KEY POINTS:
John Bracewell has been a polarising figure during his reign as New Zealand cricket coach since 2003.
Bracewell, who today announced he will not seek to renew his contract when it expires next April, has not been shy about lashing out at opposition tactics, with Australia usually bearing the brunt.
With a test and one-day series against Australia on New Zealand's schedule next summer there are still opportunities for Bracewell to engage the "enemy".
Among the more memorable issues to arise during his time in charge have been:
2004
Bracewell claims a late change of pitch at the Gabba in Brisbane is a tactic designed to favour Australia ahead of one-dayer.
The ground's curator, Kevin Mitchell junior, responds: "He's good, isn't he? He should stick to coaching cricket sides and let other people do their jobs. The only reason we changed the wicket was because it was too green."
2004
Bracewell suggests Australia's Channel Nine network was doctoring the Hawkeye leg before wicket replays to take the gloss off New Zealand's bowlers.
Former Australian batsman Darren Lehmann makes one of several suggestions: "He should just concentrate on winning games."
2005
Bracewell launches into Brett Lee after the Australian speedster flings a waist-high beamer at Brendon McCullum, saying he risked attracting an injury lawsuit.
During the same one-day series he accuses Australia of using delaying tactics during crowd trouble in Wellington.
Former Australian batsman Mark Waugh calls Bracewell a "conspiracy theorist" and says New Zealand Cricket needs to "gag" him. "He needs to concentrate on working with his players and stop satisfying his ego with attention-seeking statements," Waugh said.
2007
Bracewell appears to have his own theory on why Adam Gilchrist is rested from a deciding one-dayer against New Zealand, but is reluctant to explain his reasons.
"They're not for me to reveal. It's down as `rested', but they're not for me to reveal."
So, could it be family reasons? "I don't know. It's not necessarily rested."
Turns out Gilchrist was always going to be rested from the final game to spend time with his family.
2007
Bracewell even cops it from Sky TV's cricket boss Martin Crowe following the Gilchrist incident: "I will say from a Sky point of view (Bracewell) needs serious media gagging. Braces should really just focus on coaching only."
Staff at Sky are later told to steer clear of interviewing Bracewell.
2007
Bracewell keeps quiet after his side beat Australia in a one-day series, saying two decades of making mistakes against the Australians had "taught him the merit of a buttoned lip".
"One thing you've got to learn, and if I've learned anything, is `watch your tongue' when speaking about Australia because it's going to come back and bite you."
- NZPA
