There's a feast of cricket heading your way whether you're at the ground or on the coach, with the Georgie Pie Super Smash, after the Island of Origin clash.
Friday night's Island of Origin clash between the North and South Islands puts two teams stacked with BLACKCAPS and the best domestic cricketers head to head with regional pride on the line. There is one change to the original line-ups with James McMillan replacing Jacob Duffy in the South Island team - entry is free and the match is live on SKY Sport starting at 7.10pm.
The North Island's Anton Devcich, Adam Milne and Kyle Mills, along with South Island skipper Peter Fulton sample the sponsor's product. Photo courtesy @MaccasNZ
North Island captain Kyle Mills said: "I'm excited and hopefully the players and fans and viewers can get in behind it - the North v South match is a great way to kick off this competition because it hasn't been around for a while and it could even build into a three game series. There's definitely a pride and passion thing with individuals about where they come from and if we can build a tradition that would be nice. It's a great lead-in to the Super Smash, where we're going to have some great games of cricket over the coming weekends."
The first Georgie Pie Super Smash festival weekend sees all six teams in action. The Canterbury Kings will sport their new name and purple uniform for the first time on Sunday evening against the Devon Hotel Central Stags. SKYCITY Northern Knights play Wellington Firebirds on Saturday afternoon and the SBS Bank Otago Volts Sunday afternoon, while the Volts face the Mondiale Auckland Aces on Saturday evening.
Home teams will play up to three matches a weekend, while the double headers will feature very short turn around times to keep the entertainment flowing.
Hamilton's Seddon Park hosts the Island of Origin and first Georgie Pie Super Smash festival weekend.
Kyle Mills is excited by the challenge. "Surprisingly, even thought it's the shortest format, it's the most taxing mentally - as a bowler I have 24 balls, and I really have to make sure I execute those balls, and scout and research well to do my job. Every ball within the game you're on high alert, so you have to be prepared mentally and physically. You'll notice between balls we're running around because of time restraints - the captain's always cracking the whip to make sure I'm on time, it's a fast game and it goes very quickly."
"Twenty20 is demanding on the captains, and bowlers, who are bowling one over spells much of the time, and you have to adapt very quickly to what the opposition puts in front of you. Is it a batsman's game? Well, people like to see sixes and boundaries and high scores, and bowlers always have to adjust. Innovations like the slower ball bouncer, you'd never heard of them six years ago, but that's a common ball now. It's all about evolving and adapting and that's the great thing about cricket I guess," says Mills.
All Georgie Pie Super Smash matches are live on SKY Sport and Radio Sport, ticketing information is at www.supersmash.co.nz. Follow the #gpsupersmash tag on Twitter to keep up with the play.
Upcoming matches - Georgie Pie Super Smash
North Island v South Island Twenty20
Friday 31 October 7.10pm
Seddon Park, Hamilton
Free entry
#nthvsth
Live on SKY Sport and Radio Sport, live scoring on blackcaps.co.nz
SKYCITY Northern Knights v Wellington Firebirds
1 November 3.50pm
Seddon Park, Hamilton
#knightsvbirds
Live on SKY Sport and Radio Sport, live scoring on blackcaps.co.nz
SBS Bank Otago Volts v Mondiale Auckland Aces
1 November 7.10pm
Seddon Park, Hamilton
#voltsvaces
Live on SKY Sport and Radio Sport, live scoring on blackcaps.co.nz
SKYCITY Northern Knights v SBS Bank Otago Volts
2 November 3.50pm
Seddon Park, Hamilton
#knightsvvolts
Live on SKY Sport and Radio Sport, live scoring on blackcaps.co.nz
Canterbury Kings v Devon Hotel Central Stags
2 November 7.10pm
Seddon Park, Hamilton
#kingsvstags
Live on SKY Sport and Radio Sport, live scoring on blackcaps.co.nz
