Bond claimed Hesson cover-up - report

Black Caps bowling coach Shane Bond wrote a letter to New Zealand Cricket late last year stating coach Mike Hesson was 'dishonest' and involved in a 'cover-up' over the Ross Taylor captaincy saga, RadioSport has revealed.

According to Radiosport, Bond's letter written on December 11, basically backed Taylor's version of events in Sri Lanka where the former captain claims he was told in a meeting four days before leading his team to victory against Sri Lanka in the second test in Galle that he was to be stripped of the captaincy of in all three forms of the game.

At the time Hesson said Taylor was told he would be relieved of the captaincy but did not specify in which form of the game.

In his letter to New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White, Bond allegedly outlined serious concerns about the public statements of Hesson. The letter makes it clear Bond believed Hesson always intended to make a captaincy change in all three forms of the game, RadioSport claims.

"I've found the content of these interviews distressing. I believe the coach has been dishonest in his assertion around the miscommunication of the captaincy split with Ross," Bond allegedly wrote.

"At no time during my conversations with Mike Hesson, that mostly included Bob Carter and/or the manager was the captaincy spilt ever suggested."

"It was clear to me that Ross Taylor was to be removed as captain from all three formats."

New Zealand Cricket chairman Chris Moller and White fronted a press conference at the Basin Reserve last month, which covered a wide range of topics but the pair declined to comment on the captaincy fallout.

At the December 12 press conference Moller said "additional material'' had come to light on the saga and will be reviewed.

RadioSport reports that Bond's letter, which White received the day before, was that "additional material''.

Moller did make a formal apology at the press conference to Taylor saying: ''The board has reviewed all aspects of the captaincy issue and wishes to publicly place on record its apologies to Ross Taylor and his family for the manner in which events unfolded''.

Bond allegedly wrote in the letter there was a calculated removal of the captain by Hesson and subsequent cover up to save face.

"By remaining silent I believe I become complicit in what has occurred, which I believe is the calculated removal of the captain and the subsequent cover-up to save face."

According to RadioSport, Bond also alleged that new captain Brendon McCullum knew Hesson was going to drop Taylor as captain.

"I believe Brendon was aware of this as Mike stated he was the man to lead the team forward."

"I don't believe he would have initiated the conversation with Ross unless he knew Brendon would accept."

"I believe Brendon would've been prepared for that scenario."

Speaking to RadioSport this morning White said it's just Bond's opinion and there's no question of Hesson being removed as coach.

"They've been in South Africa. Shane Bond has worked closely with him in a very challenging tour, they've cleared the air with a conversation. They're in a professional working relationship. I don't think that's an issue at all.''

- nzherald.co.nz