By RICHARD BOOCK
Stephen Fleming's push for a low-profile coach seems to have been more successful than anyone could have imagined.
The idea of appointing someone with the presence of a wallflower has caught on so strongly that a line can now be drawn through the names of almost all the top-level candidates, as well as many of the more obscure or faintly fantastic possibilities.
Only days before a recommendation is made to the New Zealand Cricket board, it seems likely that David Trist's replacement will come from overseas, probably Australia or South Africa - although the way things have been going the Galapagos Islands cannot be completely ruled out either.
With a new, more diminutive, job description attached, the opening has evidently failed to seduce any of the best New Zealand-born applicants - all of whom decided they were better off where they were.
John Wright understandably opted to stay with India, John Bracewell needed just a quick chat with Fleming before electing to stay at Gloucestershire and Dipak Patel withdrew his expression of interest more recently after learning of the job's new "conditions."
Patel, who led Central Districts to the Shell Trophy two seasons ago and to the Shell Cup final last summer, had been one of the front-runners given Wright's and Bracewell's lack of interest, but was unhappy about the strings attached to the New Zealand role.
"It was not an easy decision," he said. "I felt uncomfortable with a lot of the job specifications."
With Patel, Wright and Bracewell out, and other Kiwis Denis Aberhart, Mark Greatbatch, Dayle Hadlee, Ashley Ross and Mike Shrimpton unlikely to be serious contenders, the focus seems set to move outside New Zealand for the second time in three years.
Northern Districts' Chris Kuggleijn has stepped down from his position to concentrate on teaching, Tony Sail has his hands full at Auckland and Vaughn Johnson has opted to remain at Wellington and build on last summer's Shell Trophy success.
Overseas, the situation is hardly any clearer, particularly as most top-flight international coaches are either committed or have the strength of character which disqualifies them from consideration.
Greg Chappell, if he ever was serious, is unlikely to play the shrinking violet, and former South African coach Bob Woolmer has settled down to life as Warwickshire's director of coaching.
Former New Zealand coach Steve Rixon has pledged his loyalty to New South Wales for another year, former Border coach Richard Pybus has taken up a job with Pakistan and most English county coaches would have to accept a significant drop in salary.
That could still leave room for someone like former Australian captain and coach Geoff Marsh - who has been in the wilderness since his 1999 World Cup success - and who may have the temperament required to work with Fleming. Whatever other qualifications he might have, that seems to be the critical factor.
Cricket: Wallflowers in short supply as coaches shun top job
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