Cricket: Vettori alongside legends

Daniel Vettori is flourishing in his roles as player, coach and selector. Photo / Getty Images

Daniel Vettori is showing signs of being among the finest leaders in the history of cricket and his bosses at New Zealand Cricket need to ensure they don't rock the boat when they appoint a new coach.

NZC say they want the new man in place before we play Bangladesh in early February, although I don't believe there is a need for undue haste.

You would have to say that under Vettori, who is not only the captain but also a selector and a sort of stand-in coach, the Black Caps are going a bit better than when they actually had a designated coach.

I'm prepared to put Vettori in the same sort of category as guys like Ian Chappell and Mike Brearley, the legendary English and Australian captains.

Vettori's own form certainly hasn't suffered, and senior players around him are performing better. We all knew what he was capable of and he seems to have grown in his new role.

Yes, he may need someone there to help share the load a bit, but make no mistake, Daniel Vettori is the number one guy in this set up.

He may not be surrounded by the sorts of figures that were alongside Ian Chappell as he shaped a great Aussie team in the 1970s - the likes of Greg Chappell, Rodney Marsh and Dennis Lillee. He doesn't have the same results yet either. But with Shane Bond, Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor as lieutenants, Vettori is in charge here.

The important thing for NZC is to ensure that these key players are happy with the person and the role they are expected to play when the new coach is installed.

Given the good results against Pakistan in the one day and test series, I think it has become harder to make the right appointment. So, who's the right man for the job? I can't see an outstanding candidate for now.

MORE PACE BOWLERS

Despite the advances made, we're suddenly looking skinny in the pace bowling department with Iain O'Brien shifting to England and Shane Bond suffering more injury problems. It is a major issue. Daryl Tuffey made a good return and there is no question of his ability.

I only played during the early part of Tuffey's career, but he struck me as a guy whom we need not be nervous about. He's got a future. The other cab off the rank for now is Tim Southee, but New Zealand needs to find a couple more pace bowlers. Chris Martin I feel is coming to the end of the line, and Bond is unreliable because of injury.

Bowling has been the mainstay of the New Zealand sides for so long.

When I was a kid, and when I was playing, the bowlers were the cream of the crop, and regarded as stronger than our batting department. But now all of a sudden the cupboard might be bare. It's no good hoping that a second spinner could make up the difference, because you just can't bowl against the conditions. we need new talent to emerge.

GOOD START

BJ Watling made a reasonable start to his career but it goes without saying that it is way too early to judge whether he is the answer to our ongoing problems at the top of the order. There are good raps on Watling, which is very encouraging. To be honest though, he made runs in his test debut on the flattest wicket in the entire history of the world. You would expect an opener to make runs in those conditions, but he is certainly worth persevering with.

EDEN PARK TESTS

New Zealand CEO Justin Vaughan is correct in saying that test cricket must return to Auckland.

I believe we need to be playing at Eden Park, and I'm surprised that cricket isn't pushing harder to play on the No 1 ground. Eden Park is the best stadium in the country, and certainly will be when the renovations are complete.

Cricket is our top summer sport, and has a long and proud history at the ground. It's in the best interests of everyone to be pushing for test cricket to be played there.

This situation would be helped if we worked hard at getting better results from the drop in pitches.

AUSTRALIA ON WAY

The Aussies are coming. I can't wait and the Black Caps should also be filled with eager anticipation. It could be one of the best contests for years.

If Bond is fit, then I believe we are at least the equal of this Australian side, which by the standards of the last 15 to 20 years is pretty average.

The Aussies really hate Bond, with is quite something from them. They have big raps on our fast bowler, a bit of fear in their batting lineup about him.

He has caused tremors through better batting lineups than they will bring here and, outside of Ricky Pointing, they have nothing to be too worried about. I think the Black Caps would be very disappointed to lose to this Australian team.

PAYING PLAYERS

And finally ... money.

Player remuneration is going to be the big topic over the next 12 months.

Traditionally, the Black Caps have been under-remunerated in terms of the revenue split compared to other nations. I think the percentage needs to get to around the 40 per cent mark or else we could be in trouble.

The situation has changed dramatically in recent years and our players now have two potential employers - New Zealand Cricket or the Twenty20 people in India. If the payments are not improved, guys like Jacob Oram may continue to leave test cricket in favour of the shortest form of the game.

If the New Zealand Cricket board still values the test game then they have to respond.

The market is saying there is not enough money for our players in test cricket and this new dynamic it is a difficult and interesting challenge for our administrators.