Philosophical clash behind Edgar's exit - and loss of good cricket man

Bruce Edgar's keen eye for technical details of players' games, and character, helped the Black Caps in their 2015 World Cup campaign. Photo / Dean Purcell

Insurmountable philosophical differences lay at the root of Bruce Edgar's resignation from New Zealand Cricket this week.

Former test opener Edgar had been general manager of national selection for two years, a role which involved helping select the national team, but also overseeing New Zealand A and under 19 squads.

Edgar had no issues with national coach Mike Hesson; indeed their relationship, which was highlighted by reaching March's World Cup final in Melbourne, has worked well, Hesson the boss, Edgar the sounding board.

The same could not be said for Edgar's dealings with some NZC officials - and here their national manager of cricket Lindsay Crocker is understood to be a key figure - with whom Edgar fell out over a changed job description, which involved less selection and more about talent identification.

Crocker has denied any differences with Edgar precipitated the departure.

Edgar was employed three days a week on selection duties. NZC wanted to halve that time and turn talent ID into a fulltime job.

Confused lines of communication didn't help. Edgar was unhappy with the changed terms, and job emphasis, and in the end he made a decision ruled by the head, not the heart.

He enjoyed working with Hesson and the players, whom Edgar believes have produced one of the best periods in New Zealand cricket history. It's hard to argue with that and, after enduring a dreadful opening year of the Hesson/Brendon McCullum regime, Edgar's arrival coincided with six unbeaten series, four won, two drawn, since October 2013.

Edgar's keen eye for technical details of players' games, and character, helped launch the careers of Mark Craig, Jimmy Neesham and Tom Latham, revitalised that of World Cup hero Grant Elliott, who was on the sideboard and seemingly gone for good and coincided with Trent Boult's rise from distinctly promising to the world's sixth-ranked test and ODI bowler.

Maybe that's not all down to Edgar's presence, but taken as a whole it cannot be entirely coincidental.

His relationship with the media was good. Edgar is articulate and a good thinker on the game.

A shame, then, he was gagged in the last few months, as were specialist coaches, and forthright speakers Shane Bond and Craig McMillan, during the World Cup.

Shutting down Edgar made no sense. Game after game at the World Cup, and even before that, Hesson was wheeled out. Edgar would surely have made a good change of voice and also relieved the demand on Hesson to front time and again.

Two parties disagreeing over future direction is, in itself, nothing unusual. Wanting to beef up the talent ID part of the arrangement is fine, depending on how it's done.

NZC, in the form of Crocker, made the right noises saluting Edgar's work. But the word is this parting of the ways has been brewing for some time.

Now consider, Bond departed after the World Cup to coach the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.

He was an asset. Just look at the development of Boult, Tim Southee and other seamers, who provide more depth than for some time in the New Zealand game. Edgar has followed him out the door, albeit for unrelated reasons.

There's a decent chance captain Brendon McCullum may not be in the job in a year's time.

Expect Hesson to be offered - if he hasn't already - a lucrative job in the IPL when his contract ends in April 2017.

The idea of spending more time with his children, and being paid a truckload for less work requirements, must have some appeal.

NZC needs to beware. It won't take much to destabilise what has been a highly impressive operation in the last 15 months during which time they've risen to No3 in ODI cricket and have the prospect of jumping to the same spot if they beat England this month in test cricket. These are notable accomplishments.

One thing is clear: NZC this week lost a good cricket man.