Steve Smith vs Kane Williamson

[Jono]

Tbh I agree the bias is there but I don't think we can lunp in all SC or west as the same. Aus/eng/india cricket popularity and media machines tend toforget all about Mathews, YK etc. AB and Amla were underrated for a long time too.

Absolutely, that is a different kind of bias/inconsistency but it is definitely there. I've always said every South African feat, whether as a team or specific players, is underrated generally because of the fact they aren't the Big 3.

Kimber made a series of tweets recently that the accomplishments of the SA test team over the last few years are actually incredible and stand up to many teams in the history of cricket. Tweeted something about how if they were the big 3 that team would go down in folklore.

 

[Jono]

All I know for sure is it seems we(NZ'ders) will always be poor 3rd cousins regardless of how well we play. It's just a commercial reality.

Calling for a collective 'sigh' for us little Kiwis...

I think its a bigger issue for SA personally. If the Kiwis go for years undefeated etc. then they can complain, but NZ don't receive the attention because of relatively lack of accomplishments comparatively (obviously they also have a lack of opportunity which results in lack of accomplishments).

SA have been friggin good for a long time and no one cares.

 

[Contra]

I think another issue with South Africa is that they seem to play a lot less cricket comparatively, especially tests. Maybe if they can lobby for more tests, or longer series rather than 2 tests that would definitely help, I think this India series consisting of 4 tests is going to be massive, if SA put in a good performance in India that would definitely help them get noticed more.

Oh and if they were to actually win a limited overs trophy that would definitely help, in case they didn't know

 

[Jono]

would love to see how much the cricket landscape may have changed if SA or NZ won this year's WC.

haven't had a non big 3 win the WC since 96.

 

[Zinzan]

Honestly don't think it would change things for NZ regardless of how well we play, as palpably it hasn't really changed for SA in spite of the fact they've been the no.1 test side for a quite a long time now.

If there's anything we learned last year with the advent of the Big 3 taking over the FTP it's that it's all about commerce & you can bet your bottom dollar that even if England end up the 7th ranked test side in the next 2 years, they will always get 5 test Ashes series and will still be more of a draw-card than say NZ, even if NZ made it to no.1. I think SA is proof of this and remember whilst SA cricket may be less of a cash cow than Eng, India and Aust, there's still significantly more money generated there than in NZ or SL.

The original FTP drawn up in the early 2000s was of course implemented to try to make it more of an even playing field for the lesser (commercially speaking) nations, so from my POV, the writing was always on the wall with last years announcement of the Big 3 effectively driving the FTP.

As I said, this is just a commercial reality that us lesser nations need to suck up.

 

[Zinzan]

haven't had a non big 3 win the WC since 96.

Lol, that's kind of flattering for England when you put it like that

 

[Jono]

Honestly don't think it would change things for NZ regardless of how well we play, as palpably it hasn't really changed for SA in spite of the fact they've been the no.1 test side for a quite a long time now.

I completely agree that if NZ had a run like SA they wouldn't get the credit they deserve. But until NZ actually have long lasting success they can't feel like they're being robbed of media attention. SA can.

 

[Zinzan]

That's fair enough, although I do think we are warranted in having a decent moan over being the curtain-raiser of the Australian summer to the Windies & them getting the iconic boxing day test, especially considering how bad they've been for many years now.

 

[Jono]

Really?

New Zealand Cricket set to scrap Australia Test for Chappell-Hadlee ODI's

I mean I don't want a Boxing Day test with WI, would much rather NZ, but I don't think NZ cricket has a right to complain when they're pulling that crap.

I think NZ fans definitely can have a wahhh about how their test team is treated and also how NZ cricket board treats their own team (i.e. NZ Board does not = NZ fans).

 

[Prince EWS]

That's fair enough, although I do think we are warranted in having a decent moan over being the curtain-raiser of the Australian summer to the Windies & them getting the iconic boxing day test, especially considering how bad they've been for many years now.

I do wonder how much your own board is to blame for that one though. From a revenue perspective they'd probably rather play Australia early in the summer and still have their own Christmas-New Year cricket at home, so I'm not sure how much they would have been pushing to become the main event even if the players really wanted it. It's also worth remembering that this tour had been planned years ago originally, when the West Indies and New Zealand were of a similar standard in Test cricket.

It's annoying, but I don't think the reason for it is really under-rating how good New Zealand are at the moment.

 

[Zinzan]

I do wonder how much your own board is to blame for that one though. From a revenue perspective they'd probably rather play Australia early in the summer and still have their own Christmas-New Year cricket at home, so I'm not sure how much they would have been pushing to become the main event even if the players really wanted it. It's also worth remembering that this tour had been planned years ago originally, when the West Indies and New Zealand were of a similar standard in Test cricket.

It's annoying, but I don't think the reason for it is really under-rating how good New Zealand are at the moment.

Really?

New Zealand Cricket set to scrap Australia Test for Chappell-Hadlee ODI's

I mean I don't want a Boxing Day test with WI, would much rather NZ, but I don't think NZ cricket has a right to complain when they're pulling that crap.

I think NZ fans definitely can have a wahhh about how their test team is treated and also how NZ cricket board treats their own team (i.e. NZ Board does not = NZ fans).

Well that is true that our board haven't exactly done us any favours and perhaps they would forgo the exposure than comes with a 'MCG boxing day' test in exchange for domestic revenue.

It's just a great shame for us purist Kiwi fans (and the players for that matter) who hold test cricket so much higher than the other forms.

 

[Gob]

get the feeling this thread has taken a different path

 

[Howsie]

I do wonder how much your own board is to blame for that one though. From a revenue perspective they'd probably rather play Australia early in the summer and still have their own Christmas-New Year cricket at home, so I'm not sure how much they would have been pushing to become the main event even if the players really wanted it. It's also worth remembering that this tour had been planned years ago originally, when the West Indies and New Zealand were of a similar standard in Test cricket.

It's annoying, but I don't think the reason for it is really under-rating how good New Zealand are at the moment.

Trust me, NZC wanted to play in Australia over the Christmas period, they weren't wanted though. CA see the Windies as the bigger drawcard which I find laughable but who knows, they had the 'numbers'.

 

[Jono]

it really does suck that we're copping WI.

 

[Zinzan]

Trust me, NZC wanted to play in Australia over the Christmas period, they weren't wanted though.

Don't know if I'd trust anything that comes out of David White's gob. Has about as much credibility as Shane Warne does in remaining faithful when in a relationship.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I for one would prefer to watch Aus v NZ than Aus v WI, and I can't imagine the thoughts of the general populace would be much different

Screw up from CA IMO

 

[Flem274*]

Someone link to the article about the feats of SA?

But yeah South Africa are the perfect example. The media world has become pretty big three centric. I'm not sure for example how many people realise Steyn could finish his career as the best full stop and is building a solid case for it.

edit - for most underrated in the world though i'd go angelo mathews. he never gets a mention outside of cw.

 

[Jono]

flem if by article you're referring to my post, it was a series of tweets by Kimber.

 

[Flem274*]

oh and zinzan while you historically have a point, our glorious leader cut a test against australia this year so nz don't exactly help themselves. plus media and fans outside of australia and scotland don't see williamson and boult as the also rans to smith and starc. both get the credit they deserve which is a welcome change. mark nicholas even wrote about a mccullum 50. i mean much of what he wrote for the background was wrong but he still wrote it.

we don't want to develop a persecution complex or the australia/england "only we matter" insular mindset.

 

[Flem274*]

flem if by article you're referring to my post, it was a series of tweets by Kimber.

ah ok. i better twitter stalk him sometime then.