Cricket: Open to foreign concept

New Zealand's domestic cricketers want more overseas players in the local Twenty20 HRV Cup, which starts next weekend.

It sounds wrong - surely every overseas player takes a local's place - but the thinking is that there's a need for more exposure of the showpiece. Players want contests to be more marketable to the public and international TV companies.

It's also seen as a platform for local players to have their talents broadcast overseas rather than their agents posting talent-reel DVDs and that could lead to lucrative contracts in the Indian Premier League (IPL), for example.

However, there is an imbalance. Other sides are allowed more overseas players when chasing the US$2.5 million winner's cheque in the club-versus-club international Champions League and Otago, New Zealand's representative this year, were a little outgunned. Having just one overseas player per team could mean New Zealand sides take their places in the Champions League at a disadvantage.

Northern Districts wicketkeeper/batsman Peter McGlashan says: "Two or three internationals per team means Joe Public could be as interested watching his domestic team as he would be watching the Black Caps. That's got to be a good thing for sustainability of the game.

"It's starting to pick up momentum here. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) associations are now aware of what they can package. I think they were all a bit green early on as to how to sell it.

"If we can develop a strong domestic product with value offshore, then we can perhaps end up with a Super 14-type package which can be sold into India and England. New Zealand is not then so dependent on its international product.

"That's something the NZ Players Association latched onto quickly," said McGlashan. "NZC is also beginning to understand that, to be a sustainable organisation, they can't rely on international cricket to continue funding it. It's necessary with ideas being bandied about as to changes in the Future Tours Progamme."

Craig McMillan, the Black Caps batting star of the inaugural World Cup in 2007, agrees: "Overseas players are a good thing. What they add in experience, they pass on to all players. It creates a profile for the game to get the stars out here. Soon, I'd expect to see more than one overseas player allowed.

"Look at what happened to Otago in the Champions League. They were allowed one 'international', whereas some other sides were allowed as many as four."

However, Otago captain Craig Cumming still advises caution on behalf of young players, despite bringing back the guaranteed US$200,000 for NZC at the inaugural Champions League after getting knocked out in the first phase.

"You're hampered by that rule so you could look at having two [overseas players]. It also depends on the strength of your domestic competition and this year it will be bolstered with all the Black Caps back.

"Some good young cricketers are already missing out. Bringing in one player works nicely at the moment. The other thing you've got to look at is expense, you could end up shelling out a lot of money so it's imperative you're not just lining pockets while not re-couping much money back through the gate."

WITH A fifth domestic Twenty20 season about to get underway, the players have adapted to the sport's briefest format.

McGlashan - he of the wicketkeeping face-mask, lightweight space-age looking pads and the all-meat shortened Mongoose bat - is renowned for his unorthodox rather than traditional strokeplay but says there's room for both styles.

"It's really giving all players the chance to express their skill set. For instance, people said when Twenty20 came out, there's no way you can expect to play a spinner because they'll get smashed all around the park.

"But as the game has developed, it has become evident spinners are actually some of the most valuable members in the team. Look at how well Daniel Vettori's done for the Black Caps.

"Innovation is what Ross Taylor's looking to do with his slog sweeps. So there's room for the burly guy who smashes it a long way but there's also room for finesse like that displayed by [ND Twenty20 recruit] Tillakaratne Dilshan.

"I remember in the first year, there were scores of 200-220s but there were also teams who were bowled out cheaply because we weren't sure how hard to go. It was a bit of a slogfest or hit-and-giggle. The beige uniforms and the funny hairdos of New Zealand's first international with Australia may have contributed but it's become a serious product since.

"Guys realise that it's like the New Zealand rugby sevens team - there's a career in playing sevens rather than just making the All Blacks. I think in future, there will be a career playing Twenty20 cricket without playing tests."

McGlashan gave as an example Graham Napier. "He tore us apart [73 runs off 27 balls in the CD/ND 50-over match], he's got an IPL contract and now has a lucrative career in Twenty20 without having ever played a test for England."

McMillan says: "Generally it's good cricket shots being played, even if it is a condensed format. You need bat on ball and can't afford to be slogging with your head in the air and missing. You have to adapt your game more, it allows you to play those shots you practised in the nets: the reverse sweeps, the lap and the scoop.

"But there's still scope for the shhe same fundamentals that apply in the longer form do so here. In fact the sides that hit the most singles are generally successful; it's not about boundaries. Generally the percentages of boundaries are similar but it's the balls scored off that makes the difference."

McMillan said bowlers needed a skilful level of varitation. "Bowlers have to be able to york batsmen. You quickly see the bowlers who can do that under pressure. It's also interesting to see how bowlers react to that; quite often it's a good indicator of how a player's going to be in other formats as well.

"People say it's a batsman's game but I think in recent times you've seen how important spinners and slow bowlers are to restrict and put pressure on.

Cumming agrees: "You've got more time than you think and you still need someone in your top order to score big, creating partnerships. A tidy 70-80 can be ideal.

"Look at last year, the most successful batsman for us was Aaron Redmond (average 54.16 over seven matches with a career strike rate of 136). He played genuine cricket shots, hitting with a straight bat and running hard between the wickets."

And having been to the lucrative Champions League, Cumming says there's no question the HRV Cup is now the tournament to win.

"With the drawcard of going to India it gives one of our competitions a real focal point. It's an experience teams will never forget."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY