Cricket: Bushy mo may soon go

By RICHARD BOOCK

PORT ELIZABETH - New Zealand cricket is in danger of losing its most famous moustache midway through next year.

National coach David Trist, the man who introduced us to "arousal levels" and the "composition of the configuration," seems unlikely to seek a renewal of his contract when it runs out in August, although at this stage neither he nor New Zealand Cricket have stated an official position.

All Trist will say is that he has made his position clear to NZC and will leave it up to them to make a statement, while on the other hand, NZC chief executive Chris Doig has said he is hopeful of retaining Trist's services.

Trist was appointed for a two-year term after Steve Rixon stepped down at the end of last year's tour of England, and has experienced a wild ride at the helm of New Zealand, from the euphoria of crushing the West Indies and winning the ICC Knockout Trophy, to the despair of a towelling by Australia and losing a one-day series against Zimbabwe.

So far he has fashioned a four-win, five-loss record in tests and a 12-16 record in one-day internationals, which seems a fair reflection of New Zealand's ranking in the five-day arena, while perhaps highlighting the side's recent volatility in the shorter game.

No word has yet been heard on possible replacements, but should Trist opt for a change, the usual suspects are expected to apply for his job, which may well start with the tour to Pakistan in September.

Of the New Zealand contingent, Gloucestershire coach John Bracewell may be tempted despite his county commitments, John Wright has just started coaching India and is unlikely to be interested, while Central Districts coach Dipak Patel and former New Zealand batsman Mark Greatbatch may also come into the frame.

In terms of overseas applications, it would be no surprise to see a strong representation of Australians, with Geoff Marsh a possible contender, and NZC's technical adviser, Ashley Ross.

Whatever happens on that front, if Trist does decide to walk, New Zealand cricket will not only lose an accomplished coach and one of the best RAF-style moustaches in the business, but also a sense of humour which has managed to fuel a healthy sense of perspective no matter how dire the situation.

His assignment in South Africa was always going to be difficult given the Proteas' strength at home and their anxiety to overcome the recent corruption scandal.

But it started to take on the plot of a Mission Impossible episode after seven of his leading bowlers and his senior opening batsman bowed out through injury.

Players have slashed their legs jumping over barbed-wire fences, or by spiking themselves during warm-ups, two have been ruled out by injuries sustained while doing nothing more strenuous than throwing and catching a frisbee, while others are unsure what they did to precipitate their misfortune.

Through all this Trist has remained philosophical and good-humoured, and assured reporters the other day that the team was not about to take up chess as a replacement activity, even though the temptation was to wrap the remaining fit players in cotton wool, and release them only after the toss.

A man with an extensive vocabulary, Trist last summer stunned Steve Waugh's Australians by saying his players were over-aroused in the opening one-dayers, while his references to "the composition of the configuration" of his bowling attack against the West Indies featured in press conferences for weeks afterwards.

A keen racegoer, Trist lives with his wife Christine at their Little River farm on Banks Peninsula, and is apparently keen to pursue his interest in the bloodstock industry and in agriculture.