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KINGSTON, Jamaica - Senior New Zealand cricketers have rallied round coach John Bracewell after the Black Caps' limp World Cup exit predictably prompted calls for a managerial shake-up.
Former captain Martin Crowe has led the push for Bracewell to be replaced -- ideally by John Wright -- after New Zealand's ninth Cup campaign unravelled against Sri Lanka at Sabina Park.
A fortnight ago New Zealand were being talked up as genuine challengers to Australia's world domination after their Chappell-Hadlee Trophy success was followed by six consecutive victories in the West Indies.
But once Sri Lanka halted New Zealand's dream run in the Super Eights and Australia inflicted a record 215-run defeat last Friday, the Black Caps fizzled out with yesterday's 81-run capitulation.
Captain Stephen Fleming announced his resignation as one-day captain after the demoralising defeat, a move welcomed by Crowe who said Bracewell should also be replaced when his four-year tenure expires before the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in September.
Crowe urged New Zealand Cricket to follow the trend of using the World Cup as the starting point for a new regime.
England's Duncan Fletcher, Dav Whatmore (Bangladesh), Greg Chappell (India) and the West Indies' Bennett King have all resigned, Australia's John Buchanan is calling it quits while Tom Moody's future with Sri Lanka remains undecided until after the Sunday's (1.30amNZT) final in Barbados.
"All of those coaches have had three or four years, as has John Bracewell, and that's about the right sort of term for a coach," Crowe said.
"You need to move on to fresh ideas because the game is moving on very quickly."
Crowe nominated Wright, a former New Zealand opening batsmen and recent coach of India as an "obvious candidate" to take over.
However, Fleming said he hoped to continue working with Bracewell as test captain and a specialist ODI batsman and all-rounder Jacob Oram also backed the incumbent to remain.
"I'd like to see him stay on, I think he's done great things for our side," Oram said.
"He's got a lot of trust in his players and we've got a lot of belief in him as well.
"I know we're a bit inconsistent with results but I really believe as a team we're going somewhere."
Oram said he could understand the disquiet back home after New Zealand squandered what appeared possibly their best chance to advance from the semifinal for the first time in five attempts.
Instead, as they were guilty of in the Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia in India last November, an anxious team was totally outplayed.
"We let a great opportunity pass to be honest," Oram said.
"It was four years in the making and for some guys it will be their last opportunity -- it's not just a loss, it's something bigger."
A flaccid bowling and fielding display left New Zealand needing 290 to make the title decider but after losing the core of their batting line-up for just 11 runs in 23 balls to slump to 116 for seven, there was no escaping yet another heavy defeat in a sudden death scenario.
"I don't know if it was the occasion or nerves or what it was, we were just a bit flat," Oram explained.
"We started the game brilliantly (dismissing dangerman Sanath Jayasuriya for one) but once we got to the 35th over of their innings we sort of lost the plot.
"Our last 10 overs were poor (conceding 102 runs). It's been a disease for us for as long as I can remember and when someone like (Mahela) Jayawardene has got his eye in you've got to hit your marks."
The Sri Lankan skipper made a masterful unbeaten 115, a virtuoso performance none of the Black Caps threatened to match.
"For a team that prides itself on playing in a crisis and putting together partnerships we had a bad day at the worst possible time," said Oram, who was among the five wickets to tumble in quick succession.
Meanwhile, Oram expressed surprise at Fleming's decision to end his decade-long, 218-game career as the one-day captain and was coy about his prospects of inheriting the responsibility.
"Without being privy to the information I'd say Dan (Vettori) was the No 1 contender."
The Central Districts captain said Fleming's announcement was another black mark on a grim day.
"You've got that hollow feeling after a defeat and 10 minutes later the only captain I've known for my whole career steps aside -- it was another bombshell to compound the loss."
- NZPA
