Cricket: Talk of Bracewell-Butler friction 'ridiculous' says Snedden

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden insists there is no lingering tension between coach John Bracewell and young paceman Ian Butler, despite suggestions to the contrary in an email.

Snedden said yesterday that he had met Bracewell and was satisfied the player-coach relationship was not damaged after an email sent by Brendon Bracewell, the coach's brother, was made public last week.

In an email intended for former team-mate Ken Rutherford, Brendon Bracewell attacked a "selfish" Butler's commitment and said "he is the sort of character Johnny doesn't want in his team".

Snedden said the comments were harsh, and did not reflect the views of John Bracewell, who said he had not been in contact with his brother since September.

"It's ridiculous to suggest there's any strained relationship there. Anyone who's close to the team knows that's not the case," Snedden said.

Team management spoke to Butler after the comments broke to assure him they were not the coach's view, Snedden said.

"He first-hand knows what the relationship is with John so he won't be concerned about the comments."

John Bracewell and fellow selectors Sir Richard Hadlee, Ross Dykes and Brian McKechnie meet this week to select their team and decide if Butler figures in their plans for the five-match one-day series against Sri Lanka, starting on Boxing Day.

Butler's treatment was one of the talking points of the Australian tour when he was surprisingly unwanted for the two tests.

He was recalled for the first one-dayer in Melbourne, but suffered at the hands of Adam Gilchrist, taking one for 58 off eight overs, and was omitted for the second match in Sydney.

Snedden, meanwhile, was more concerned at Brendon Bracewell's claim the team were coach-dependent, saying it was something the team were aware of.

He said there had been a focus in the past year on encouraging players to take responsibility and make their own decisions.

"The players have set up a management group of players, and that's something which has been copied by the All Blacks.

"I don't think there's any lack of concentration on the basics of the game."

Snedden rejected Brendon Bracewell's criticism of the New Zealand Cricket coaching structure, based around its high-performance centre at Lincoln, outside Christchurch.

He said that for the past three years the team had been ranked in the world's top three in either test or one-day cricket.

"You can't get those results if you're not doing something right."

Snedden agreed the flagging test performances needed urgent addressing in the two-test series against Sri Lanka next month.

He said the lessons from the 2-0 hiding from Australia, the Black Caps' seventh test loss in the past year, were already being learned.

"Part of it is getting a better grip on the mental side of the game, developing a better ability to absorb pressure as the match progresses.

"One of the stated objectives of us upping our playing involvement with Australia is that we knew we were at risk of a few thrashings.

"But over a period of time it would force us to pull our game up towards their level. I think over time that will prove to be the case."

Snedden said early ticket sales for the one-day series were encouraging, considering the team's improved effort in the one-day series against Australia.

- NZPA