It's been a long time coming, and if you've read closely between the lines during the past couple of months, it hardly came as that big a shock. John Wright has declined to extend his contract as head coach of the Black Caps - he will step down after the West Indies tour - which is nothing short of a disaster for New Zealand Cricket going forward. Who's to blame for it though? The board? Director of Cricket, John Buchanan? Kim Littlejohn? Justin Vaughan, who left NZC in a terrible state and who made the mistake of signing on John Buchanan (and not John Wright) on a lucrative long-term deal? Buchanan's pie charts? All the above?
In countries with bloated domestic cricket competitions like England, having a team of selectors makes sense, as the England head coach couldn't possibly watch all those players who are being considered for a call-up in the nearer future up and down the country, all at the same time. Compared to that, the New Zealand head coach surely would be able to keep track of every single more or less talented and in-form player in the Plunket Shield, Ford Trophy and HRV Cup without encountering too many scheduling problems.
Why is it so hard to understand that a coach would like to have a major say, the major say in the selection process? He's the one who has to work with these players, he's the one who has to turn a bunch of individuals into a (hopefully) winning team, so why can't he also be the one who selects them? Especially someone with the cricketing nous and instincts such as Wright's. After all, he's the one who brought in Dean Brownlie, he's the one who picked Doug Bracewell, and he's the one who re-called BJ Watling and handed him the gloves.
What did Buchanan do during this time? Pies. Judging by Wright's comments, I'd say Buchanan's made his life miserable. (Which by the way isn't the first time that a coach has found it impossible to work with Buchanan, make of that what you will.) And instead of letting the head coach, his assistants and senior players decide whom they would've liked to see replacing Daniel Vettori as the captain of the Black Caps, Buchanan also managed to cock that one up quite spectacularly by turning it into a special cycle of New Zealand's Next Top Model™.
Without wanting to put down New Zealand loving Australians everywhere, do people really think an Australian in Director of Cricket John Buchanan and another Australian in National Selector Manager Kim Littlejohn have New Zealand Cricket's and the Black Caps' best interest at heart? These men are being paid to make decisions on behalf of a cricket board that's in direct competition to their home board. How is it possible for officials (including Justin Vaughan back in the day) to prefer someone's bought 'passion' over the genuine fervour and blood, sweat and tears of a veteran servant to New Zealand cricket in John Wright?
Keyboard warriors who comment on articles on the more or less relevant cricket websites, appear to have not too much of an idea of actual cricket these days, I've been resigned to that for a while now. But having to read comments by some of these muppets, calling on Buchanan & Co. to find a new coach who'll be willing to work for whatever sum Wright was being paid for his services, really upsets me, as those remarks imply that John Wright didn't want to re-sign with New Zealand Cricket for financial reasons, which is not only completely untrue but also an insult to him, his character and the work he's done.
He didn't ask for more money or paid vacations or diamond studded breakfast cutlery. All he wanted was free reign over how he manages and coaches the team, including the selection of players. The nerve! How dare he wants to pick the players he has to work with and whom he wants to mould into a well-functioning, successful team? Wanting to do one's job in peace and without being dictated by Buchanan, Littlejohn and brethren on what to do and with whom certainly isn't too much ask, is it?
Sure, there are some realists or even cynics (like myself) out there who have moved on, but overall NZ journalists, commentators, fans, players and officials never fail to mention that win over Australia on that ridiculous wicket in Hobart at any given opportunity, regardless of whether mentioning it actually fits the current discussion or not. But if these people really care so much about Hobart, they need to remind themselves that it wasn't John Buchanan or Kim Littlejohn or that toxic clown Justin Vaughan who made that happen, but John Wright.
Naturally, I'm sad to see him go, but I can only applaud him for refusing to compromise his ideas, his opinions at the hands of cricket bureaucrats, and for staying true to himself, even if that is only possible at the expense of a team in desperate need of his guidance as well as of disillusioned, exhausted Black Caps supporters whom he finally gave some hope.
We'll miss you, Wrighty, thanks for the memories.
(Title taken from "Johnny Come Home" by the Fine Young Cannibals.)
