NZ Cricket breaks silence on Deloitte report, why Big Bash offer was rejected

New Zealand Cricket has broken its silence on why it picked a franchise Twenty20 competition over Australia’s Big Bash League. 

In March, after an extensive review by consultancy firm Deloitte, New Zealand Cricket’s (NZC) board voted in favour of picking the franchise competition, which would see private money create a tournament to replace the Super Smash. 

However, NZC has revealed that came despite a recommendation from Deloitte, which said joining Australia was its favoured option, but encouraged the board to continue exploring both options. 

NZC has come under scrutiny in the past week, with Sir Richard Hadlee and former president Lesley Murdoch penning letters criticising the organisation, demanding access to a full version of the Deloitte report – which they claim to have been promised after taking part in it. 

“Confidentiality is standard practice for Deloitte when they produce reports of this nature,” NZC chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon said. 

“While Deloitte has not identified any record of a commitment to provide participants with a copy of the report, it acknowledges that Sir Richard Hadlee and Lesley Murdoch came away from the process expecting to receive one and has apologised for any lack of clarity and if anything said during the consultation process created that expectation. 

“At the time of Deloitte’s report earlier this year, its analysis favoured exploring the Big Bash opportunity further, for reasons including financial upside and governance, but it also said weighing the options was for the board and encouraged us to continue exploring both options.” 

The decision has proven disruptive for NZC and resulted in the resignation of chief executive Scott Weenink at the end of last year, and board member Dion Nash in March. 

NZ Cricket chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon. Photo / Photosport 

Instead, Puketapu-Lyndon outlined why NZC had favoured the private franchise league NZ20, which promised greater returns for the sport at lower levels. 

Three further reviews were conducted by consultants Honoco and NZ-based strategic advisers In Your Corner. 

Honoco reported on the impacts the decision would have on fan insights, while In Your Corner looked at the community and high-performance games. 

Multiple sources have told the Herald that NZ20 was the preferred option of NZC’s key stakeholders, the six major associations – Auckland, Northern Districts, Central Districts, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago – and the New Zealand Cricket Players Association (NZCPA). 

In particular, stakeholders noted the impact joining the Big Bash League would have on New Zealand’s professional pathways. It would cut the number of teams taking part in elite-level competition from six to one for men and women. 

“Our constitution says the amateur game is the reason NZC exists, and NZ20 was the superior option in that respect with the development of a Capital Fund from the sale of teams which would help underpin the community game for years to come,” Puketapu-Lyndon continued. 

“The fact that NZ20 also offered a competition with six teams spread across the country, was another significant upside in terms of providing pathways for players, as well as exposure to fans and the ability to grow the game in New Zealand. There was also the commitment of a significant ownership stake, at zero cost, for NZC in the venture. 

“Finally, we listened and took into account the views of our cricket network who are our most important stakeholders. These are the people our game relies on to function and prosper, and the message was clear, from our Major Associations (MAs) and our professional players – they wanted us to pursue NZ20. 

NZ Cricket's board opted against entering a team into Australia's Big Bash League. Photo / Photosport 

“When all of that was considered, alongside the board’s own due diligence, the board voted unanimously, 7-0, to support NZ20 as the preferred option.” 

While NZ20 was the board’s preferred option, delays have seen it pushed back to start in the 2027-28 summer. 

Puketapu-Lyndon has also apologised on behalf of the board for a lack of transparency throughout the decision-making process. 

“It’s been a time of change and uncertainty, and we put our hand up in saying we could have handled things better,” she said. 

“NZC is determined to improve our communication and engagement with our staff, our network, and the public, so people are informed and confident about how decisions are made. 

“I do want to acknowledge and thank the NZC staff for their commitment and perseverance through a genuinely demanding period of change and transition. 

“This is the biggest change to domestic cricket in a generation, and we know not everyone agrees with it. 

“One thing I’m sure of is the relationship between NZC, the MAs and the New Zealand Cricket Players Association is strong, and we are all committed to working collaboratively together for the betterment of cricket in Aotearoa.” 

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.