Cricket: Angry bosses in a spin

New Zealand Cricket have delivered a barrage of bouncers at the Herald in recent days. Here's the story behind the story.

New Zealand Cricket have gone to extraordinary lengths this week to attack the Herald for its coverage of some strange goings-on in the sport.

The powers-that-be have even talked of banning cooperation with cricket writer Richard Boock, who is on his way to South Africa to cover the test series in the Republic, and wondered aloud how he would get access to venues without accreditation.

They have gone on sports radio shows, and have complained verbally and in writing to the editor of the Herald, attacking Boock personally for his reported views on aspects of the team and the performance of the selectors and management.

Chief executive Chris Doig took particular exception to an article which said selector Ross Dykes had been rushed to South Africa to mend fences between coach David Trist and selection chairman Sir Richard Hadlee.

Boock wrote that this was unprecedented and proffered his interpretations of what was going on in the background.

The article was a follow-up to an interview Hadlee gave the Wellington paper the Dominion, in which he expressed frustration at not having a say in the composition of the team which went into each game on overseas tours.

The paper said Hadlee had succeeded in recommending to the cricket board that a selector other than Trist accompany the team.

Hadlee said: "It's pretty hard having to watch what is going on from thousands of miles away. I just have to carry on. Every day something comes up, and among that you get thrown a few curve balls. At the end of the day I have to carry the can, and I accept that, but it can be tough when you're not directly responsible.

"You just have to leave selections to those at the ground, who are in a better position to judge the conditions and the opposition."

Boock's subsequent comment piece noted that it was unprecedented to "employ a member of the selection panel other than Trist" on the remaining section of the tour. (While other selectors, including Dykes, have watched tours before in person, none is believed to have actively been on the tour selection panel).

He said the move with Dykes suggested that "Hadlee's panel has had strong reservations about some of the tour selections so far and are unwilling to leave the rest of the campaign in the hands of the incumbents."

Boock noted that: "The theory is Dykes will be able to more accurately inform the team management of the panel's philosophy and also to help with selections.

"In recent weeks, the inclusion of two wicketkeepers and sub-standard treatment meted out to off-spinner Paul Wiseman have dominated discussions on the New Zealand team, as has the selection of 11 opening batsmen since the tour started in August."

The article said Doig had refused to comment the night beforehand. A furious Doig complained that the article was 100 per cent factually incorrect; that Dykes had not been rushed but his journey was booked in September; queried the Hadlee quotes, suggesting their origin was dubious; and said he had not refused comment but agreed to Boock's suggestion that they discuss the matter later in the week.

Further, he claimed Boock was out of tune with everyone involved in cricket and had some agenda against the game and players. Doig said his organisation might have to end all cooperation with Boock and the Herald unless the writer changed his ways.

At the same time as suggesting personal meetings with Boock to sort out the issues, he went on a national sports radio interview, personally berating the journalist and criticising the Herald.

In a later letter to the paper, he said his organisation could take fair critical assessment. "What we will not accept ... is apparently deliberate attempts to manufacture or manipulate the facts to suit a particular viewpoint that is grossly inaccurate and unfair to individuals, New Zealand Cricket or the game."

He provided heavily censored minutes of a selectors' meeting on August 9 in which Sir Richard stresses the panel "was not about any one person but WE AS A TEAM." Attending were Hadlee, Brian McKechnie, Dykes, Trist, John Reid and Kerry Dellaca of NZ Cricket.

The panel's "visions and goals" and "individuals and team selection philosophy" are deleted. But a section labelled "Chairman of Selectors on Tour" says the panel agreed to judicious use, on a case-by-case basis, of someone travelling for parts of tours to "understand team philosophy and how team management works ... team selections ... support DGT [Trist], continuity, involve in team culture."

The panel agreed to put a case to the board for Dykes to go to South Africa (Hadlee was unavailable) for the final three one-day matches and the first test.

In this letter, Doig acknowledged he had responded to Boock's call about the Dykes' journey with a "retort [which] was probably provocative but was reflective of my and most others' dissatisfaction with Richard's articles."

He claimed not to have been advised of the Hadlee comments or the Dominion article, which the reporter flatly disputes. And Doig did not believe his provocative remark could possibly be interpreted as a refusal to comment.

The Herald accepts that Dykes was not "rushed" to South Africa last weekend - and, after receiving Doig's assurances on that, has published that fact.

Since Doig's two radio interviews claiming Boock is a lone voice on current cricket issues, the Herald has received unsolicited calls and comments from some of the game's most noted names, backing Boock for his analysis of the team/selection problems.

One cricket source said: "Boock can be a little sharp, but I think he's been right on quite a few things. They [Doig and co] are extremely protective of Stephen Fleming, and Boock has rightly questioned some of his decisions and batting, and the two keepers and the Wiseman thing - why is that happening? Hadlee's got to look at what he's been saying himself."

Another, one of a famous side of yesteryear, rang the Herald to say: "We're right behind Richard Boock. What he's been saying is what we're saying."