David Leggat: Secrecy reigns at cricket central

Ross Taylor. Photo / Northern Advocate

These are intriguing days in the world of New Zealand cricket. It has been a curious week.

First came word that Ross Taylor had been appointed Dan Vettori's vice-captain in place of Brendon McCullum. However, it was done with an accompanying cone of silence plonked on top of it from New Zealand Cricket's HQ in Christchurch.

It transpired it was to be kept in-house, so the obvious assumptions were it was either to give the team's best batsman time to settle into the role without any perceived pressure to be placed on him, or as a means of avoiding what might be seen as a public put-down to the previous No 2.

To work, this meant players, support staff, anyone remotely associated with the team had to engage in a giant dose of omerta.

Then yesterday came the confirmation from NZC spokesman Geoff Allott, who put the switch down to a desire to develop a "broader leadership group".

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan then added that swapping the pair in the team pecking order "is by no means saying that Ross is No 2 and Brendon is No 3. That isn't the case".

So, what is it?

Presumably should Vettori get injured, or even have to leave the field, against Bangladesh and Australia, Taylor takes over. That's what a vice-captain does.

Then Vaughan added that "Brendon will play the standby captain's role in future series". Which leaves Taylor where exactly?

It might not mean much in a general sense, as Vettori is not going anywhere for a while yet.

However, you can bet it will mean something to McCullum, who has long coveted the captaincy at some point in his career.

But these men are both grown-ups, so why it was felt there was the need for secrecy was hard to fathom.

Then there's the soap opera which is the appointment of Andy Moles' successor as head coach/team overseer/on-field boss.

Say this for NZC, they appear to have managed to efficiently plug any leaks on what's going on.

It would be easier to get a one-on-one chat with Vladimir Putin on the inner workings of the politburo while sharing a couple of Big Macs in Red Square than get a clear idea of how things are progressing with this.

That's not necessarily a criticism. There are sensitive issues to be sorted through and Vaughan said in November that NZC would not be rushed.

Fair enough, having gone through two coaches in the space of a year. They should be thankful they have a calm head running things in the interim, in Vettori.

Now there's the idea that the puff of white smoke might be coming this weekend.

Don't bet on it. This week, Mickey Arthur, the well-regarded coach of the South African team, resigned.

So inevitably his name was thrust into an appointment pot which is now threatening to become overloaded with an inordinate number of contrasting ingredients.

This has some way to run yet.