New Zealand: Morrison, Doig target communication(16 Oct 1997)

October 16, 1997

Morrison, Doig target communication

the Press

Discarded New Zealand cricketer Danny Morrison will meet with New Zealand Cricket chief Chris Doig soon to discuss communication with players.

Morrison is not only disturbed about his own situation where he says he was cast aside last season with minimal contact, but also the demise of recent New Zealand captains Lee Germon and Ken Rutherford.

"There has to be better ways of handling things. I've got some ideas and Chris has said he will listen and have a chat," said Morrison who arrived in Christchurch yesterday on a book promotion tour for his biography, "Mad As I Wanna Be".

Morrison believes it is also important that several senior players meet with management on a regular basis to air concerns from both sides and ensure everyone knows where they stand.

"We are in a professional entertainment business. Regular meetings are a necessity."

Morrison said if such meetings had been undertaken earlier the frustrations experienced with previous coaches Geoff Howarth and Glenn Turner may have been short-circuited. He feels the "human element" to the team was lost after successful 1992 World Cup coach Warren Lees was cut adrift.

"As I've written John Hart knows how to handle things. He describes himself as a people's manager. We need to learn from that. He's prepared to talk about hard decisions with the players."

Morrison said he had sympathy for Germon, who was installed by Turner, being placed in an invidious position of having no option but back team management.

Morrison criticises Germon several times in his book but said the "juicy bits" were taken out of context in the book's pre-publicity.

"I've said no player was prouder to lead his country than Lee, but I do believe Adam Parore to be the better all round wicketkeeper-batsman. Lee's taken the right attitude of not letting it get to him."

Morrison, 31, said until being informed of no longer figuring in the selectors plans at the end of last season, he had wanted to play through until 1999.

"It's sad I'm not able pass on the things I learnt from Sir Richard Hadlee to the guys coming through like Allott, Davis and O'Connor."

However, Morrison believes if the New Zealand batsmen provide a platform in the upcoming tour to Australia it will allow the bowlers to perform.

Life after cricket for Morrison will involve working for the Rebel Sport company primarily with its marketing in Auckland, and raising a family with wife Kimberley who is due to give birth in mid-April.

Source :: The Canterbury Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)