Cricket: Welcome to the big time

The players are happy and Ross Taylor seems to be growing nicely in the role of captain. Photo / Getty Images

Ross Taylor was conducting a press conference before the first test against Australia.

"You probably wouldn't play two spinners on the Gabba, would you?" came the question with a local twang.

Taylor paused.

"We've only brought one spinner with us so we definitely won't be playing two at the Gabba," he replied.

If it's all this easy, he may have thought, this Australian lark will be a doddle.

But having had his first taste of leadership on his own terms, along with coach John Wright, in Zimbabwe, the pair have to move their relationship forward in a far tougher cricket environment.

There is common ground between Australia and New Zealand in the current two-test series.

Both camps are bedding in new leadership arrangements.

Australia appointed former South African coach Mickey Arthur shortly before the first test to work with captain Michael Clarke.

In New Zealand's case, Wright and Taylor are in the fledgling stage of their relationship.

It began in Zimbabwe in October.

Wright had been appointed coach last December.

He's now the national selector and - with Australian Kim Littlejohn providing the detailed information as national selection manager and wingman - in most senses the boss.

He wanted Taylor as skipper to replace Dan Vettori, once the top-class allrounder stood down, first as test captain early in the year, then from the short forms of the game after the World Cup in March.

Wright rarely puts a word out of order but he made it clear upon Taylor's appointment, three months after Vettori's last bow, that it had been an unnecessarily lengthy process, involving Taylor and the only other candidate, Brendon McCullum, which did no one much good.

"When a process is drawn out, it sometimes mushrooms into something it is not," he said, adding the way it evolved must not happen again.

There's a new manager, former Blues and Auckland manager Mike Sandle, a change of physio and fitness advisers, and a couple of Australians, assistant coach Trent Woodhill and bowling coach Damien Wright.

Off they went to Zimbabwe where all games were won, bar the third and final ODI, when wretched bowling combined with spirited batting by the hosts enabled them to chase down 329 in Bulawayo.

John Wright is strong on having a tight unit, wants no hints of disharmony and all hands pulling in the same direction. It appears he's got it. The players are happy and confident, and Taylor - with the rider of it still being desperately early days - seems to be growing nicely in the role.

Two days before the first test began, Wright gave a press conference. He would acknowledge that it wasn't his finest performance. Clearly distracted by impending events, he sounded, albeit politely, as if he'd rather be elsewhere.

Twenty-four hours later, Taylor gave an impressive display in the same seat, talking confidently of his expectations for the first test. It may not be a part of the job he particularly savours, but he appears content in it.

At the time he got the job, Taylor made it clear he would not be a demonstrative leader. He's not a noisy, arm-waving type and is more inclined to a quiet word.

It says something of Taylor that he doesn't particularly want a selectorial role. "I like being able to be approachable," he said. "Just having the extra responsibility taken off you [means] I hope when players aren't feeling that great with confidence and form they can come and have a chat to me."

Wright reckons the pair will "complement each other well".

His job is to keep things moving in the right direction off the park, where he has a pile of influence and control. Taylor's remit is on the field.

Wright is aiming to put an end to the revolving door which had John Bracewell, Andy Moles and Mark Greatbatch in the coaching hot seat within the space of a couple of years.

His philosophies are pretty straightforward. He preaches uncomplicated cricket values: play straight, work hard, value your time in the national side. They served him well in an 82-test career that produced 12 hundreds and a 37.82 average.

"If you achieve certain goals, winning looks after itself," he has said.

"Whether it's as a player or coach, at international level you've got to have a hard edge, that attitude that 'we're going to take them apart'."

New Zealand has had its share of cricket upheavals of late. Wright and Taylor can lead the way to more harmonious, settled times.