Adam Parore: New Zealand appeal for one dayers and test series

Daniel Vettori. Photo / Getty Images

Expect a decent contest between a couple of well-matched teams when Pakistan's tour starts next week.

The T20s are a bit of a lottery but I'd pick Pakistan to prevail because their greater talent for that version of the game could overpower us.

Still my money would be on New Zealand in the test and ODI series.

Pakistan have more pure ability among their players but New Zealand will relish being back in their own conditions after a horror run in the sub-continent.

They have a good home record against the Pakistanis and, frankly, should be able to produce more convincing cricket than they did in Bangladesh and India.

All the talk of match-fixing surrounding Pakistan is something of a red herring in terms of whether New Zealanders will want to go and watch them.

Let's face it, this is nothing new, it's been going on forever. It is what it is and you can only control the controllables. That's not one of them.

Put it this way: it should be impossible for New Zealand to be beaten 6-0 in the ODIs.

I don't think the public will be greatly swayed away from the games. They just want to see good cricket by good cricketers. Both teams possess quality players and we must hope they play up to their best.

From New Zealand's perspective, they need to clean up their act smartly. They were embarrassingly bad in their last two ODI series.

I searched in vain for some semblance of a strategy in the Indian series, which got me thinking on a way forward for New Zealand Cricket.

They need to settle on a plan for all relevant teams below the national side to buy into.

They should decide on a specific style of cricket they want New Zealand to play. It should be implemented with a 5- to 10-year plan in mind.

I think it would be really positive for the game in New Zealand. All the young guys - and girls - could learn how New Zealand plays cricket.

That strategy should be built around an impregnable home record then work to win away games from there.

That seems to be the way many of the best teams in the world do it.

They sort out how they want, for example, their openers to bat, the middle order batsmen to approach their job and the fast bowlers to achieve their goals.

The other part of the equation is finding the players who can put that plan into practice.

You pick the XI guys who can best execute that strategy and often they won't necessarily be the best XI players in the country.

That's the art of captaincy and management. I think Dan Vettori and coach Paddy Greatbatch can do better with the resources they've got.

And finally the John Wright question. Should he be appointed national coach?

It's known he would want a strong hand to run the ship as he feels necessary.

On that basis, yes he's worth having a conversation with.

But I think we should give the current structure a wee bit more time. Certainly if Wright wants to be involved at some stage I'd bring him in and give him an opportunity at the top.