Paul Lewis: Coach search needs clarity

John Wright. Photo / Greg Bowker

There's an old story involving the personable English cricket commentator Brian Johnston in Bangkok.

Eton-educated "Johnners", as the story had it, was with the wife in "Bangers". She went shopping and Johnners was at a loose end. He cast about a bit and chanced on a pretty young thing in a doorway.

Johnston engaged her in conversation and quickly divined her profession. And the price; about $250. Johnners was shocked. He thought about $15 would have been the going rate.

Later, he joined up with the wife and they passed by the young woman again. See what you get for $15, she hissed.

I have no idea if the story is true - there is some doubt Johnners actually said the words on the BBC's Test Match Special for which he is most famed ("Bowler's Holding, batsman's Willey", a reference to West Indian bowler Michael Holding coming in to bowl at English batsman Peter Willey) and which allegedly produced a storm of on-air giggling and perhaps the most remembered phrase in cricket.

But here's hoping NZ Cricket isn't left holding its own willy as it sets about - or doesn't set about - employing a coach or a team director or a psychic or a horse whisperer or whatever the hell it is they are doing.

To say the process has been transparent is like saying the security around Prince William was so tight some drongo DJ carrying a packet of Sizzlers could not have penetrated it.

After being assured a coach would be forthcoming, it now appears (with apologies to Victor Borge) he may only be fifthcoming. He was to have been in place ahead of next month's series with Bangladesh (yawn) but now may not be.

I am suspicious there will be no coach - nor team director - in place for the altogether more interesting and important series against Australia. Maybe there will be no coach at all.

What we appear to be seeing here is the single greatest application of player power in the history of New Zealand cricket.

Daniel Vettori is captain, selector, the best batsman, best bowler, best all-rounder.

This column has cheered Vettori's prowess as a player and deservedly so.

But you appreciate the extent of his influence when you understand that, of his fellow selectors, the great Glenn Turner is muzzled from speaking to the media. The other selector, Mark Greatbatch, isn't.

Turner has been known to speak his mind, even when it doesn't coincide with New Zealand Cricket agendas. Greatbatch is new to the panel and far less likely to break the circle of trust.

Vettori will clearly have a say, probably the say, in whoever is appointed coach. Or team director or team facilitator or the man who washes all the cricket boxes ...

Because the one thing that is clear in this murky tale is that whoever comes in will be subservient to Vettori.

John Wright? Did someone mention John Wright? If you've been watching carefully, you'll have noted unsourced articles in the media about Wright.

While puzzled fans wonder what's wrong with the bloke who was such a staunch cricketer for New Zealand during the golden age and who, what's more, coached India in a mostly happy five years of achievement, Wright is being carefully hung out to dry.

India had cricketers such as Tendulkar, Sehwag, Dravid, Kumble, Dhoni, Ganguly. No pushovers in that lot. Nor in the swirling political pantheon that is India cricket. So Wright's got something going for him as a coach and man manager.

But the word from within the team is Wright lacks organisation. We know this comes from within the team because we have been fed this line too. There's just one thing. Organisation is a learned skill. No one is born organised. Wright is famously laid-back - which is not to say that can't achieve results. It did with India.

The latest to pursue the 'Wright not right' for the job line was Simon Doull in the Sunday News.

His rationale was that Wright's relaxed style would not 'cut it' with the Black Caps. All he did in India, said Doull, was allow his stars to do what they wanted and to offer assistance - but only when asked.

Somehow, this makes Wright unsuitable for the Black Caps job. If Doull is right, it makes him the perfect candidate. What, there aren't any prima donnas in the Black Caps (muffled laughter)? Kowtowing to players would seem to be the ideal qualification.

The truth seems to be - and we don't really know because no one is saying anything publicly - that Vettori and others don't want Wright. They likely don't want him because Wright apparently wants control, the one thing the players are unlikely to concede.

Don't get me wrong - it is maybe time for this "model". There has been only limited success with a coach holding overall authority. The Black Caps have done passably well so far when freed from such.

So a player-led era may be successful. It's early days yet; too soon to tell. But if only someone would tell us all that is what they are doing and get rid of this suffocating fog. Instead it seems that things are just going to be allowed to roll on quietly until the status quo becomes more status than quo.

Tell us they don't want John Wright and put an end to the whispering, behind-the-scenes PR campaign about him.

That's what happens. People in the know drop the right word in the right media ears and the desired perception slowly becomes accepted fact. Better to stand up straight and spell the whole thing out.

There's just one thing. Who minds the minders? When it all goes pear-shaped and the wheels fall off and all the other disastrous cliches start to apply ... what will Vettori do? Will he ditch trusted lieutenants? Will the hard decisions be taken or will he circle the wagons?

You'll note the name of NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan is missing from calculations here. That's because I am not quite sure where he fits in.

Sometimes, everyone needs someone over the top who is looking objectively at performance and results and who exercises control.

Or we could all end up wondering if that is indeed what you get for $15.