Cricket: Test axing devastates Vincent

The spotlight is back on Black Caps coach and chief selector John Bracewell, thanks to the Lou Vincent saga. Picture / Brett Phibbs

John Bracewell's post-selection comments have struck a raw nerve with axed test batsman Lou Vincent.

The Auckland right-hander was left dumbstruck on Saturday night after being unceremoniously dropped from the test squad to play the West Indies, apparently because he expressed a preference to bat in the middle order rather than open.

Debutant Jamie How and usual No 3 Hamish Marshall have been entrusted with the opening duties instead, and another rookie - Peter Fulton - has been called up to take over the reins at first-drop.

Bracewell later justified the decision by saying he didn't want a "reluctant" opener in the side, and that the eager Marshall had "jumped at the chance", remarks that seemed to question Vincent's degree of commitment.

But the 27-year-old, due to become a father in five weeks, told the Herald yesterday that he was stunned by the comments, and that he had never taken an intractable position over his batting position - merely stated a preference.

"It was just a preference, I wasn't insisting on anything," he said from his home in Kaukapakapa, where he headed on Saturday night after being informed of Bracewell's decision.

"I'd love to play for New Zealand as much as anyone. I'd play anywhere in the team - I don't think there's ever been any doubt over that. I can't understand it. I just want to play the game."

A highly emotional Vincent said the part that particularly hurt was the suggestion that he somehow didn't want to play for New Zealand as much as Marshall, as if his loyalty and hunger had been found wanting.

"It was a crack up, you've got to laugh but, oh mate - I'm finding it hard to right now," he said. "It makes family life a lot more enjoyable, that's for sure.

"My partner's expecting in five weeks and that's nice to have going on. But I just don't know what to make of it. It's right out there."

Vincent might have said more but seemed concerned about an adverse reaction from New Zealand Cricket should he elaborate, and was particularly worried about the present selectors taking umbrage over any criticism.

He later rang the Herald back to ensure his most critical comments were off the record, and to cancel a later interview on the grounds that he could not trust himself to speak moderately, and did not want to burn his bridges.

"I just can't do any media right now because I'm not sure what I'd say," he said. "The way I'm feeling at the moment, speaking my mind probably isn't a good idea.

"Maybe I'll settle down in a day or two but, right now, I can hardly think straight."

The discarding of Vincent has also brought the spotlight back on Bracewell and co-selectors Glenn Turner, Dion Nash and Sir Richard Hadlee, who have apparently been closely involved in the decisions made recently over Chris Cairns and Nathan Astle.

Cairns was dropped from the one-day squad last year and retired after forcing his way back, and Astle was jettisoned at the start of the Sri Lanka series, but ended up playing much of it as a replacement anyway.

Even Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell, a former New Zealand assistant coach under Bracewell and the man who took the New Zealand A team away to Sri Lanka last year, was taken aback by the decision to cut Vincent.

"Yes, I was surprised," he said yesterday. "Lou might have expressed a preference but knowing what he's like, he would have walked over broken glass to bat anywhere - he's that sort of fella.

"In a lot of ways, he's at his peak. He's 27 years old and has already been through the hoops. He's had to cope with failure, work his way back into favour, and over time figure out a method that would prove successful at test level.

"I think he's pretty close to achieving that, really."