KEY POINTS:
The good ship Martin Snedden was steaming towards turbulent waters last night after making a late decision to skip an International Cricket Council appointment in Dubai.
On a day when coach John Bracewell made the headlines for all the wrong reasons following his name-rank-and-serial number interview, Snedden apparently opted to set a new course for South Australia - where New Zealand were last night playing England.
It is not known exactly when New Zealand Cricket's chief executive finalised his change of plans but most of the smart money centred on yesterday morning, not long after he learned of the tone of Bracewell's exchange with the touring media.
In a bizarre performance on Monday, Bracewell stuck mostly to the same six-word answer - "you'd have to ask the players" - despite being repeatedly asked for his own views about team morale, and about a Sunday newspaper article that alleged a player revolt.
NZC general manager Tim Murdoch has now been sent to Dubai for the ICC meeting, while Snedden was scheduled to dock in Adelaide last night, before continuing on with the team to Perth this morning.
Team manager Lindsay Crocker yesterday confirmed Snedden's expected arrival, but played down the suggestion the move was caused by tension or disharmony.
"We all know that when results don't go your way, as they haven't on this trip, that pressure builds up both in terms of the public and the media," Crocker said.
"He [Snedden] sees that daily, while we're a little removed from it here.
"But it's not a matter of fixing a crisis, it's more a matter of coming over here and demonstrating his support."
Crocker tacitly conceded that Bracewell's press interview on Monday, when he answered questions as if he was being interrogated by the secret police, had not cleared up the allegation of disharmony within the team as well as it might.
The Black Caps' manager echoed Snedden's comments from yesterday when he firmly rejected any suggestion of a rift between the players and management, which had initially been claimed in a Sunday Star-Times story.
"I think you guys know that talk of player rebellion is without foundation," said Crocker.
"That said, I don't think the interview yesterday put that story to bed as well as it should have been. It has perpetuated an issue that I think we all know doesn't exist.
"Let's clarify that now. There is no player unrest. In fact, it's quite the reverse. They're as happy with the certainty and direction that they're getting from Braces right now as they ever have been.
"And Braces knows the team is fully supportive of him."
While Crocker could appreciate the efforts of the media to get to the bottom of the issue, he said he could also understand the frustration levels of Bracewell, who was attempting to develop the best possible squad for the World Cup.
"Because of injury, and the length of season, we simply can't play our top 11 guys for 30-odd ODIs in a row. That would mean we wouldn't have them at the end, which is the when we really want to have them.
"Braces has been constantly thinking forward to the end of April. He's had to have the courage of his convictions and, you know sometimes - when you receive the barrage he has lately - it hasn't been easy for him."
