Cricket: Moles disappointed as he exits Black Caps

Departing Black Caps coach Andy Moles today cut his ties less than a third of the way into a three-year contract. Photo / Getty Images

Departing New Zealand cricket coach Andy Moles is disappointed his perceived shortcomings weren't laid bare before being forced to resign.

Englishman Moles today cut his ties with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) less than a third of the way into a three-year contract.

The announcement was inevitable following a review of New Zealand's tour to Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy tournament in South Africa. It is understood senior New Zealand players and elements at NZC were critical of Moles' input, which forced captain Daniel Vettori to handle elements of the coaching duties.

The parties reached an agreement through mediation talks in Auckland yesterday, the terms of which are confidential. Moles was contracted through to the 2011 World Cup.

Vettori will now lead a coach-less team for a limited overs series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates next month. They fly out on Tuesday, with the remainder of the New Zealand coaching support staff to travel.

Moles, 48, said he was sad to be leaving and regarded his 11-month tenure as a "privilege".

While he held no grudge against the players he was aggrieved that revelations of their concerns, which were leaked in the media on Thursday, was all news to him.

"Let me be very clear, it is the players' team, they are the most important thing," Moles said.

"It is unfortunate that it (coaching deficiencies) wasn't raised before and that will be looked at, I'm sure, by New Zealand Cricket going forward.

"If I had got some feedback earlier, we may have been able to quell this problem and been aware of it.

"Obviously we'll never know because the feedback wasn't forthcoming."

The former Warwickshire opening batsman's exit ironically comes after the team's best result in his tenure, having reached the final of the Champions Trophy.

In seven tests since last November, Moles oversaw four draws and three losses while his one-day international record is nine wins and 10 losses.

Former Northern Districts mentor Moles said he had a "good chat" with Vettori this morning and was given a players' perspective on the controversy that exploded on Thursday.

"He confirmed to me that we had an excellent relationship, those were his words, and he's really sorry that it's ended up like this," he said.

"It's in the best interests of the team so that they can move forward and I can get on doing what I'm going to do."

Moles didn't believe player power was escalating out of control but he stressed the importance of choosing a strong-willed individual as his successor.

"They need a coach who's going to be really forceful and a guy who perhaps will be allowed to come in and run the show by himself," he said.

"The most important thing is that Dan Vettori must really believe in the new bloke... and they must work closely together.

"Hopefully as close as Dan and I did but obviously with a different type of chemistry to his coaching.

"Obviously my brand of coaching wasn't the type of coaching that these players desired and I understand that.

"All coaches in the world are different. (John) Bracewell operated differently to what I did and (Steve) Rixon did."

- NZPA