Cricket: Captaincy decision process took too long, says Wright

Coach John Wright yesterday took a mild dig at his own New Zealand Cricket bosses as he backed the choice of Ross Taylor as national captain.

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan had said it was felt preferable to wait until both men were back in New Zealand from their Indian Premier League commitments to begin the selection process.

Wright, speaking from a coach's perspective, admitted to some unease at the length of time it had taken.

"To be honest, in future I hope whatever process is embarked on reaching these decisions probably needs to be a little more rapid than in this case," he said yesterday.

"We're in a sporting, competitive environment and it's about making decisions as quickly as possible and then getting on with things."

Taylor beat wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum to the job in a protracted process involving presentations by the two candidates to a selection panel comprising Wright, NZC director of cricket John Buchanan and acting selection manager Mark Greatbatch.

Wright said the fact Taylor had been incumbent vice-captain to Dan Vettori helped his case - "and he'd performed well in his vice-captaincy".

"From my perspective, from the time I've been with the team since Christmas, that probably gave him an advantage over Brendon. It was obvious they [both] had the passion for the job."

Suggestions of a split dressing room over which candidate should get the job was off the mark, he believed. If there were any issues on those lines they would quickly settle down.

And Wright scotched the notion that the panel had gone for the perceived safer option in Taylor over what is seen as the more aggressive approach McCullum may have brought to the leadership.

"I don't look at it that way. I don't look for safety in such decisions."

So is McCullum the logical choice as deputy?

"If he wants the job, if Ross is off the field, he's certainly the bloke who seems the obvious candidate."

He had not spoken to McCullum but hoped to in the near future - "he'll need a bit of space".

Wright recalled his time as Indian coach, when he had strong-minded, experienced players such as captain Saurav Ganguly, his deputy Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar in the group.

"Ganguly and Dravid helped each other and both were very important to the side," he said. "I hope Brendon comes to terms with it, because he's got an important part to play with the leadership of this team."

Wright said the fact McCullum had lost the vice-captaincy in 2009 had no bearing on Monday's decision, and pooh-poohed the notion of McCullum as a dressing room stirrer.

"Quite the contrary. He does have a positive impact in his own way on the youngsters," Wright said.

He liked what he'd seen of Taylor's personal performances while filling in for Vettori, while acknowledging he is far from the finished article as a leader.

"It's not a job you learn overnight and you're always a work in progress.

"That applies to any captain, but he seems to have an instinct for tactical appreciation."

New Zealand are in a low-key stage at present, with the next assignment not until September when they will assemble for a tour to Zimbabwe.