You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Waldegrave from News Talk z'd be.

You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Waldegrave from News Talk z'd be.

Cricket is the subject to now. Gary Stead is our guest as we talk cricket for possibly the last time this year. Gary Good evening, Welcome to the show.

Cricket is the subject to now. Gary Stead is our guest as we talk cricket for possibly the last time this year. Gary Good evening, Welcome to the show.

Hello Darcy, how are you?

Hello Darcy, how are you?

I'm very very well. What about yourself? The teest season oddly has wound up. It is in the middle of December, wound up with a victory, hot cold the whole year so far, How would you rate what you and your men have achieved over the Sri Lankan, the Indian and then last of all, the English series if you can put them in one bunch.

I'm very very well. What about yourself? The teest season oddly has wound up. It is in the middle of December, wound up with a victory, hot cold the whole year so far, How would you rate what you and your men have achieved over the Sri Lankan, the Indian and then last of all, the English series if you can put them in one bunch.

Well, look, I mean you're right. Might you say there's been some outstanding performances. I mean probably nothing greater than that Indian series. And I think this series is another one that could have gone either way. And I think sometimes you get fine Margins's sport that can make the results look like that blowouts. But I think it was a fiercely contested series. Is this one against England and unfortunately they won the first two, but I think the guys bounced back extremely well in this last test.

Well, look, I mean you're right. Might you say there's been some outstanding performances. I mean probably nothing greater than that Indian series. And I think this series is another one that could have gone either way. And I think sometimes you get fine Margins's sport that can make the results look like that blowouts. But I think it was a fiercely contested series. Is this one against England and unfortunately they won the first two, but I think the guys bounced back extremely well in this last test.

They did. How much of that though was England maybe were a foot on the plane and New Zealand knowing that it was Tim Southy's last Test match, so it was a massive improvement and then maybe slightly less from the English site.

They did. How much of that though was England maybe were a foot on the plane and New Zealand knowing that it was Tim Southy's last Test match, so it was a massive improvement and then maybe slightly less from the English site.

Yeah, I can't speak for England, but from our point of view, we certainly wanted to send him out on a really positive note and I thought the way that we applied ourselves was fantastic throughout the game. And it started off with that first session where Tom Latham and Will Young got us through a tricky situation of batting, and I thought the guy's bowl particularly well throughout the throughout the match as well, and you look at Matt Henry, Tim Survey, Will o' rourke and Mitch Satner I thought did a fantastic role for us.

Yeah, I can't speak for England, but from our point of view, we certainly wanted to send him out on a really positive note and I thought the way that we applied ourselves was fantastic throughout the game. And it started off with that first session where Tom Latham and Will Young got us through a tricky situation of batting, and I thought the guy's bowl particularly well throughout the throughout the match as well, and you look at Matt Henry, Tim Survey, Will o' rourke and Mitch Satner I thought did a fantastic role for us.

Mitch Santner quite something else that the coming of age for a man who's been a lot of time tweaking when it comes to the white ball version, but now he's shown in red ball he's definitely a guide too, not to be messed with.

Mitch Santner quite something else that the coming of age for a man who's been a lot of time tweaking when it comes to the white ball version, but now he's shown in red ball he's definitely a guide too, not to be messed with.

Yeah, absolutely, I mean he's It's a pitch that we thought would take some spin and Mitch came into his own not only with the ball, but certainly with the bat at the start as well, and he is seventy seven and forty nine that he scored I think was really instrumental in the match and put that alongside seven wickets and like he had an outstanding match and it's great to see him continuing to develop his rebull game.

Yeah, absolutely, I mean he's It's a pitch that we thought would take some spin and Mitch came into his own not only with the ball, but certainly with the bat at the start as well, and he is seventy seven and forty nine that he scored I think was really instrumental in the match and put that alongside seven wickets and like he had an outstanding match and it's great to see him continuing to develop his rebull game.

When you look across the just this series in particular, what were you most impressed with about your side and what they achieved even though they lost to one.

When you look across the just this series in particular, what were you most impressed with about your side and what they achieved even though they lost to one.

Look, I think we bounced back well, there's no surprise. I think when you look back that first Test that you look at the drop catchers was probably the difference in the match and we could be talking about a different serious result here if we'd taken those, but unfortunately that's the game at times and we were just a little bit off on couple of days in the field. But look, I think there's real resilience in this team. I think there's some skill sets the likes of willow' rourke, who I think is just going from strength to strength with his Test game. And there's certainly a guy that I think is going to be talked about a lot around the world whoever he plays against with his pace and the bounce that he gets. I think he made all the England batsman look uncomfortable. Came Williamson obviously continues to impress with his ability to just keep churning out runs and I guess he was the I guess rock that everyone else battered around in our innings.

Look, I think we bounced back well, there's no surprise. I think when you look back that first Test that you look at the drop catchers was probably the difference in the match and we could be talking about a different serious result here if we'd taken those, but unfortunately that's the game at times and we were just a little bit off on couple of days in the field. But look, I think there's real resilience in this team. I think there's some skill sets the likes of willow' rourke, who I think is just going from strength to strength with his Test game. And there's certainly a guy that I think is going to be talked about a lot around the world whoever he plays against with his pace and the bounce that he gets. I think he made all the England batsman look uncomfortable. Came Williamson obviously continues to impress with his ability to just keep churning out runs and I guess he was the I guess rock that everyone else battered around in our innings.

Here Will young wonderful time of it in India. He's come back, He's slid him for that one game for Devin Conway and proved that he's definitely a viable bat. You can't really comment on what happens to the next Test because you may or may not be the coach. Was nice to see Will saying yeah, I can actually open this is.

Here Will young wonderful time of it in India. He's come back, He's slid him for that one game for Devin Conway and proved that he's definitely a viable bat. You can't really comment on what happens to the next Test because you may or may not be the coach. Was nice to see Will saying yeah, I can actually open this is.

Okay, absolutely, And look, I mean I've said this many times but regardless of whether Will plays or not, he's still a fine player for us. And that's one of the things you're always I think looking at as a selector who fits in and were and we've got a hell of a lot of respect for Will and the way he goes about his game. He's certainly going from strength to strength and that's always encouraging in any players that you have in your squad. So yeah, delighted for Will.

Okay, absolutely, And look, I mean I've said this many times but regardless of whether Will plays or not, he's still a fine player for us. And that's one of the things you're always I think looking at as a selector who fits in and were and we've got a hell of a lot of respect for Will and the way he goes about his game. He's certainly going from strength to strength and that's always encouraging in any players that you have in your squad. So yeah, delighted for Will.

In the way that he played Rotten Revendra. He's a guy who was going to be site something else. I've all seen that showing slight lapses of concentration throughout the year. I'm presuming that's not an easy fix, but something he has to work on. He's got it all there, but every now and then it just blips.

In the way that he played Rotten Revendra. He's a guy who was going to be site something else. I've all seen that showing slight lapses of concentration throughout the year. I'm presuming that's not an easy fix, but something he has to work on. He's got it all there, but every now and then it just blips.

Doesn't he Yeah, but look, I mean he's twenty four, he's young in the international game still, but he will keep getting better because he's a classy person and a classy player, and whilst he hasn't had perhaps the series that he's wanted, then we have a lot of trust and a lot of faith in the way goes about things, and from our perspective, I think Rachan is going to be here for a long long time and will definitely be continue to be a great player and probably a great leader in this team in the future as well.

Doesn't he Yeah, but look, I mean he's twenty four, he's young in the international game still, but he will keep getting better because he's a classy person and a classy player, and whilst he hasn't had perhaps the series that he's wanted, then we have a lot of trust and a lot of faith in the way goes about things, and from our perspective, I think Rachan is going to be here for a long long time and will definitely be continue to be a great player and probably a great leader in this team in the future as well.

A lot of pressure on you, Gary Steve when it comes to some players not in great form, but I believe you've always been very much. It's hard to get into this team, but it's also hard to get out because we put a lot of trust in players. Are you still satisfied with that attitude, that philosophy and what's happened throughout this season.

A lot of pressure on you, Gary Steve when it comes to some players not in great form, but I believe you've always been very much. It's hard to get into this team, but it's also hard to get out because we put a lot of trust in players. Are you still satisfied with that attitude, that philosophy and what's happened throughout this season.

You never select players because you want to get rid of them at some stage, and so you select the players that you believe are the best players in the country, and you select them for a reason. And sometimes form can come and go a little bit, but I think if you do continue to show that trust and players and you get the best out of them as well. And look, there are times that I know that it's that people want to see change, but I guess that's decision for selectors and the captain to make, and trying to keep the consistency in the team and also consistency in the dressing groom as well, so people are really clear on what their roles are.

You never select players because you want to get rid of them at some stage, and so you select the players that you believe are the best players in the country, and you select them for a reason. And sometimes form can come and go a little bit, but I think if you do continue to show that trust and players and you get the best out of them as well. And look, there are times that I know that it's that people want to see change, but I guess that's decision for selectors and the captain to make, and trying to keep the consistency in the team and also consistency in the dressing groom as well, so people are really clear on what their roles are.

I'll tell you someone who's been consistent. Tim Salvey bows out of the test arena after I don't know how long, what's sixteen seventeen years. He says goodbye. Suitable way to send him on his way with a victory at his home park. He's been I don't like when they say a servant to the game, because I don't think it suggests enough. He's been an absolute rock star, isn't he.

I'll tell you someone who's been consistent. Tim Salvey bows out of the test arena after I don't know how long, what's sixteen seventeen years. He says goodbye. Suitable way to send him on his way with a victory at his home park. He's been I don't like when they say a servant to the game, because I don't think it suggests enough. He's been an absolute rock star, isn't he.

Yeah, you think Tim came into the team when he was eighteen or nineteen and a young guy who I guess had a fantastic start in his first Test against England as well, and I think since then he's carved out an amazing career. When you consider the numbers he's got, he's the only player in the world to have three hundred Test wickets, two hundred ODIs in one hundred twenty wickets, So that says something in itself about his longevity. But I think more than at it, that's what he holds in the dressing room as well. Like he's a he's a cheeky character, but but he always has put the team first and and done his very very best to get around other players. And I'm sure that's something that we look back in the future will be some somewhat of a legacy that he's left.

Yeah, you think Tim came into the team when he was eighteen or nineteen and a young guy who I guess had a fantastic start in his first Test against England as well, and I think since then he's carved out an amazing career. When you consider the numbers he's got, he's the only player in the world to have three hundred Test wickets, two hundred ODIs in one hundred twenty wickets, So that says something in itself about his longevity. But I think more than at it, that's what he holds in the dressing room as well. Like he's a he's a cheeky character, but but he always has put the team first and and done his very very best to get around other players. And I'm sure that's something that we look back in the future will be some somewhat of a legacy that he's left.

Uh And he goes away playing me very happy with what he's achieved. What about reflections in the sheds afterwards? What was the champagne popping people having a good old time to celebrate the end of an era.

Uh And he goes away playing me very happy with what he's achieved. What about reflections in the sheds afterwards? What was the champagne popping people having a good old time to celebrate the end of an era.

Yeah, absolutely, I mean we wanna, we wanna, I guess toast Tim and to being the player, the man that he's been within this group for for a long long time, and I mean it's never easy saying goodbye to someone, but I mean that always happens you with any job you're and I guess you reach the end of your lifespan. And I think the nice thing for Tim is he's bowing out on his terms. He's decided it's the right tea, right right time to go for him, and he will. He will leave the game, I think, with many magnificent memories, but also some great mates as well.

Yeah, absolutely, I mean we wanna, we wanna, I guess toast Tim and to being the player, the man that he's been within this group for for a long long time, and I mean it's never easy saying goodbye to someone, but I mean that always happens you with any job you're and I guess you reach the end of your lifespan. And I think the nice thing for Tim is he's bowing out on his terms. He's decided it's the right tea, right right time to go for him, and he will. He will leave the game, I think, with many magnificent memories, but also some great mates as well.

You'd say about people making their own decision knowing when it's time to step down. Time not you would have been handled with this question constantly. But you get a bit of a break now. I think your contract expires before the next Test series starts and a number of months time. How much consideration are you giving to walking away from coaching the Test game because you've got some one day internationals still to come.

You'd say about people making their own decision knowing when it's time to step down. Time not you would have been handled with this question constantly. But you get a bit of a break now. I think your contract expires before the next Test series starts and a number of months time. How much consideration are you giving to walking away from coaching the Test game because you've got some one day internationals still to come.

Yeah, I mean it's something that you do always think about. And look, I'm sure that my discussions with New Zealand Cricket will continue in the near future. But look, it's nice to get close to Christmas, to have a little bit of time at home and just spend some time with the family, and that's certainly when you're in the role for a long time, you certainly cherish those moments and certainly looking forward to a little bit of just a bit of downtime before we get into it again.

Yeah, I mean it's something that you do always think about. And look, I'm sure that my discussions with New Zealand Cricket will continue in the near future. But look, it's nice to get close to Christmas, to have a little bit of time at home and just spend some time with the family, and that's certainly when you're in the role for a long time, you certainly cherish those moments and certainly looking forward to a little bit of just a bit of downtime before we get into it again.

And so as far as that's concerned, you're not making any calls or anything. And tell what, well into twenty twenty five, you're just going to let it rest.

And so as far as that's concerned, you're not making any calls or anything. And tell what, well into twenty twenty five, you're just going to let it rest.

Yeah, not at the moment, Darcy. I mean, it's the games about the players. So first and foremost my job is to try and prepare the Black players as best we can, and we when we get to that time to make a decision, then I'm sure you'll be first to know.

Yeah, not at the moment, Darcy. I mean, it's the games about the players. So first and foremost my job is to try and prepare the Black players as best we can, and we when we get to that time to make a decision, then I'm sure you'll be first to know.

I'll take you to that. One last thing, Garystad, your performance are as a coach? How have you waded what you've achieved in these three test series?

I'll take you to that. One last thing, Garystad, your performance are as a coach? How have you waded what you've achieved in these three test series?

Look, I mean, you always want to win every test that you go into and that's something you're you're always aspiring to do. And we weren't quite good enough in the first two. I mean, we miss some opportunities in that first test that perhaps win us and that's always disappointing. And you always reflect first yourself and what you could have done better. And like as a staff, where we're always saying, how can we prepare the players for them to be out there and ready? But ultimately it does rest with the players to be out there and to play the game, and that's what the game's about to me. I mean, as staff, our job is to support the players and to help them get ready. So you're always looking for those little one percenters, I guess, and what you can do differently and what you can change to get them ready. But look the ability and I think one of the things for this team that they do so well as they have shown resilience and they've shown the ability to bounce back. In my view, they've done that very very well in this test match.

Look, I mean, you always want to win every test that you go into and that's something you're you're always aspiring to do. And we weren't quite good enough in the first two. I mean, we miss some opportunities in that first test that perhaps win us and that's always disappointing. And you always reflect first yourself and what you could have done better. And like as a staff, where we're always saying, how can we prepare the players for them to be out there and ready? But ultimately it does rest with the players to be out there and to play the game, and that's what the game's about to me. I mean, as staff, our job is to support the players and to help them get ready. So you're always looking for those little one percenters, I guess, and what you can do differently and what you can change to get them ready. But look the ability and I think one of the things for this team that they do so well as they have shown resilience and they've shown the ability to bounce back. In my view, they've done that very very well in this test match.

Well, you're back in control of things early January. But for the here and now, you get to sit back, relax, not deal with media, not deal with players, actually not even smell cut grass. Enjoy your holiday. Gary Steeden, thanks very much for all of your help throughout twenty twenty four.

Well, you're back in control of things early January. But for the here and now, you get to sit back, relax, not deal with media, not deal with players, actually not even smell cut grass. Enjoy your holiday. Gary Steeden, thanks very much for all of your help throughout twenty twenty four.

Thanks RC chairs mate.

Thanks RC chairs mate.

For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.

For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.