KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's new coach won't be Tom Moody but another Australian may have jumped to the head of the queue.
Victoria coach Greg Shipperd is understood to have made a lasting impression on Daniel Vettori during the New Zealand captain's brief sortie into the Indian Premier League with the Delhi Daredevils and the left-arm twirler has recommended New Zealand Cricket pursue the 51-year-old.
Given that Vettori's relationship with the coach will be pivotal in any future success New Zealand might enjoy, his thoughts are sure to be taken seriously.
Shipperd is a highly regarded cricket thinker whose international coaching aspirations are blocked in his homeland with Tim Nielsen only a year into a contract that runs until the end of Australia's 2009 Ashes defence.
The former first-class cricketer coached Tasmania before taking over at Victoria following the death of David Hookes in 2004. He found immediate success in Melbourne, leading Victoria to their first Sheffield Shield victory since 1991.
He also knows a bit about batting time, setting the Australian record for the slowest first-class century when he took a tick over eight hours to reach three figures in the 1989-90 season. His immovability at the crease and willingness to take blows on the body led noted intellectual Merv Hughes to label him 'The Human Mattress'.
As for his coaching, Cricinfo describes him as being "a meticulous planner renowned for his tactical nous" and having "a strong rapport with his players".
Shipperd has until August 4 to apply, a date that is not designed to push incumbent John Bracewell out early, but to attract high-quality applicants from Australia - John Buchanan's CV is another that would be welcomed if it arrived in the mail - before their domestic season cranks up. In Shipperd's case it would also give him time to extract himself, or negotiate himself a window, for his IPL obligations.
That does not mean Bracewell will necessarily see out his tenure but there is no desire on NZC's part to move him on before May.
The other applicants are likely to be a who's who of the New Zealand coaching fraternity, with a familiar name likely to feature in discussions.
John Wright has been linked to the post for two years but last week New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan indicated that the former opener still hadn't made up his mind over whether he wanted the national coach or a variant of his now disestablished position as high-performance manager. Whichever way he leans, it is inconceivable there wouldn't be a position for Wright within NZC.
Of the six major association coaches, Northern Districts' Andy Moles appears to have attracted the most positive feedback, while Wellington's Anthony Stuart has also made a big impression. Moody, who the Herald on Sunday revealed back in May as the No 1 choice to take over from John Bracewell, is unwilling to leave his Perth enclave after two years coaching Sri Lanka and four years with Worcestershire in the English county championship and has indicated that he will not apply.
