Cricket: Decision on coach today

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

The New Zealand Cricket (NZC) board is meeting today to appoint the next national coach.

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan confirmed this morning that a recommendation had been made to the board.

"It will be discussed at today's board meeting and I am confident an appointment will be made before the start of the Bangladesh series on Wednesday," Vaughan told Radio Sport.

The Black Caps have been without a coach since Andy Moles quit last October with skipper Daniel Vettori assuming a caretaker's role for the Pakistan series.

Vaughan said the process of appointing a new coach had taken a while because the administration had wanted to ensure the right candidate was put forward.

"It has taken so long because we have been really trying to define what the coaching requirements are for this team.

"Looking at some examples from international cricket in recent times, some coaching appointments have not gone well, and we had that experience as well with the departure of Andy Moles last year.

"I think there's been a real need to reflect on that and make sure we get this appointment right."

Vaughan was unable to clarify whether the new position would be a hands-on role, similar to what Moles held, or a managerial brief, saying that was a decision for the board to make.

Vaughan confirmed that Ross Taylor would be Vettori's deputy for the Bangladesh series to give him leadership experience.

Vettori has said he does not want to continue leading the team beyond 2011.

Taylor's rise did not mean that Brendon McCullum, demoted from his vice-captain's post last October after Moles left, had fallen down the pecking order, he said.

"We are mindful that Daniel is one injury away from not being able to captain this team," Vaughan said.

"We want to develop broader leadership options for this team. Brendon has had quite a number of opportunities to step in, in Daniel's absence and will have those chances again.

"`For this (Bangladesh) series we wanted to give Ross the opportunity - he hasn't had a lot of captaincy opportunities of late and we believe he has got that potential.

"That by no means is saying the Ross is number two and Brendon is number three - that isn't the case.

"Brendon will play the stand-by captain's role in future series."

- NZPA