It must have seemed like such a good idea at the time. Let me take you back a few weeks when, in the wake of former Black Caps coach Andy Moles’ . . . ahem . . . resignation, Brendon McCullum was relieved of the team’s vice-captaincy.

In fact, the position was disestablished and it had nothing to do with the recession.

We were told it was so McCullum could concentrate on his faltering game and yes, we were taken for idiots and somehow expected to believe this.

We were also required to accept there was no line to be drawn between, and no inference to be taken from McCullum’s demotion and the sense that Moles had been the victim of a players’ revolt.

If any of you believed that, I would also expect to find you waiting by the fireplace, reindeer nibbles in hand, on Christmas morning.

The relationship between a coach and his captain is a delicate and critical one and Moles must have realised, despite his later protests, that once Daniel Vettori stopped taking his calls, there might have been the teensiest of problems. Why, having allowed this unholy mess in the first place, would New Zealand Cricket compound it by silencing one of its more effective dressing-room voices?

Yes, McCullum’s still there, still having his say, still being heard, and he has even rediscovered that form we had been told had deserted him.

So remind me again, what was the point of relieving him of the vice- captaincy in the first place? Was it just to make a point and if so, to whom? Who exactly did it serve, because I’m not buying that it was McCullum.

The person who is the captain of New Zeland is now also its vice- captain, coach and selector. I’m still not sure whether this is madness or genius but I’m pretty sure it can’t last for Read more…

Administrator PAK vs NZ Andy Moles, Black Caps, Blogs.CMDN.com, Brendon McCullum, Cricket, Cricket Blogs, Daniel Vettori, New Zealand, Sir Richard Hadlee

As anyone who has dabbled with numbers knows, statistics can be bent any way you fancy.

Here’s one. New Zealand’s most successful batsman, of those with a minimum 20 test innings, is John F. Reid, who averaged 46.28. But he wouldn’t make most amateur judge’s finest alltime New Zealand team.

Dan Vettori deserves the highest praise for becoming just the eighth cricketer to accumulate 3000 runs and 300 wickets in tests.

It is testimony to his skill and perseverance through a period in which for most of the time he has been his national team’s premier bowler and, gradually, one of its best batsmen. Not to mention captaining New Zealand for the last couple of years.

If you want to break down Vettori’s two components, it is easy to argue that his batting might give him more satisfaction. After all, his primary function is as a bowler and once it was clear he was an uncommonly talented spinner, he was always a chance to tick off milestones provided he stayed healthy and his form remained good.

The batting has matured, and improved, with time and perhaps the responsibility which comes with frequently having to bail your team out of another fine mess.

Witness Hamilton last summer, when he was at the crease before lunch against India, Read more…

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The inaugural season of the American Premier League, which was set to take place in Staten Island, New York, in October this year, has had to be postponed.

According to the league chairman, Jay Mir, a full and detailed proposal for the competition was sent to the USA Cricket Association six weeks ago as part of an application to gain official sanctioning, but no reply has been forthcoming.

Sir Richard Hadlee, the APL executive consultant, said: “We have done what we were asked to do by preparing and sending a proposal to have our event supported and sanctioned and as we have not had any official responses, time has run out for the October tournament. We are hopeful of continuing dialogue in the future.” Read more…

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