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The case for and against NZC entering Australia's Big Bash League
Logan Swinkels •  October 9th, 2025 3:26 pm
New Zealand's Tim Seifert in action for the Melbourne Renegades | Photo: Raghavan Venugopal
Following on from the Blackcaps' Chappell-Hadlee series loss to Australia last week, Sport Nation's Ian Smith believes the time is now to embrace the idea of having a New Zealand team in the Big Bash League.
A number of Australia's star players that featured at Bay Oval including Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars), spin whizz Adam Zampa (Melbourne Renegades), and Sean Abbott (Sydney Sixers) all play in the BBL.
Smith believes that exposure to further playing time against and with Australia's best could be the key to unlocking the potential of New Zealand's younger players who might be battling to crack the Blackcaps squad alongside more established names.
"It can't do the players any harm to be playing against this quality in a competition of that nature," he said.
"That to me would be the best fast tracking of players to get through to the international level. You look at the Warriors, Auckland FC, the Phoenix, it's great having (NZ) teams in Australian competitions - they get great coverage on television, and I think the time's right now."
Adam Zampa bowls against the Blackcaps at the recent T20 series in Tauranga | Photo: Marty Melville/Photosport
A major plus for Smith is how the Big Bash could become the ultimate proving ground for Kiwi cricketers taking on the eight Aussie franchises in major stadiums like the MCG, SCG, and The Gabba.
"Imagine the next best of the best in New Zealand - you pick them from around the provinces and say, 'there's your chance' - under pressure situations in front of very big crowds, you're going to grow up very quickly," Smith added.
"I'm very supportive now. In the past, I've wondered what Australia would get out of it. But if they're into it, I think New Zealand should buy into it very soon. The sooner the better."
The play of Tim Seifert is one that the former New Zealand wicketkeeper highlights as a current beneficiary of playing in the Big Bash - the Blackcaps' T20 opening batter made his BBL debut for the Melbourne Renegades in December 2024, smashing 55 off 42 balls.
Since then, Seifert has been strong in the crease for the Blackcaps in the 20-over format, averaging 49.7 - his top score of 97 not out steered NZ to a 8-wicket win over Pakistan with 10 overs remaining at Wellington's Sky Stadium in March.
Tim Seifert's masterclass in T20 power hitting | Sport Nation Cricket
Smith is proposing that the side doesn't need to be tied to one city either, but rather take home games around NZ's grounds. The Kiwi BBL team also wouldn't be solely New Zealand players, with a mix of overseas cricketers coming in that the local contingent can learn from.
Australia's premier T20 competition this season will run from December 14 through to the final scheduled for January 25. New Zealand's own Super Smash T20 league starts Boxing Day with the final to be played in February.
"I can't see any cricketer not wanting to be challenged by playing in a competition which has developed to the high nature that it has, and continues to produce players," Smith said.
But not everyone is singing from the same song sheet.
Former Blackcaps bowler, now Sport Nation host, Kyle Mills suggests that Cricket Australia would benefit more from the decision, and ultimately it could leave NZ's Super Smash gutted of top local talent as a result.
"If you've got the Blackcaps on tour, call that 16 players, then you can have a squad of 20 to play in the Big Bash, so there's 36 - that's almost half our domestic talent pool," he said on Sport Nation's Millsy & Guy.
"So, you're gonna run the Super Smash at the same time? They'll completely weaken it - the domestic game is the most important part of cricket."
Millsy responds to Smithy's take on a Kiwi franchise in the BBL | Millsy & Guy
Smith and Mills' differing points of view come at a time when NZ Cricket have been contemplating the merits of a NZ-based BBL side as Cricket Australia look at expansion options.
When quizzed recently on Millsy & Guy about the concept, NZC CEO Scott Weenink revealed the depth of discussion currently being had at a time when a report by the Boston Consulting Group has suggested that Cricket Australia sell stakes in its current BBL teams. The BCG also recommended that no expansion takes place until that happens.
"We've engaged an international expert to help us with that, to look at the various options there are for our T20 product in New Zealand. Putting a team in the Big Bash is one of those options, of course that is still dependent on what Cricket Australia is doing with their process around it," Weenink said.
Millsy & Guy took their concerns about the health of NZ's Super Smash league, and how this potential NZ Big Bash team might impact that domestic competition, directly to the NZC boss.
"That (Super Smash) needs to remain strong and be well supported," Weenink affirmed.
"You could envisage a situation where you have a (BBL) franchise team, so essentially a NZ-based team in the Big Bash, the MAs (Major Associations) all have an ownership stake in that team, and the players that are playing in the Super Smash are all playing for a place in the Big Bash team.
"If we were to put a team in the Big Bash, we would be ensuring that we're absolutely maintaining the strength of our domestic game because that is still going to be a key driver."
If expansion does go ahead, the decision will likely be a divisive one as heard across the week on Sport Nation.
Listen to Millsy & Guy's full interview with NZ Cricket CEO Scott Weenink below:
