The traditionalists’ reaction to Dan Vettori’s joining the New Zealand selection panel might have echoed a line from the terrific British crime movie Sexy Beast.

“No! No! No! No! No!,” roared Ben Kingsley’s portrayal of an unhinged London mobster at one tense moment.

After all, never before had a skipper been given a formal say in the makeup of his team for tours or home series.

But on closer inspection adding national coach Andy Moles to the reconstructed four-man panel could be more problematic than Vettori’s elevation.

Consider Moles first. One of the coach’s primary roles is as a sounding board, or confidant for the players.

Moles is an amiable man just completing his first year in the job.

His position also includes being a buffer between the players and selectors. If a player is out of form, down on his luck, has personal problems or simply wants to have a good old slap at the selectors, the coach is the first person he would turn to.

The ability to do that is now significantly diminished, simply because Moles Read more…

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