Former manager is happy living in the United States and has no immediate plans to return, writes Andrew Alderson.
Jeff Crowe is out of the running to manage the Black Caps, at least for some time.
Crowe is back in New Zealand for the under-19 World Cup as a match referee. He has been in regular contact with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) CEO Justin Vaughan but there is no scope for him returning in any role that might resemble the Black Caps manager position he held from 2000-2003.
"My wife Lara and I and our children Oscar (3) and Henry (18 months) are content living in the United States. I don't have any immediate plans to come back to New Zealand," says Crowe.
"Justin's always been polite enough to say we'd like to know when you have thoughts of coming back. But we're a good few years away. It might be more likely when secondary school comes onto the radar for my kids."
During his previous stint as manager, Crowe was respected within the team for his knowledge, experience and calmness. He's seen as patriotic and capable of connecting well with players.
"I enjoyed my role as manager with Stephen Fleming in charge and being able to work with people like Dan [Vettori] as they progressed. In fact I recently sent Daniel a text congratulating him on scoring 3000 test runs and 300 wickets.
"I left the job after four years because I thought it was time the guys got a change of style. To have my name mentioned is always heartening but I don't know whether it's a consensus feeling, especially with Dave Currie as the incumbent.
"He seems to have a skilled handle on sports team management from his work with the Olympic team."
With Mark Greatbatch and John Wright seen as contenders for a batting coach role, Roger Mortimer in charge of individual performance plans and Currie managing the team, it still leaves a hole for an overall coach/team director to report to captain Daniel Vettori.
But Crowe's happy in his job with the International Cricket Council (ICC) which he's been doing since 2004.
"The beauty of being a referee is that you fly to your work, and move on to your next destination after each appointment. That means you can live anywhere you want.
"I have travel in my blood. I know when I'm at home for four to five weeks and, if I haven't got a ticket to somewhere new, I feel as though things aren't quite normal.
"I find there's a need to keep moving. My wife was in the travel business a few years so she understands. I still enjoy the camaraderie you get travelling in cricket circles. You get to meet some lovely people."
The job has left him with hardship every so often, like on the biggest stage of all, the World Cup final between Australia and Sri Lanka at Barbados in 2007.
At the time Crowe's future in the job looked dim when his team of officials made the incorrect decision to continue playing the final in almost complete darkness despite the minimum 20 overs being completed in Sri Lanka's second innings.
"That was embarrassing for all of us," says Crowe. "However, I just had to take it on the chin and personally apologise to the media, which was the only thing I could do.
"Apart from that, the Ashes series have been highlights. I also recently saw the likes of Virender Sehwag's sublime batting in India against Sri Lanka and Shane Warne when he bowled out England on the fifth day of the test in Adelaide in 2007. Test cricket is what I really enjoy.
"However I think the shorter forms of the game have made tests a better spectacle because we're seeing so many results now - and often if there's no result we're seeing hard-fought draws."
Crowe's arrival home coincides with a chance to catch up with family. For starters, he's been able to sample his mum Audrey's famous Christmas cakes - she runs a small business making them each year.
"She makes about 500 a year. You open any drawer in the house and there's a Christmas cake, she's a stickler for her recipe."
The now eight-handicapper has also had no luck on the golf course against brother Martin who took out the family title at Middlemore this week.
