Cricket: Crowe's experience major factor

By Richard Boock

Jeff Crowe's experience in the test arena was apparently a major factor in his appointment as New Zealand cricket team manager.

Crowe, who captained New Zealand during six tests and 16 one-day internationals during his seven-year international career, was yesterday named as the replacement for John Graham, who has opted not to renew his contract at the end of the tour to England.

The 41-year former batsman is viewed as the perfect foil for new national coach David Trist, who, while playing three games for New Zealand on the 1969 tour of India and Pakistan, did not play in a test match.

Now the owner and director of a golfing holiday company and based in Florida, Crowe also runs his own management and event company and was earlier this year appointed to the board of New Zealand Tennis.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Chris Doig said it was always difficult when the national team were forced to change both the coach and the manager at the same time, but his organisation was confident it had secured a successful combination.

"David Trist has a proven track record as a highly successful coach and Jeff Crowe is well known to cricket followers as a former New Zealand player, who will obviously bring a strong cricket background to the manager's role.

"What may be less well-known is Jeff's success in the business arena since his retirement. He has built a formidable reputation as a professional operator."

Crowe, who represented Auckland from 1983 to 1992 and as captain on 58 occasions, played a total of 39 tests and 75 one-day internationals for New Zealand, and was selected for 14 overseas tours.