Revamping the management or rearranging the deckchairs? Sometimes it can be hard to tell with New Zealand cricket.
At first glance, the latest leadership reshuffle seems wise. John Wright will take over as coach - our fourth in two years if you count Daniel Vettori - while Mark Greatbatch will focus on batting coaching and selectorial duties, leaving Vettori to focus on what he does best: playing cricket.
Their roles now look far more clearly defined and simplified, which can only be a good thing.
Wright was always going to take the reins at some stage. It was a matter of when rather than if and although he'd probably have liked to have inherited a more slick and functioning unit, for whatever reason he has decided the time is right to step up. At least the masochist within him will say that at least there's only one way they can go from here, and that's up.
There will be little time for introductions, with his first match in charge just five days away, but a home series against a weak Pakistan side should be a comfortable enough first-up task.
As a player, Wright deservedly earned a legacy as one of our most tenacious and dependable opening batsmen, and his coaching resume is no less impressive. Indeed, there was some consternation when a talkback host wondered aloud with a straight face on Sunday, "what do we really know about John Wright as a coach?"
Well Mark, we know that Wright took over a rabble of an Indian team overrun by talented ego-maniacs and turned them into a cohesive, dominant force in world cricket that won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy off Australia in 2001 and then went downunder and retained it in 2004. We know he ended his five year tenure with the respect of the dressing room and the fickle Indian public. And we know he's been doing selfless behind the scenes work with New Zealand cricket since returning to our shores.
Some might say he achieved success with India by placating the likes of Sourav Ganguly and massaging their egos, but if he can effect the same turnaround in fortunes with New Zealand as he did with India, no one will care how he does it.
His brief with the Black Caps will be much the same too: inspire their underperforming batsmen. He'll find the New Zealand camp far more harmonious, although that's not to say that rumours haven't swirled of a fairly rigid dressing room heirarchy. And whatever the reason for the batsmen's malaise, it's Wright's job to rectify it where Messrs. Bracewell, Moles and Greatbatch couldn't.
Wright will have five batsmen at his disposal who simply need some kinks in their technique and mindset ironed out to become truly world class: Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum. All five should be averaging at least 40; preferably more than 45.
The prospects aren't quite so rosy in the fast bowling stables, but Wright's duties in that area should not extend beyond ensuring the bowlers he's given are happy and have access to good training facilities.
The on-field running of the team will be left to Daniel Vettori, as it should, and he'll be able to approach this more effectively now that he's no longer on the selection panel.
It may have passed by largely unnoticed, but Vettori's batting hasn't exactly set the world on fire this year. After a stellar 2009 that included three centuries, he's scored just 274 runs in six Tests at a modest average of 24.6. Given his current duties within the team extend to everything bar driving the team bus, he probably won't be too upset to be relieved of his selector's cap and allowed to focus on his duties as a player.
More importantly, however, Vettori's removal from the panel will mean less-established players can approach their learned captain for advice or a heart-to-heart without feeling they might be talking themselves out of the team in the process.
Greatbatch's demotion shouldn't be read as a rebuke of his coaching ability, since he inherited an underperforming team and had no time to turn their fortunes around. It's the players who, in his immortal words, "played like dicks" and accepted the responsibility as such.
Greatbatch will make a fine convenor of selectors. He knows the players and their games, and reads off the same songsheet as his head coach when it comes to the philosophy of batting. If two men of their ilk can't instill a bit more discipline and stoicism in the top six, then all hope is surely lost.
As it is, the Black Caps' chances of being competitive at the World Cup appear bleak. The new-look management structure won't deliver overnight results but at least it delivers some much-needed clarity to New Zealand's off-field operations.
Now let's let the coaches coach, the selectors select, and the batsmen bat. We hope.
What do you think of the announcement? Will this make a
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentbond06 said on 2010-12-20 @ 21:05 NZDT: Report abusive post
A good move-with recent performance's being what they were something had to happen. John is a respected batsman and had good results with the Indian national team. I think also it is a good decision to remove vettori from the selector roll as it is somewhat a conflict of interest and I believe he had taken on too much and his performance reflected that as both a player and captain.
Ali B said on 2010-12-20 @ 18:31 NZDT: Report abusive post
It's about time, I don't know why he didn't get the job last time.
big2al said on 2010-12-20 @ 16:38 NZDT: Report abusive post
About time! Hopefully we now have a coach who can get our batsmen to play to their immense talents. He turned a Talented Indian team from being ranked 6 or 7 in the world into the now top ranked side, with minimal change in personel.
Wolfman said on 2010-12-20 @ 16:30 NZDT: Report abusive post
A great move, but one person who also should have been sacked is that muppet Vaughan. NZC has only gone downhill since he has been in power. The other thing that makes me laugh is they have retained Greatbatch as Batting Coach???? WTF? He couldn't improve them when he was assistant coach so what changes. Great to see that Vettori has lost most of his powers. I just hope Wright wields the big stick if the players try and take control. He should make it known right from the start, my way, or the highway. If Mills tries to become involved, tell him where to go also, I'm sure there's a lot of Young players ready to step into the Black Caps under Wright and maybe that's exactly what he needs to do, build his own team and get rid of the money seekers.
kwikiwi said on 2010-12-20 @ 15:59 NZDT: Report abusive post
heres hoping John Wright can do a better job.