Cricket: Coaches' report on NZ: Could do a lot better

TERRY MADDAFORD caught up with former New Zealand test players Dipak Patel and Chris Kuggeleijn - now coaches of Central Districts and Northern Districts respectively and who have ambitions to fill the national role - and asked them their opinion on the performance of the New Zealand team and other cricketing issues.

Herald: Your overall impression of New Zealand's efforts on their present tour?

Patel: Obviously disappointing after starting well in the first test, when they batted to a reasonable level. The batting has declined since.

Kuggeleijn: It was a superb effort to win the ICC one-day tournament. There have been some positives, including the efforts of Mark Richardson. Adam Parore has responded to the pressure of Chris Nevin being there. The development shown by Brooke Walker, Chris Martin and Shayne O'Connor, and even Scott Styris in the one-day semifinal, is encouraging. We have to be realistic, they did not have the strike-power they would have liked.

Herald: Has the tour been too long?

Patel: Not necessarily. Cricketers have to accept and be aware of such tours. They have not been overworked. Certainly, there were no complaints after the ICC tournament in Kenya.

Kuggeleijn: You would have to ask the players and management. It is not the worst place in the world to go to. No one can use the length of the tour as an excuse.

Herald: Have there been too many one-day games?

Patel: Possibly, by one or two. If results had gone our way we would not be questioning that. These tours aren't going to get any shorter. Maybe we have to consider sending a bigger squad.

Kuggeleijn: There were more than 300 one-day internationals played worldwide last year. I guess they are just a fact of life.

Herald: Are the best players being selected?

Patel: Generally, of what is available, yes. You can always question one or two selections. But I don't think we are that badly off really.

Kuggeleijn: I'm in no position to comment. They were picked on last season's performances. I can't see any players sitting at home who should be there.

Herald: Are there any other players you would like to see in South Africa?

Patel: Kyle Mills must be unlucky, and maybe Jacob Oram for the one-dayers.

Kuggeleijn: No.

Herald: Does the domestic competition give the players the best opportunity to force their way into the national side?

Patel: I think this season will. It seems ideal. Sometimes, average players who played just five games and averaged 50 runs an innings would be found out at a higher level.

Kuggeleijn: Yes. I think by having 10 rounds of both Shell Trophy and Shell Cup we will find out who the best players are.

Herald: Are the selectors the best for the job?

Patel: No comment.

Kuggeleijn: They're okay.

Herald: Given that Chris Cairns, Dion Nash, Geoff Allott and Daniel Vettori are injured, who would you have in your bowling attack?

Patel: Obviously, O'Connor would be one. If Michael Mason was fully fit he would be in my top two. Chris Martin has done reasonably well. We have to look for bowlers who can run the ball away from the right-handers. Mason and Chris Drum would do that. Paul Wiseman is obviously the next-best spinner, but Walker has done himself no harm, although I would like to see him be more attacking. I hope we can get Tim Anderson fully fit because he could be a consideration.

Kuggeleijn: O'Connor, Martin and Daryl Tuffey. But we need a third seamer who is a good workhorse to do the job that has largely been done by Nathan Astle. I've always been a Warren Wisneski fan, but, apart from a couple of one-dayers, the selectors haven't used him. Walker has shown us a bit as a spinner.

Herald: Who should occupy the top-order batting spots?

Patel: Matt Horne, Richardson, Craig Spearman (at No 3 - he has done best there for NZ), Mathew Sinclair, Stephen Fleming, Astle and Craig McMillan.

Kuggeleijn: Richardson, Horne, Sinclair, Fleming and Astle - even if he is going through a bad patch.

Herald: Who should captain New Zealand?

Patel: I still think Fleming is the best available, but it is fair to say he has his moments. He needs the right people talking to him. He has not done a bad job, but there are certain parts [of his captaincy] that need to be addressed.

Kuggeleijn: There is no one else.

Herald: Do you intend continuing your coaching career?

Patel: I'll make a decision at the end of this season. This is the last year of a two-year contract with Central.

Kuggeleijn: Yes. I have a new two-year contract with Northern which includes a new position which will allow me to work nine months of the year.

Herald: Would you be interested in coaching the New Zealand team?

Patel: It is certainly one of my ambitions. I've always strived to do my best, whether as a player or coach. I would dearly love to.

Kuggeleijn: I haven't given it a lot of thought, but it is certainly a goal.

Herald: Alternatively, another national side?

Patel: Yeah. I'm looking at a couple of overseas options. There is much more in the future to look at. I'll know more by the end of March.

Kuggeleijn: I'd have to look at things. I have a young family. This time next year I'll have to look at what I do, but for the next two seasons I'll be putting my energies into this side.

Herald: Who do you think should be the national coach?

Patel: I think the ideal candidates are John Wright and John Bracewell. They are the frontrunners, but there are others such as Chris Kuggeleijn and Dennis Aberhart. It is not necessary to go overseas.

Kuggeleijn: Who's available? John Bracewell is obviously interested. If New Zealand Cricket made that appointment maybe it would ruffle a few feathers. He has obviously developed as a coach, just as I want to develop and get better.

Herald: Are the first-class grounds in New Zealand up to standard?

Patel: Probably not. Forty per cent are very poor. The batsmen are not getting good surfaces to bat on.

Kuggeleijn: Yes. They are getting better.

Herald: Are you happy with the standard of umpiring?

Patel: I have found that too many decisions in the past two or three years have affected the nature of the game. It needs to be readdressed.

Kuggeleijn: Let's hope that with more first-class cricket, the umpires will keep improving.

Herald: Who do you rate as the best?

Patel: I'd rather not comment.

Kuggeleijn: "Billy" Bowden - by a mile.