Four in running for cricket coach's job (20 June 1999)

20 June 1999

Four in running for cricket coach's job

Geoff Longley

Four coaches have been short-listed and interviewed for the New Zealand men's cricket coaching position to take over from Steve Rixon.

New Zealand Cricket operations manager John Reid said it was now a matter of deciding whether a second round of interviews is needed before a recommendation to the next board meeting on July 9.

The new coach will be named on July 12 after contractural matters have been tidied up with the successful candidate, Reid said.

At the same time five people have been interviewed for the manager's position which attracted some 20 applicants. About a dozen applied for the coaching role.

Reid said it was important that the coach and manager were compatible and had complementary skills.

"Managing and coaching a cricket team is a lot different to most sports teams and requires some different skills," Reid said.

Cricket teams were often on tour for up to 10 months a year with players living with each other for lengthy periods.

Reid said he and chief executive Chris Doig, currently in London, understood the complex roles better now after the appointments of Rixon and John Graham three years ago.

"I think we have seen changes for the better in how the players manage their private lives and they have improved their playing performances."

Reid said ideally the new coach and manager appointments would be for a two-year period.

He said the priority was to get the right people in the positions even if they were not available to start immediately.

After New Zealand ends its England tour in late August, its next trip is to India from late September to mid-November.

"Ideally, we would want the coach to start at the end of August for planning but there could be some flexibility."

Former New Zealand captain John Wright and Auckland coach David Trist are believed to be among the leading candidates for the coaching job.

Reid said any overseas applicants were interviewed by video link up. He declined to release names.

Source :: The Christchurch Press