3 May 1996

Rift opens between Cairns and NZ coach

By Charles Randall

FURTHER evidence of a serious rift in the New Zealand camp emerged yesterday when Chris Cairns, their leading all-rounder, admitted he was not on speaking terms with Glenn Turner, the allpowerful coach.

Cairns, who left the West Indies tour mysteriously early to rejoin Nottinghamshire, categorically denied he had refused to play in the second Test in Antigua, as claimed by the New Zealand management.

Cairns, suffering from a rib injury, had missed New Zealand`s heavy first Test defeat in Barbados, but he would have been fit enough to play solely as a batsman in the second.

There had been, he insisted at Trent Bridge yesterday, a misunderstanding with Turner. "I was never consulted to play as a batsman. We don`t talk. There was no communication directly, only indirectly - that`s the man he is."

This strained relationship has begun to look worse than the problems between Ray Illingworth - similarly powerful as Turner - and Devon Malcolm during England`s tour of South Africa, which was a disagreement that has since blown over, officially at least.

Cairns said: "It should be the coach who shows an interest in the players, his assets. It`s just the human touch. When somebody is injured, you should have a concern for them.

"I`m not stupid enough to make myself available for Notts when I`m unavailable for New Zealand. My country comes first, and that`s the way it should be."

Cairns claimed that his departure from the tour had been officially sanctioned and that he had received reassurances from the New Zealand authorities about his future.

Nottinghamshire, after receiving contact from the New Zealand authorities, cited fitness reasons for not playing him in their three Benson and Hedges Cup games, as either batsman or bowler.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http.//www.telegraph.co.uk)