Editorial: Coach has gelled team in contest to be best

Grant Elliot celebrates hitting the match winning six during the Semi-Final match between New Zealand and South Africa.

Grant who?

When Grant Elliott was named in the Black Caps ICC World Cup squad, I thought "poor Matt Henry".

Fast bowler Henry had missed out, after strong performances in a series against Pakistan.

But 36-year-old Elliott was in, bowling his slow-mediums and batting at five or six.

Elliott hadn't stood out, in my mind.

Which is one of the reasons he got picked. Because he is an achiever, but he's not flashy.

And on Tuesday night, his maturity, his skill and his determination helped win the Black Caps a place in the ICC World Cup final in Melbourne on Sunday.

Henry chipped in as well, after being brought into the team to replace the injured fast bowler Adam Milne.

Rules being rules, Milne cannot play in the final, even if he recovers.

So Henry may well take the park on Sunday.

Being a Black Caps fan is a roller coaster ride. Sometimes you get off wanting to throw up, sometimes you get off and you're exhilarated.

And each time you're on the ride, you are wary of it suddenly coming off the rails.

More and more though, in this world cup, there has been a growing confidence in the team.

It no longer relies on the brilliance of one or two individuals.

If someone fails, or underachieves, another person steps up.

The role of the coach Mike Hesson shouldn't go unnoticed either.

Hesson is rare, in that he did not play international cricket.

Sports administration, including coaching, around the world is littered with individuals given their roles because of their sporting success, and failing because they cannot coach or administer their way out of a paper bag.

Hesson breaks that mould.

He has gelled his team, they understand their roles, and their goal, and they are going for it.

As a Black Cap fan through thick and thin, I like this feeling.

It's called winning, and let's hope on Sunday it continues.