Set for a smashing good time

Blow on the pie. Stop, drop and roll. Slip, slop, slap. Keep your eyes on the ball. You have been warned. The Super Smash gets under way today. Cricket writer Adrian Seconi previews the action.

Women’s Super Smash

Defending champion: The Blaze crushed all-comers in a perfect season. Wellington rolled through the round-robin with 10 consecutive wins and smashed the Sparks in the final by 75 runs. Its prospects this season don’t look quite as bright, though. The White Ferns are around for the bulk of the competition, but crucially they will be missing at the business end. That means no Melie Kerr, no Sophie Devine, no Maddy Green — and no title?

Hot shot: Otago’s Suzie Bates was the leading scorer in the competition last season and will be crucial again. With no Katey Martin in the Sparks line-up, Bates will carry an even heavier load. But those are reliable shoulders. She scored 504 runs at an average of 56 last summer. More of the same again, please?

Come in, spinner: Leigh Kasperek snapped up 20 Super Smash wickets for next to no runs last summer and was somehow overlooked for the White Ferns. Nothing about that decision made sense and the veteran Wellington spinner is determined to regain her spot in the team. You have to wonder, though, how many more wickets she will need to take before the selectors take notice.

On the up: Former White Fern Katie Gurrey smashed 183 from 145 balls in a list A game against Central Districts last weekend. That was some hitting. She clobbered 20 fours and seven sixes. Northern Districts finished last in 2021-22, but with Gurrey in that kind of form, the Brave shapes as a dark horse.

Seconi’s predictions: The Blaze should stroll into the final, but winning it will be a challenge without its large contingent of White Ferns. Otago will have the same problem without Bates, Hayley Jensen and Eden Carson. Have a sneaky feeling Canterbury might come through the pack. Northern managed just one win last season but should have a lot more success. It has signed English seam bowler Phoebe Graham and Australian international leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington. Auckland and Central Districts have made disappointing starts to the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield. Someone has to finish last and it might be one of those two.

 

Men’s Super Smash

Defending champion: Northern Districts skipped through the campaign with just one loss to Otago in round two. It actually won nine on the bounce to claim the title. The 56-run win over Canterbury in the final was comprehensive. Katene Clarke thumped 71 off 34 at the top and Mitchell Santner reminded everyone he can bat with a whirlwind and undefeated 92 off 40 balls. He hit nine sixes.

Hot shot: Somehow Dane Cleaver was overlooked for a spot on the tour of Pakistan and India. The Stags keeper torched Otago last season, whacking an undefeated 114 from 54 balls at the University Oval to guide his side to a five-wicket win. You remember batting like that like you remember your nightmares.

Seams good: The ball has been swinging plenty this year. That bodes well for the likes of Stags trio, Seth Rance, Doug Bracewell and Brett Randell. Canterbury’s Ed Nuttall and Wellington’s Michael Snedden have been in good form in the Ford Trophy as well.

On the up: Whether left-arm spinner Tim Pringle plays much for ND in the Super Smash remains to be seen. His list A average of 114 does not promote much confidence. But he picked up four wickets on first-class debut in a tidy display against Otago at the University Oval. There is plenty of potential there.

Seconi’s predictions: The Black Caps are touring Pakistan and India, so that will strip the competition of some talent. Otago will be without form seamer Jacob Duffy for part of the tournament and, look away now, shapes as one of the weaker teams. If the Ford Trophy is any indication of how the season might go, expect a rollercoaster ride. But the Stags look to have depth and quality and are worth a lazy fiver. Northern has kept the bulk of its squad together and should feature strongly again. Canterbury loses half a dozen players to national duty and might struggle, and Wellington is stripped of a talented crop of players as well. Auckland should be decent but the Aces have been in terrible form in the Ford Trophy.

adrian.seconi@odt.co.nz

 

Otago games

The draw
Dec 24: Sparks v Blaze, 11am, 
Wellington; Volts v Firebirds, 2.40pm, 
Wellington
Dec 28: Sparks v Braves, 11am, 
Queenstown; Volts v Brave, 2.40pm, 
Queenstown
Dec 29: Sparks v Hearts, 11am, 
Queenstown; Volts v Aces, 2.40pm, 
Queenstown
Jan 2: Sparks v Hearts, 10am, 
Auckland; Volts v Aces, 1.40pm, 
Auckland
Jan 6: Volts v Brave, 3pm, Auckland; 
Sparks v Braves, 6.50pm, Hamilton 
Jan 15: Sparks v Blaze, 11am, 
Dunedin; Volts v Firebirds, 2.40pm, 
Dunedin
Jan 21: Sparks v Hinds, 11am, 
Nelson; Volts v Stags, 2.40pm, 
Nelson
Jan 29: Sparks v Hinds, 11am, 
Dunedin; Volts v Stags, 2.40pm, 
Dunedin
Feb 4: Sparks v Magicians, 10am, 
Christchurch; Volts v Kings, 1.40pm, 
Christchurch
Feb 6: Sparks v Magicians, 11am, 
Dunedin; Volts v Kings, 2.40pm, 
Christchurch