Chris Cairns: Time to start grooming Black Caps' next captain

COMMENT

The time is right to begin planning for a successor to Stephen Fleming.

Over the past six years I have performed the role as vice captain, but I always looked upon it as being a caretaker position. Now, however, there needs to be someone put in place to take over the captain's role so when Fleming retires, this person will lead the team into the next era with their own thoughts and style.

With Fleming's record, his are not going to be easy boots to fill. Easily our most successful captain with 20 test wins, whoever follows Flem needs to be groomed now to grow into the job which could become vacant after the 2007 World Cup.
Daniel Vettori has already been identified as a probable successor. Dan is an extremely intelligent person, a good reader of the game and is well liked by his peers. He has not captained a lot during his cricketing career because for most of it he has been playing for the Black Caps!

By playing so much international cricket Dan has not had the opportunity to show his leadership ability at domestic level, which is an excellent breeding ground for developing a style of captaincy.

A school of thought prefers batsmen as captains because, when you are a captain and a bowler, it is hard to be looking at all the things going on in the field.
My take on that? Rubbish. Often batsmen become captain by default, as, with cricket being one of the great tradition-based games, habits can be hard to change. I believe in choosing the best man for the job and if he is a bowler, then so be it.

Daniel is the best man for the job. He has been in the Black Caps for nearly a decade and this challenge is what is needed to inject new life into his game. He will be the first to admit his test bowling is not where it should be right now, but with added responsibility he'll rise to the challenge.

My only doubt about Vettori concerns injury. He sustained a major back injury as a boy and this has hampered him throughout his career. When he bowls for long spells, especially in the subcontinent (spinners can bowl upwards of 70 overs a match there), he is vulnerable to back pain. It will have to be managed well but he is a good trainer and will have to be vigilant.

The great thing about this group of Black Cap players is their desire and understanding of what their obligation is to the next generation. With all this talk of a successor, I know Stephen will not be feeling threatened. He knows his role is to make sure there is a schooled-up person to take the game into the future. We are all aware that we have an obligation to pass on our knowledge, not to protect it.

And on a final personal note, by the time you all read this I will be a married man. By marrying the mother of our two beautiful boys I am a fulfilled man. You simply couldn't ask for a more perceptive, beautiful and intelligent woman than my gorgeous new wife.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY