake by leaving him off in the first place. That can happen. It’s also the case that the B-List is kinda fluid though and rather than being set in concrete once it’s submitted like the A-List, you serve up a fresh list of B-List players with each matchday squad (to be ratified by UEFA no less than 24 hours prior to kickoff).
That means that Stamenic could have been left off the initial list and then added on for the Dortmund game. That seems like exactly what’s happened, actually. The weird part is that he still does not seem to be eligible for the B-List even though that’s how he’s been included. Here’s that criteria again, verbatim...
“A player may be registered on List B if he is born on, or after, 1 January 2001 and has been eligible to play for the club concerned for any uninterrupted period of two years since his 15th birthday by the time he is registered with UEFA – or for a total of three consecutive years with a maximum of one loan period to a club from the same association for a period not longer than one year. Players aged 16 may be submitted if they have been registered with the club for the previous two years without interruption. Each club must include at least two goalkeepers on List A and at least three in total (List A and List B combined). Clubs are entitled to register an unlimited number of players on List B during the season, but the list needs to be submitted no later than 24:00 CET the day before a match.”
Stamenic is a year younger than that cut-off date, sweet as. He’s been at the club two years. But he spent last season on two separate loans down a division with HB Køge which supposedly means he needs to log that third year to make the cut. Maybe that HBK loan doesn’t count for some reason. Maybe he got some kind of dispensation. Or maybe we should stay quiet about all this, just in case there’s been a convenient error in his favour and he’s not technically supposed to be there at all.
Eh, whatever the deal is the only detail that truly matters is that Marko Stamenic was on the bench for a Champions League game the other day and that next elusive kiwi bloke to play UCL is closer than it’s been for a decade.
Remember how Martin Guptill was the all-time leading T20 international run scorer? Sorry to say that he’s not any more. Actually he’s not even second. World cricket moves quickly sometimes (and extremely slowly other times) and India have been in action at the Asia Cup playing a bunch of T20s while the Blackcaps have been in rare ODI mode.
About three weeks ago, Guptill was first with 3497 runs, with Rohit Sharma second on 3487. Since then Sharma has scored 12 vs Pakistan, 21 vs Hong Kong, 28 vs Pakistan, then 72 vs Sri Lanka. Add all that up and his lead is now rather substantial again.
Sharma then took a game off against Afghanistan but in that same game Virat Kohli scored his first international ton in any format for over 1000 days. 122 not out and coupled with earlier fifties against Hong Kong and Pakistan it’s safe to say he’s rediscovered some form.
Enough form that he’s now gone 87 runs clear of Guptill himself. The good news is that India didn’t make the final so that’s their tournament done with. Pakistan and Sri Lanka play overnight in the last super four stage game then they meet again in the final two days later (Monday 2am start NZT). The Blackcaps next play T20s in a month as part of a pre-World Cup tri-series with Bangladesh and Pakistan, then it’s that World Cup itself beginning later in October.
LEADING T20I CAREER RUN SCORERS
Rohit Sharma – 3620 runs | 32.32 ave | 140.63 sr
Virat Kohli – 3584 runs | 51.94 ave | 138.37 sr
Martin Guptill – 3497 runs | 31.79 ave | 135.80 sr
Paul Stirling – 3011 runs | 28.67 ave | 134.84 sr
Aaron Finch – 2855 runs | 35.24 ave | 145.29 sr