Mark Richardson: Shake-up bit like TV soap

Geoff Allot. Photo / APN

It felt to me like your typical shake-up in a bad soap opera - someone had to die; be written out; but you couldn't take out a key player so made it a bit part player; someone big enough to raise eyebrows but closer to an extra than a leading man.

So New Zealand Cricket's general manager of cricket, Geoff Allott, falls on his sword.

Allott says it was his decision. He had completed the development of the high performance strategy and found that strategy did not involve himself.

The timing of this discovery seems a little coincidental but I'd suggest he review the strategy and find a place for himself - because a bloke who's prepared to die for the cause is just what this country's cricket could do with right now.

Walk or pushed, Allot is right. Something has to change, even though in a confusing interview with cricket writer Jonathan Millmow, he defended the high performance model.

Whatever the current model is, it is not working. It's my understanding that a while back NZC was restructured in a way that separated the Black Caps from the rest of NZC. A Black Cap unit was set up and so, when it comes to thinking high performance, you immediately think making changes at Black Cap level.

But that's not where it is needed.

At the same time as this restructuring, the NZC position of operations manager seemed to disappear. This is the job that must be brought back because it's the role I believe will make the most difference to NZ Cricket in the future.

The operations manager was responsible for overseeing the running of the game down to grassroots and kids level. To ensure cricket in this country is being played in an environment conducive to success.

Right now, it's not.

Forget Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Daniel Vettori - this country will never be any good consistently if the right type of player is not being developed and fed through on a consistent basis.

Which right now it is not.

If the Black Caps have success people will be attracted to play but if the environment they are introduced to is sub-standard they will go nowhere. Poor wickets, crowded public parks and a pie and coke for lunch is not suitable.

The wrong people succeed at the lower levels in this country so our selectors take punts with selection looking for that 'type' of player who may succeed at the international level.

You would have thought NZC's general manager of cricket could have been that operations manager.

Maybe Allott could see it too - and realised it was mission impossible in this country.