Cricket: Coaching and talent is key

Mike Hesson hasn't played first-class cricket but has taken the Black Caps to the top of the game. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand Cricket have pinpointed talent identification and coaching development as weaknesses to address, despite being on the cusp of a halcyon era.

As a governing body which suffered a period of well-documented dysfunction before 2013, driven by the Ross Taylor captaincy demotion saga, NZC could be forgiven a touch of complacency.

However, vigilance remains the mantra. NZC head of cricket Lindsay Crocker wants sustainable success.

"We're doing reasonably well commercially and the team has delivered a strong shop front," he said. "We know we'll capture attention in the game through the World Cup so we need to shore up our structures in the community and become more financially viable.

"We have some soft spots. The first is the depth of coaching development. We've learned to appoint on the basis of whether someone is qualified to do the job rather than reputation, because 'reputation' is often based on how good they were as a player. It sounds obvious when you say it, but it's a trap sporting organisations often fall into - going for a big name or 'brand' rather than someone who can do the job.

"The lesson of Mike Hesson is a strong one in that respect. When he was first appointed as [New Zealand] coach, people were saying, 'Mike Who? He hasn't played the game at first-class level, how can he coach an international team?' Well, the proof's there."

The same methodology will be applied to the vacant bowling coach role when Shane Bond exits after the World Cup. Seven applications are being considered, with applications closing February 19.

The decision won't be rushed. An interim coach is likely for the England tour in May and June.

Crocker places coaches in two categories. One, like Hesson, is the equivalent to a medical general practitioner with a broad understanding of the component parts. They can run a programme, campaign or season by melding specialist skills, sports science and man-management. He says that's a skill NZC are finding hard to develop to major association level and beyond.

NZC have often looked offshore as a result. Crocker says the same applies to specialist coaching areas because cricket is so skill rather than strength-based. Cricket techniques can't be learned from working out in a gym. However, the likes of Bryan Stronach, general manager of high performance at Lincoln, facilitate personal relationships between players and coaches, trainers, nutritionists and psychologists between tours.

Crocker's second area of concern is talent identification.

"If a person becomes an international at age 23, what do they look like when they're 17? Quantifying that will make our task easier.

"We send scouts to age-group tournaments to see players first-hand, which is important, but it's only a snapshot over a week or so. We are also relying on major associations picking their best talent and the objectives are not necessarily the same.

"For example, a team might not choose their best wicketkeeper because, to win the tournament, they need a batsman who might keep a bit. Picking the best keeper is not the priority. We need to understand these things better.

"At higher levels we're not necessarily looking at the number of runs or wickets but criteria like technique that will make a player a person of interest years down track."

The improvements of the governing body have also struck a chord with stakeholders such as the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association. NZCPA boss Heath Mills says it's a progressive period but he has one familiar caveat.

"The governance of NZC is going well financially and commercially and the high-performance programme around the Black Caps is better than ever, because it was non-existent for a while.

"The top of the pyramid looks great but to enact a complete transformation, the biggest improvement to make is the development of coaches and players through the major associations. Little can be sustained at the top end if your base is not right. There's a delineation there and the performance of the MAs needs more attention."

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