KEY POINTS:
I suspect the door is about to close on John Bracewell's career as the Black Caps' coach. Bracewell, whose contract is up, has done a reasonably good job.
But the trend in sport is to operate on four-year cycles, based around World Cups. There would need to be a compelling reason to break with that and Bracewell just hasn't achieved enough to warrant a second term.
I've always hoped that John Wright would get his chance at some stage and from conversations with him many years ago, he has had his eye on the Black Caps' job.
Whether the time is right for him is another matter, but he is a popular bloke who would be a players' coach. And he has shown with India that he has the ability, and can handle the pressure.
Don't expect an appointment out of left field because New Zealand are sure to rely on a tried and trusted candidate from the professional coaching ranks.
Justin Vaughan, the incoming New Zealand Cricket chief executive, will set clear ground rules around the coaching issue.
New Zealand cricket is so lucky to have someone of Vaughan's calibre prepared to take over. He is very intelligent and considered.
He has also operated in sophisticated environments. He will have bigger fish to fry down the line so I just hope NZC can make full use of his talents in whatever time he is there.
* I can't see Sri Lanka upsetting Australia in the World Cup final.
Australia have probably been the best side at this long tournament, and their players are in such good form.
Their batters will sit on Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga, and attack the others, believing this will provide them with enough runs.
If any side has the goods to beat Australia then it is the Sri Lankans, but they don't look to have enough overall batting firepower.
Shaun Tait looks Sri Lanka's best bet as an Aussie bowler to attack. The wheels could come off with Tait if he is attacked in the right places.
This match will be the farewell for the great Glenn McGrath, who was someone I always enjoyed locking horns with. He never made it fun for opponents out there, which is what makes the game fun.
He seems to have been around forever - he was playing before I was. I don't think you will see careers as long as his any more because the schedules are so hectic. There are only so many games you can play before bits of the body start falling off.
He was so competitive.
