'I look forward to this game every year': Jordie Barrett teams up with All Blacks stars ahead of annual cricket crossover match
Every offseason Jordie Barrett turns to his second sporting love, swapping boots for bat and ball to rekindle his cricketing passion.
Before he became the prodigiously talented All Blacks and Hurricanes outside back, Barrett hit the crease as a brisk new-ball bowler and handy lower order batsman. He captained Central Districts under-19s, played alongside Black Caps Will Young and Tom Bruce in Taranaki's Hawke Cup side and was on standby for the New Zealand under-19 World Cup team.
"I was still playing cricket two years out of school – just before I made NZ under-20s," Barrett recalls from his family's Taranaki farm.
Given that pedigree, and the many backyard battles he shared with his elder brothers, it's no surprise Barrett has been a standout in the Team Rugby versus Team Cricket Black Clash which holds its third, deciding edition at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on Friday evening.
Barrett took 2-53 and hit 42 not out to propel Team Rugby to their five wicket upset win in the maiden Black Clash two years ago in Christchurch.
Last year in Napier, Barrett's yorker stunned Stephen Fleming during an impressive four over spell that also claimed Black Caps batting coach Luke Ronchi to finish with 2-22, but it wasn't enough to stop Team Cricket squaring the ledger with a two run win that went down to the final ball.
Despite enjoying his break, before rejoining the Hurricanes, Barrett is not about to rely on talent alone – instead linking with former Taranaki and Central Districts coach Debu Banik.
"I look forward to this game every year and try and put in a bit of work over the summer by having a few net sessions with my old Taranaki coach," Barrett says.
"Every summer, regardless of whether this game was on I'd still go and hit balls with him. It's a way of staying fit for me and another little challenge outside footy. There's a few things that correlate with each other. He hits me a few high ball catches and still thinks that goes a long way to me catching bombs."
In the past two weeks Barrett managed two 40 over second-grade hit outs with his local club side Pihama. While 82 against the Boys' High second XI was the individual highlight, Barrett savoured winning the local "Ashes" – a traditional annual fixture – against Orua.
"It was the first time I got to play in the Ashes and we got a win so that was bloody good.
"I've played a couple of club games to try get my body up to scratch so I don't hurt myself and hit a few balls to get my eye in a wee bit.
"You certainly don't want to go in cold when I know how many eye-balls are going to be on the TV. Last time we were at Hagley it was almost sold out so you don't want to set yourself up to fail or embarrassment.
"There's a wee uni contingent turning up. No doubt they'll be there with bells on in a late sunny afternoon in Christchurch. It'll be my first time under lights there.
"Cricket is one of those games you can prepare as much as you want and still get a good ball and get out early."
Barrett hopes Kaylum Boshier, the former New Zealand under-19 cricket captain turned Taranaki and Chiefs flanker, can notch a half century and nominates Crusaders fullback Will Jordan as a dark horse for Team Rugby.
Westlake's Jock McKenzie is another dual talent, having represented NZ under 19s in cricket and the NZ Maori under 18 rugby side in the same week two years ago.
"It's Will Jordan's first time playing and he was sharp at Christchurch Boys' and it's good to have Kaylum back he was a gun a couple of years ago and still got it."
As for the opposition, a former Black Caps all-rounder could be targeted.
"They've got a few ring-ins – they know how important it is for them to win this one.
"Reading their team list I'm not sure where I can find too many weaknesses when you look at Grant Elliott, Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram, Kyle Mills… maybe Scott Styris."
TEAM RUGBY
Sir Graham Henry (Coach)
Israel Dagg
Ofisa Tonu'u
Jason Spice
Richie McCaw
Marc Ellis
Kaylum Boshier
Brad Weber
Jordie Barrett
Jock McKenzie
Will Jordon
Andy Ellis
WILDCARD - Mathew Sinclair
Scott Robertson (Team Manager)
TEAM CRICKET
Stephen Fleming (Capt & Coach)
Grant Elliott
Dan Vettori
Jacob Oram
Nathan McCullum
Hamish Marshall
Kyle Mills
Peter Fulton
Craig McMillan
Adam Parore
Scott Styris
WILDCARD - Jordan Watson
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John, McKenzie was 10 years ago and he only lasted 15 months until the disgustingly unfair affair that brought him down. I thought that if he didn't get another gig over Eddie V2 then he was done. I read that he had been approached but declined to put his name in the ring.
There are no potential Wallaby coaches outside of McKellar unless you have some inside info?
Go to commentsThe way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.
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