KEY POINTS:
John Wright has had a foot in both cricket camps in Christchurch this week, reacquainting with the Indian stars he formerly coached while offering New Zealand an insight on how to derail the tourists.
Wright, who coached India between 2000-05, welcomed the likes of Sachin Tendulkar like an
old friend at Lincoln.
But as a New Zealand Cricket selector he has also been instrumental in assisting Daniel Vettori plot the extension of their home record against India.
Vettori admitted Wright, the former New Zealand opening bat and captain, had been a point of reference although India's personnel has changed since he was in charge.
"We've been picking his brains about how to take on an Indian team and what things he thought worked in the past when they were unsuccessful," Vettori said ahead the tour-opening Twenty20 international at AMI Stadium tonight.
"And we're finding out if we can replicate that in our own game."
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was relaxed at Wright's divided loyalties, saying although he may be able to provide a psychological insight into the Indian players, technology was a more useful tool in terms of detecting a technical weakness.
"Technology is so good right now, you don't really need a coach who has been part of a team you are playing," he said.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand team has welcomed new manager Dave Currie - the successor to Lindsay Crocker - into the fold.
The New Zealand Olympic team's chef de mission joined the team in Christchurch on Monday.
"He's getting a feel for the side," Vettori said.
"It's going to be new for him, cricket is a completely different avenue for him.
Vettori said while he was sad to see Crocker's tenure end he was excited about the experience Currie offers in sports' administration.
Meanwhile, current Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell's appointment as an assistant to Black Caps head coach Andy Moles coincides with the departure of specialist fielding coach Travis Wilson.
O'Donnell joins the squad for the five-match one-day series which starts in Napier on Tuesday.
Auckland will appoint an interim coach for the remainder of the domestic season. Former test opener Matt Horne and Zimbabwean legspinner Paul Strang - who have both had roles with Auckland A - are the frontrunners.
- NZPA