A cricket newsletter from Beige Brigade HQ for New Zealand cricket fans who like a dose of optimism and a tablespoon of take the piss with their weekly cricket informational.
Tick-tock you don't stop - one month until Test cricket begins on Guy Fawke's Day in Woolloongabba. In Aboriginal it means 'fight talk place'.
We were bloody excited to see the rumour mill gyrating wildly about the New Zealand team being back in beige this summer, if only for T20s. Could it possibly be true? It must be or NZ Cricket would've denied it... Nothing warms the cockles of a NZ supporter's heart like seeing modern-day heroes forced into becoming retro legends for a day or two - we're looking forward to it. Let's hope the haircuts and facial hair also embrace that retro vibe. I'd love to see a game go the whole hog and be retro everything - game rules, players' gear, pitch invasions, cigarette sponsors, at-match catering, commentators, crowd attire, TV production values, signage...
It is fair to say that social media zeitgeist Jimmy Neesham caught our eyes and ears this week with his came on the inaugural 7 Days Of Sport show over on TV3. The question was asked: "Who is the Otago Volts coach?" - and both Neesham (blank face) and even the show's quizmasters ("Dimitri Mascarenhas") failed to correctly identified Aussie-born Albion-bredNathan 'Kingy' King as the man doing throwdowns and batting orders this summer. Could be some awkward training sessions for James in Volts Land this week.
I couldn't quite bulls*** together a legitimate First XV of cricketers with rugby instincts - there is a dearth of tight five forwards who bowl legspin or open the batting it seems. However you'd put together a decent backline out of Rod Latham (Canterbury rugby/NZ cricketer), Bill Carson (All Black/NZ cricketer), Brendon Bracewell (King Country/NZ), George Dickinson (All Black/NZ), Curly Page (All Black/NZ), Charlie Oliver (All Black/NZ), Allan Hewson (All Black/Wellington), Eric Tindill (All Black/NZ), Don Clarke (All Black/Auckland), Jeff Wilson (All Black/NZ), Edward Roberts (All Black/Wellington) and Brian McKechnie (All Black/NZ).