KEY POINTS:
A revamp to develop more top cricket players is under way with high performance manager Ric Charlesworth saying it's time to stop making excuses that New Zealand has only a small player pool to pick from.
He hopes his plan will lead to a change in players' attitudes of not just making the Black Caps squad, but becoming the world's top team.
"We need to stop making excuses that we don't have the numbers to compete to be No 1," said Charlesworth, a highly decorated former Australian hockey international.
"New Zealand has been bouncing around between third and sixth in the world but they must aim to be the top just like the All Blacks do," he told The Press.
"It took the Black Caps a while to win a test, then a series, then tests and series away... now they are striving for the top and we need to have the right support structures in place for them to achieve that."
High performance coach Ashley Ross said today the Charlesworth programme had his full support.
"You got to change with the times and with what the requirements are for the given moment," said Ross, an Australian who has been with New Zealand Cricket for eight years.
"I think the programme that Ric is putting forward is an excellent one for New Zealand cricket and I'm sure that the high performance end will be well met by this programme."
One of Charlesworth's major tasks since taking up his post a year ago was to review the High Performance Centre in Lincoln, Christchurch.
Charlesworth's recipe for change includes:
* Discontinuing the Cricket Academy headed by Dayle Hadlee;
* Decentralising the coaching programme which will be undertaken by major associations;
* Contracting players on the verge of Black Caps status and putting more resources into their development;
* Greater emphasis on case management of players;
* Appointing specialist head coaches for the various disciplines such as batting and bowling.
Charlesworth's system means that Hadlee and Ross will have their positions disestablished but he expected they would be strong contenders for the specialist jobs.
To this end, NZC is already advertising on its website for a head bowling coach and a part-time case manager, whose job will be to oversee player development plans and co-ordinate case management meetings for "specifically targeted elite athletes in the NZC high performance programme".
Ross said he still saw himself involved in New Zealand cricket although as a professional coach, a job in another country was always an option.
"... that will be at their (NZC's) discretion rather than mine but whether that's on a fulltime basis or part time basis, that will again be determined by them.
"But I am certainly excited by the opportunity that the new structure presents and I look forward to having the opportunity to continuing my input to what I see will be a very successful programme."
He said whether or not he applied for either of the two posts advertised would be determined soon.
Hadlee said he was unable to comment on the changes as he was "in the middle of a process".
Charlesworth believes there is a need to focus on the next group of players just below the Black Caps and concentrate on developing them to bridge the gulf between the first-class level in New Zealand and the international game.
This had been done to a degree already with New Zealand A programmes but this would now be consolidated.
Being able to offer the next tier of players a contract should keep them in New Zealand and working on their game instead of drifting off to England to play at league level.
Developing players with four or five years of first class experience would be of greater value than trying to turn a handful of teenage players into successful first-class cricketers at Lincoln.
"You find that quite a number of them (teenagers) don't make it."
Charlesworth said second-tier contracted players would be coached in the regions from appropriately qualified mentors for the most part.
Charlesworth was today heading oversees and could not be contacted.
- NZPA
