Cricket: Conflict over Cairns 'pure fabrication'

New Zealand coach John Bracewell

New Zealand coach John Bracewell

New Zealand Cricket has angrily denied suggestions of a rift between senior players and management, saying people were wrong to confuse robust debate with dissent or conflict.

Only minutes after arriving at Christchurch Airport yesterday, New Zealand coach John Bracewell and skipper Stephen Fleming joined chief executive Martin Snedden to reject claims of an impasse, allegedly over the decision to drop all-rounder Chris Cairns.

The united front was formed after an article in Tuesday's Dominion Post newspaper suggested Fleming and Bracewell were not on speaking terms at the start of the one-day series in South Africa, which New Zealand later conspired to lose 4-nil.

Snedden told the Herald yesterday that Bracewell and Fleming held each other in high regard, enjoyed the challenge of plotting the team's tactics and strategy, and were mystified over reports that they weren't talking to each other at any stage of the tour.

"The claim was pure fabrication; there was no substance to it whatsoever," he said. "Braces and Flem have a good, healthy and robust working relationship, and share a great respect for each other.

"They challenge one another over various issues because they have the confidence and experience to do that, but I know that each of them values the input that the other brings to the table, and wouldn't want it to be any different."

Snedden also moved to debunk the theory that Cairns' axing was linked to the appointment of new selector Glenn Turner, who had a running battle with the Canterbury all-rounder throughout the turbulent season of 1995-96.

"People need to realise that the concerns over Chris Cairns' fitness were first raised with the player back in April, two months before the new selection panel was convened. Glenn's alleged involvement is just a red herring, it's not even an issue at all."

Bracewell said he was bemused about the report because he knew Fleming had been made aware of Cairns' position at the end of last season, and that he was constantly updated during his English county stint with Nottinghamshire.

He was annoyed that Turner was being blamed for Cairns' omission, saying he took full responsibility for the decision to review the all-rounder's status.

"It needs to be emphasised that my concerns were spelt out to Christopher well before the formation of this selection panel, and that it's just not true to suggest Glenn had a hand in it," he said.

"It was my decision. The others supported it, because they understood that I was the one on tour in Zimbabwe, and that I was the one with the most up-to-date information."

Bracewell said he reassessed Cairns' position in April and told him then that if he wasn't prepared to get more cricket under his belt, he was going to struggle at international level.

"We took him to Zimbabwe and our fears were realised. Not only did he struggle to get on the park, but when he did he couldn't stay on it.

"To his credit, he's now addressing those issues and the reports I'm getting back are that he's been working extremely hard."

Fleming echoed the sentiments of Bracewell and Snedden, saying he was kept informed of Cairns' situation and that he fully appreciated the reasons and motives behind the move to leave him at home.

The suggestion of Turner's influence was first raised by former skipper Martin Crowe, but Fleming said he hadn't heard the issue discussed by the players at any stage, and that his relationship with Bracewell was strong and healthy.

"That was just nonsense," he said. "No one's suggesting it wasn't disappointing to leave Chris at home, but we always understood the selectors' reasoning - and we still do."