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Former Blackcap Mitchell McClenaghan has raised concerns about the future of New Zealand cricket.
Speaking on SEN Mornings, McClenaghan believes cricket in the nation is nearing the end of a golden era.
“I think it’s a pretty scary time,” he said.
“I think you’ve got a great period of players who’ve come through, your Kane Williamson, your (Tim) Southee, Ross Taylor, (Trent) Boult all at the same time, all very good players.
“Our team is aging at the moment.”
In McClenaghan’s view, the current crop of young players isn’t close to those that have come through in the past.
“It’s going to be a little bit tougher for New Zealand cricket in years to come, there’s no one coming through who really stands out to me,” he said.
“There’s a couple of guys with some promise but nothing exceptional like your Kane Williamson, once in a generational player when you talk about Kane, but no real Southees, no real Boults coming through at the minute.
“Lockie Ferguson is class… but outside of that there’s not too much coming through at the minute.”
McClenaghan believes one of the main reasons for this issue is the New Zealand’s approach to the domestic cricket program.
“From what I’ve seen with their domestic cricket… they went for youth and got rid of a lot of the older guys,” he said.
“You lost a lot of those tools, those teaching tools and to play some hard cricket.
“I feel like the time, the gap between domestic cricket in New Zealand now is bigger than it was a few years ago.”
The Blackcaps are currently tied 1-1 in an ODI series against Pakistan, with the decider set to take place in Karachi on Friday afternoon (NZST).