David Leggat: Likely candidates for top cricket job

Dan Vettori has seldom spoken a truer couple of sentences than he did this week when looking ahead at how New Zealand will settle on a new national coach.

"We just want to sit back and make sure this process is as thorough as possible. We don't want to be in a similar situation again," he said.

As New Zealand Cricket begin the search for a replacement for the departed Andy Moles, the first thing they must do is settle on the type of person they want.

Do they want a hands-on operator, armed with skills to pass on to the players, providing a strong hand on the tiller? Or should he be an organiser, a backroom planner who makes sure everything is running smoothly, using specialist coaches for individual player needs, and take some load off Vettori?

The last two coaches, John Bracewell and Moles, came from opposite ends. Neither appeared an entirely happy fit with the players, for various reasons.

So what to do? Where to look?

There is only one candidate in New Zealand who would be considered, former captain and Indian coach John Wright. He has received less than resounding endorsements from both NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan and Vettori, who have talked of the need to find the right fit for Wright, so to speak.

If he is discounted, then it's overseas NZC must go, and perhaps to swallow a chunk of humble pie. In a broad frame, candidates might include:

Tom Moody, if they are starting at the top, and not just because the former Australian allrounder stands an imposing 1.98m. He took over Sri Lanka in 2005 and led them to the World Cup final two years later before heading back to West Australia. He's signed a three-year deal until 2010, and would want serious money. Well worth a hard look.

John Wright, the only New Zealander in the hunt. Would be a popular public choice, a laconic front masking a hard-minded competitor, who made the most of his abilities as a test batsman. Has worked with the batsmen before, and heads the NZC high performance unit. Suggestions he would not be senior players' first choice, but anyone who can keep India on track, as he did for several years, can't be a bad man manager.

Steve Rixon, the former Australian wicketkeeper and New Zealand coach in the late 1990s, has been spruiked in the last couple of days. Why? There's no mileage in going back but it is likely to at least be discussed.

Duncan Fletcher, who steered England to their most famous Ashes win, apart from Bodyline, in 2005. The Zimbabwe-born Fletcher wouldn't come cheap but would run a tight ship. Not a noted sufferer of fools.

Greg Shipperd, the former first-class batsman, has coached Tasmania and Victoria, but also Vettori's IPL team Delhi. Well regarded.

Matthew Mott, who was close to the job when Moles was appointed. Unlikely due to a contract with NSW.

Graham Ford, the South African who has coached Natal and Kent and was Bob Woolmer's assistant with South Africa at the 1999 World Cup. Resigned from Kent three months ago. Again, sounded out and not interested last year.

Darren Lehmann, the burly former Australian player, who coached the Deccan Chargers to the IPL title this year. The longshot.