Super Duper Eights
Blackcaps at the T20 World Cup, Wellington Phoenix vs Auckland FC preview, NZ Warriors halves, domestic cricket, Kiwis in NBL, and more
Scotty’s Word
Blackcaps handled their business against Canada with Glenn Phillips smacking 76* @ 211sr and Rachin Ravindra found some runs with 59* @ 151sr. Aside from gratitude for Ravindra’s runs, Phillips is the bloke in the spotlight here as he has crept into all-format status for Aotearoa. I’ve got six all-format Blackcappers who are likely 1st 11 players in each format and another recent addition is Jacob Duffy after his rise over the past year...
All-Format Blackcaps:
Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy
Here’s what Phillips has done for Aotearoa…
Test: 32.29avg/72sr | 31avg/3.5rpo
ODI: 42.06avg/103sr | 51.56avg/6rpo
T20I: 32.23avg/143sr | 36.85avg/8.7rpo
The funkiest thing about Phillips is that he bowled in his first season of Plunket Shield cricket. Now that Phillips is bowling for the Blackcaps in all formats, there is always lots of chat about him switching from wicket-keeping to bowling spin and yet he was always doing everything. Phillips bowled 20+ overs, took wickets, scored a century and other 50+ scores in each of his first three First-Class seasons...
2016/17: 218 runs @ 36.3avg, 1 x 100, 1 x 50 | 27ov, 2w @ 44.5avg
2017/18: 350 runs @ 31.8avg, 1 x 100, 2 x 50 | 59ov, 7w @ 34.8avg
2018/19: 660 runs @ 60avg, 1 x 100, 5 x 50 | 59ov, 6w @ 39.8avg
I don’t care about Finn Allen outside of the Blackcaps T20I bubble because he only plays T20 cricket - a player who only represents New Zealand in one format shouldn’t have a Blackcaps contract so why bother stressing about Allen’s contract status? Allen has literally only played T20s for the last year and this offers a funky comparison to Phillips, especially in FC cricket...
Glenn Phillips: 67 games - 39.88avg/67sr | 36.37avg/3.5rpo
Finn Allen: 20 games - 20.96avg/55sr
A bloke from Canada hit a century vs Blackcaps. This stuff should be expected because of the glorious growth of cricket around the world and especially in T20 cricket - I’d love to see New Zealand participate in the global growth with more games against a wider range of nations. Everyone’s seeing how good nations around the world are at cricket and the Blackcaps did well to respond to Canada’s challenge.
Bowling is also the Blackcaps weakness right now. Their bowling stats at the T20 World Cup are among the worst and their peers are teams like Australia who didn’t qualify for the super duper eights. Blackcaps have averaged 37.15 runs per wicket as the bowling team which is sixth highest at the T20WC and they are the only team in this group who are still involved in the tournament.
Their batting has been elite though. Blackcaps are the only team scoring over 10rpo and they have the second highest runs per wicket as the batting team.
Rachin Ravindra’s progression in T20I batting
2021: 9avg/98sr
2023: 18.2avg/134sr
2024: 15.8avg/119sr, 1x50
2025: 30.9avg/151sr, 2x50
2026: 21.8avg/146sr, 1x50
For paid subscribers
Bonus Pod chatting Blackcaps & A-League derby
Expanded Phillips vs Allen comparison
Blackcaps bowling weakness/batting strength at T20WC
Even more Blackcaps stats
White Ferns/Blackcaps in one-day finals
Emerging All Stars for teams in one-day finals
Dolphins Kiwi-NRL crew
Kiwi-NRL spotlight on Tokoaitua Owen & U19 halves
Three emergers to watch out for in HBJ Shield/Ford Trophy finals…
HBJ Shield
Nensi Patel (ND - 23yrs): 283 runs @ 31.4avg/104sr | 13w @ 21.2avg/3.9rpo
First LA season with three 50+ scores, fifth consecutive LA season with 10+ wickets
Hannah Francis (Wellington - 20yrs): 241 runs @ 24.1avg/77sr | 6w @ 31.6avg/4.7rpo
Averages 28 in LA batting and 24 in LA bowling, already has a LA century
Kayley Knight (ND - 22yrs): 15w @ 14.2avg/3.9rpo
Averages 20.1 in LA bowling and will soon be in White Ferns squads
Ford Trophy
Curtis Heaphy (CD - 22yrs): 258 runs @ 64.5avg/64sr
Averages 46.7 in FC batting and 53.1 in LA
Lachlan Harper (Canterbury - 24yrs): 7w @ 14.8avg/4.8rpo
Had 86 runs @ 143sr and 8w @ 26.6avg in his first Super Smash, which has flowed into Ford Trophy
James Hartshorn (Wellington - 28yrs): 19w @ 20.2avg/5.4rpo
Excellent T20 bowler so far (14.8avg) who also averages 27.6 in LA
Best up the ante with your Jack Thompson knowledge. NZ Warriors currently have Luke Metcalf, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin out injured. For those with the Cleary fetish - Jett is also out injured and NZW signed Jye Linnane from Knights with a hefty history of knee injuries so they are slow brewing his return to footy.
That leaves Tanah Boyd as the primary half and Luke Hanson is named again with Boyd for the preseason game vs Dolphins on Friday night. I reckon coach Andrew Webster may slot Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad into the halves alongside Boyd at some stage, if Taine Tuaupiki is good to go at fullback, and ease the development of Hanson.
Hanson may still earn his starting spot and while I’m more confident that coach Webster would shuffle Nicoll-Klokstad into the halves instead of giving Thompson a start right now, Thompson has quickly moved into the NRL mixer. The fact that Thompson has already played a preseason game, having just turned 19-years-old, shows how he’s viewed at Mt Smart. This is only the latest positive indicator about his talent.
Thompson is from Cessnock and his mid-season move from the Knights system to NZW coincided with the U17 team rolling into their first Harold Matthews Cup championship. Thompson would have been eligible for the U19 SG Ball Cup season last year but missed that due to injury and instead played 15 games of U21s while still being 18yrs.
Simply put...
2024: U17 HMC champion
2025: Playing U21s while 18yrs
2026: NRL preseason while 19yrs
NZW also have Harry Inch but he’s still adjusting to rugby league. Thompson has excelled as a play-maker in Australia and for NZW while playing up age grades, which are kinda increndible indicators for a half in the Mt Smart system. Next step for Thompson and Hanson is the game vs Dolphins and I’m open to the chance that Thompson impresses more than Hanson ... or Boyd.
Panthers are one of my favourite Kiwi-NRL organisations right now and that includes their investment in female players even though they don’t have an NRLW team. They have added a bunch of Kiwi-NRL juniors to their men’s pipeline this summer, having already picked up Compton Purcell (Marist) from NZW mid-way through last season. Francis Manuleleua (Papatoetoe) and Siale Faeamani (St Peter’s College) had a pit-stop at Panthers after leaving Aotearoa and have progressed to fringe NRL roles at Titans and Knights respectively.
I’m eager to see lots of reserve grade squads over the next week and I’ll keep learning as Panthers roll out their NSW Cup/U21 Jersey Flegg Cup teams, as well as their NSW Women’s Premiership squad. Here’s their Aotearoa flavour that has already been in action this year...
NRL preseason
Moses Leota: Mt Albert
Isaiah Papali’i: Te Atatu
Scott Sorenson: Sydney
Casey McLean: Sydney
Kalani Going: Mid-Northern
Tom Ale: Mt Albert
Patrick Moimoi: Mangere East
Haami Loza: Mangere East
U19 Tarsha Gale Cup
Sapphire Harris: Taniwharau
Malena Lavea: Richmond/Howick Colllege
Tyali Raihe: Taniwharau
Olive Connolly: Linwood
Monica Ben: Otara/Pakuranga
Danica Talitonu: Manukura
U19 SG Ball Cup
Kaea Cribb: Te Iti Rearea
Musical jam...
Nick’s Notebook
It’s Derby Day on Saturday. Kickoff 5pm in Wellington for the sixth edition of this fixture, which has become an instant classic on the kiwi sporting calendar. Auckland FC have won all five previous meetings and there’s not much about the Wellington Phoenix’s recent form that suggests they can change that... however there’s plenty about AFC’s recent form to make their own fans worried. For the first time, we’ve got an NZ Derby in which neither team will be feeling confident heading into it.
Recent Form
AFC: LDLWD ... 5 PTS | 6 GF | 7 GA | -1 GD
WPX: WLDLD ... 5 PTS | 9 GF | 11 GA | -2 GD
Auckland FC played on Tuesday night, drawing 1-1 away against Sydney FC. Another game in which they were wasteful in attack with key players failing to deliver but were largely bailed out by their excellent defence – in this case that meant Louis Verstraete at the base of midfield and especially Michael Woud in goal, who has responded brilliantly since being dropped, fair play to him. Even still, they needed a comical own goal in their favour in stoppage time to avoid defeat. It’s all been a bit messy for the Aucklanders lately.
Since a 0-0 draw in week one (away to Melbourne Victory) Auckland FC have scored in every other game... but have only added a second goal on 7/16 occasions and only in two of the last eight. The types of games they were winning last season, often via late goals, they’re drawing or losing this season because they can’t seem to convert things. Lachlan Brook was a spectator against Sydney before being subbed early. Sam Cosgrove had a stinker which included his fifth booking of the season, suspending him for the derby. Jesse Randall at least created some things but his finishing wasn’t there. Marlee Francois held his place in the starting team until he was hooked at half-time. Logan Rogerson and Guillermo May weren’t able to bring the spark off the bench. Old mate Jake Brimmer has now gone three games in a row as an unused sub... he can’t even get on the field these days.
The absence of Cosgrove might be a blessing in disguise since Guillermo May doesn’t seem to have any kind of connection with him and this will force them to play in a different manner. There are two main alternatives at striker. One is that May comes in as a straight swap, bringing his guile and flair in place of Cosgrove’s physicality and strength. The other is that Jesse Randall could play there with his pace running behind the high line of the Phoenix’s, with their lack of speed and the possibility of mix-ups amidst their ever-changing selections (especially at goalkeeper). Randall’s probably going to get into those spots from the wing anyway but it would be a little easier to stretch them this way.
Also gotta wonder what Jake Brimmer ever did wrong (other than getting injured) considering they went 6-1-1 in his eight starts yet he’s only played 28 minutes combined over the past five matches. Without Brimmer in the line-up, the team’s record is: 2w-4d-3l.
On the flipside, the Phoenix are winless in their last four and have conceded multiple times in all of those matches. It’s not clear who their best goalkeeper is, all three of them having had their ups and downs, though there will be a temptation to rush Josh Oluwayemi back from injury if he’s ready since he’s played in 4/5 previous derbies (and in the last one produced his best performance in a Nix jersey, despite the defeat, saving two penalties). Alby Kelly-Heald played the other derby and that was the 6-1 loss. There is a question mark over the fitness of Sarpreet Singh. They’ve been leaking some extremely silly goals lately. All the injuries and midseason additions have left the squad kinda bloated with two-thirds of the season in the rearview now and several key players still being integrated. Auckland FC are as vulnerable as they’ve ever been heading into a derby... but are the Phoenix capable of taking advantage?
Five Major Factors
Bill Tuiloma being the set piece king
Louis Verstraete’s ability breaking up counter-attacks
Giancarlo Italiano, for once, having the deeper bench to call upon
Jesse Randall’s pace against the high line
Sarpreet Singh’s capacity for magic
Five Key Questions
Who starts for AFC in place of the suspended Sam Cosgrove and how much do they adapt their style as a result?
Will the Wellington Phoenix stick with Alby Kelly-Heald between the sticks?
How will the Phoenix, who have conceded first within ten minutes of both previous derbies this season, approach the start of this game? Steady as she goes to avoid early mistakes... or gung-ho knowing that the AFC aura might not quite be where it’s been in the past?
How many minutes will Steve Corica spend with his team in a back three? Don’t have the numbers but it seems like it’s been way less effective this season without Field Marshall Tommy Smith to arrange it yet Corica keeps on trying it.
The last Nix home game drew a 5.8k crowd to the Cake Tin, the first time since the derby in November that they’d gone over 4k (it was a double-header with their more successful ALW side so maybe that was why). Crowds have been down across the league so this isn’t a criticism... but how many punters will they pack in for this game?
Another Curious Stat
Wellington Phoenix with at least 50% of possession:
1 W | 3 D | 6 L | 13 GF | 22 GA | -9 GD | 6 PTS (0.6/gm)
Wellington Phoenix with under 50% of possession:
4 W | 2 D | 1 L | 15 GF | 12 GA | +3 GD | 14 PTS (2.0/gm)
Auckland FC with at least 50% of possession:
2 W | 3 D | 3 L | 10 GF | 11 GA | -1 GD | 9 PTS (1.1/gm)
Auckland FC with over 50% of possession:
6 W | 2 D | 1 L | 14 GF | 7 GA | +7 GD | 20 PTS (2.2/gm)
It makes sense why AFC’s defensive foundations are more successful when they’ve got less of the ball. They’re a structured, organised team that can hit you on the break and from set pieces. That the Nix have shown the same trend despite trying to be a ball-dominant team shows how they’ve been the architects of their own demise in many ways. They’ve not done enough with the ball to capitalise and they’re always a mistake away from conceding. Yet when they’ve been forced into a more conservative approach, they’ve actually been more successful.
Aotearoa at the Winter Olympics
1952-2014: 0 GOLD | 1 SILVER | 0 BRONZE
2018: 0 GOLD | 0 SILVER | 2 BRONZE
2022: 2 GOLD | 1 SILVER | 0 BRONZE
2026*: 0 GOLD | 2 SILVER | 1 BRONZE
The NBL Awards shortlists were announced earlier this week, with a couple of New Zealanders in the mix for Most Improved. The MVP shortlist is 11-players deep and includes Parker Jackson-Cartwright representing the Breakers. He’s not going to win that but nice to be included in the conversation. Shea Ili’s injuries mean that he won’t be retaining his Defensive Player honours. No NZers or Breakers in the Sixth Man chat. But Most Improved features both Flynn Cameron (Adelaide) and Sam Mennenga (Breakers) and both of them should be genuine contenders there. Mennenga is also up for the Next Generation award, which used to be the Rookie of the Year award but they changed it hence 24yo Mennenga in his third season is somehow still eligible. Karim Lopez is also on that list.
By the way, the Breakers have announced that both Mennenga and Lopez will return for tonight’s season-ending clash against Cairns which is merely a dead rubber but by playing that game it means they’ll also be playing on Sunday against ADL in the Ignite Cup final. Lovely stuff for the Breakers having any chance of winning that in-season trophy – Lopez’s recent absences had smelled a lot like a Next Star shifting focus towards the NBA Draft but the allure of a grand final (even it it’s only the Ignite Cup and not the NBL Championship) was clearly too much for the man to resist. Same goes for Mennenga who was ruled out for 6-8 weeks with a wrist fracture but is about to return after only four. However, Izaiah Brockington and Tai Webster do have injury issues that they’re dealing with and Rob Baker’s knee injury was a season ender back in January so he’s out of it. I’m going to see if I can manifest something now...
*** NZ Breakers Win The Ignite Cup With Two Injured Imports, Beating Adelaide With The Kiwi Depth Doing All The Damage ***
Musical Jam...
