Cricket: Big coaching conundrums

John Wright wants to take Andy Moles' old role as New Zealand coach but not everyone is keen on the idea. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Cricket sources say John Wright wants to be the next national coach. But the players want a 'general manager'. New Herald on Sunday cricket writer Andrew Alderson looks at the ticklish choices facing New Zealand Cricket.

John Wright wants to be the next Black Caps cricket coach.

Sources have confirmed to the Herald on Sunday that the former New Zealand captain and long-time Indian coach is willing to mentor the side, provided New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is prepared to meet certain conditions.

It's understood Wright is prepared to drop most other commitments, such as his high performance manager role, if he can pick his own management team.

Word has it a meeting will be set up between Wright, captain Daniel Vettori and NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan within the next fortnight.

Wright is not believed to be demanding an exorbitant salary as one of his conditions.

However, an eerie calm has surrounded word of his availability within the team.

Given the current scenario without a coach, it seems logical to sign him up.

So why would the Black Caps turn down the chance to work with a coach who transformed India into 2003 World Cup finalists, drew a series with Australia at home in 2003-04 and won the country's first away series in Pakistan the same season?

It is complicated. There's talk of disorganisation and sloppiness in his methods but supporters argue this is politicking, using Wright's celebrated laid-back attitude which disappears when there's a problem to be headed off or solved.

Anyone who's read Wright's second autobiography Indian Summers will be well aware there were a few of those in his time coaching a team from the world's most fanatical cricket nation.

In fact, Wright is known to be a fanatic himself when it comes to coaching.

Books from the likes of NFL coaching guru Vince Lombardi and legendary football mentor Brian Clough are apparently never far from his bedside table.

He was also one of the grittiest batsmen New Zealand has produced and, if nothing else, the top order could use that advice.

However, in an era where player power has a real place, cricketers no longer need to kowtow to a coach or manager out of courtesy as has been protocol in the past.

Players know their value as free agents, as has been seen with Andrew Flintoff's decision to go it alone over the past few months, and with the re-signing of several New Zealand contracts earlier this year.

So NZC will need to listen, especially to Vettori, when he comes to the table. It will be an interesting prospect to see whether he's prepared to go along with Wright's alleged conditions.

Another coach mooted to be in the mix, certainly as a potential assistant, is Otago's Mike Hesson.

It comes on the back of his province's one-day and Twenty20 titles in the past two seasons, as well as his promotion to the New Zealand A coach role. Before Hesson, the last time Otago won anything was in 1987-88.

His presence is also seen as one way of unlocking the magic of Brendon McCullum, having worked with him for years in Dunedin. Hesson's promise has also been recognised by a place as one of just six on Sparc's Coach Accelerator Programme with an aim to producing world or Olympic champions.