NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport

Cricket: Black Caps tracking well now

Andrew Alderson
By Andrew Alderson
Reporter·Herald on Sunday·
3 Aug, 2013 10:47 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Mike Hesson. Photo / Getty Images

Mike Hesson. Photo / Getty Images

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand cricket coach Mike Hesson has been in the job 12 months. Andrew Alderson asks him 12 questions.

HoS: How did you survive the Ross Taylor captaincy saga and what did you learn?

MH: It was a tough time for everyone. All three involved - Ross, Brendon [McCullum] and myself - are passionate about the Black Caps and want to drive the team forward. None of us wanted to go through that but we're headed in the right direction now.

HoS: How do the New Zealand team convince the public they are improving over the next 12 months?

MH: Rankings are a benchmark. They reflect your performance over a decent period. Twelve months ago, we were so far behind, we had to win a heck of a lot of games to gain ground. To move from ninth to seventh in the one-day international rankings has been important. I want to get to fifth in the next 12 months. Moving into the top six for the T20s would also be a step forward. In tests, I want consistency away from home, particularly from our batting.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

I know people talk about our batting being bad but I've done the research and we've scored more hundreds across all forms in the last 12 months (13 - seven in tests, four in ODIs and two in T20s) than at any other time in the past 10 years. A decent amount of that cricket was against the top two test sides in the world [England and South Africa] as well as spending time in Asia. [Assistant coach] Bob Carter's taken his share of criticism but in the previous 12 months, which included home and away against Zimbabwe, we only managed 11.

HoS: What's been the most gratifying aspect of the job?

MH: We're starting to get stability in the playing ranks across all three formats. Players are getting familiar with their roles. The two T20 and ODI series wins away from home and the consistency shown in the home tests against England are also up there.

HoS: Has it been a cathartic process to pen your first contract list so you have accountability for selections, as opposed to last year?

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

MH: I think that's a good thing for any coach, all you want is to be fully accountable.

HoS: How hard has it been to overcome the not-a-former-New-Zealand-cricketer barrier and prove you have the coaching skills?

MH: I don't think it is something you can ever overcome. Every game your performance is judged, just like players. You can be up one minute, down the next but as I coach I'm generally trying to look further. Take our test status; we have a lot of ground to make up. I'd like to think it'll happen tomorrow but the reality is we have to make small steps. We're never going to please everybody.

HoS: John Buchanan. Where did it go wrong with him and why couldn't it work?

Discover more

Sport|cricket

Park groundsman calls it a day

03 Aug 10:46 PM
Sport|cricket

Cricket: Warner sinks to new low

03 Aug 11:10 PM
Cricket

Cricket: Prior calls for umpiring changes

04 Aug 09:25 PM
Sport

Cricket: Captaincy role taking a toll

12 Aug 05:30 PM

MH: It has been documented, probably unfairly, that it was a breakdown between myself and John. I don't have a lot to say on it. We were on tour almost 10 of those 12 months and we worked in isolation a lot of that time. I can't really comment to be fair.

HoS: So who would you like to see involved in New Zealand cricket who's not there at the moment?

MH: I'm not sure about naming any certain person, it's more about getting the required skill sets. We have a lot of talented players who need to evolve and be challenged from a sports science point of view and through playing opportunities. The 'A' programme heading away to the sub-continent this year is a good start. Ideally we need to surround those players with people keen to help NZC who have experience, mana but no egos.

HoS: What is your most satisfying moment?

MH: Winning the ODI series in South Africa. We were pretty low after the test series. I'm proud of the way the players picked themselves up, especially given we'd never achieved it.

HoS: Your most disappointing moment?

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

MH: The final test of the home series against England. I was proud of the team but it was hard sitting in the changing room thinking about what could've been. You only had to look at everyone's face to see how gutted they were.

HoS: The World Cup negotiations. Are you stunned at the successful result - from a New Zealand perspective - delivered by Therese Walsh and her team? There must be excitement at the prospect of playing so many games at home?

MH: I'm a bit like you. I wasn't expecting to get a home semifinal. I thought we'd lose that and might even be lucky to get a quarter-final. Australia vs New Zealand at Eden Park is huge and there's so much nostalgia linked to it from 1992. What a great day that was; it set off a couple of big months in New Zealand. We certainly have no complaints, we're stoked with the draw. It sounds a bit corny but hopefully we can inspire the next generation. It's our chance to make our own history.

HoS: Can you count the number of nights you've spent at home on two hands?

MH: Unfortunately when I got back from England, I left almost immediately for eight days of reviews. But I was recently home for my youngest daughter's third birthday. It was great to be a Dad again, waking up to watch her open presents. I've also managed to read my daughters a few bedtime stories.

HoS: What about fish and chips on St Clair beach?

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

MH: We only live about 100m away so it's great to do that or go for a coffee or walk the beach. Unfortunately some of it eroded recently and needed barricading, but it's still a heck of a spot.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Warriors

Tanah time: Boyd to make Warriors debut against Tigers

08 Jul 06:27 AM
Premium
Opinion

Gregor Paul: How the All Blacks will deal with Scott Barrett's injury

08 Jul 04:52 AM
Black Ferns

World Cup winners Ruby Tui and Krystal Murray join Black Ferns camp

08 Jul 03:25 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Tanah time: Boyd to make Warriors debut against Tigers

Tanah time: Boyd to make Warriors debut against Tigers

08 Jul 06:27 AM

Meanwhile a star player has recovered from an ankle injury to take his place in the side.

Premium
Gregor Paul: How the All Blacks will deal with Scott Barrett's injury

Gregor Paul: How the All Blacks will deal with Scott Barrett's injury

08 Jul 04:52 AM
World Cup winners Ruby Tui and Krystal Murray join Black Ferns camp

World Cup winners Ruby Tui and Krystal Murray join Black Ferns camp

08 Jul 03:25 AM
Non merci Hamilton: French snub stay in The Tron before All Blacks series finale

Non merci Hamilton: French snub stay in The Tron before All Blacks series finale

08 Jul 01:44 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP