Vettori wants Wright as coach to overhaul Black Caps’ dreadful ODI slump

AUCKLAND - New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori insists that his team has no issue with the coaching credentials of former India coach John Wright.

According to reports, former Kiwi cricketers have called for coach Mark Greatbatch’s replacement with Wright, citing his experience on the Indian sub-continent, where the 2011 World Cup will be held.

“John has been involved with the team quite a bit in the past as a specialist batting resource, and he’s had a real influence on some of the guys,” the New Zealand Herald quoted Vettori, as saying.

“The guys are a pretty receptive and open group. Anyone who has come in has experienced that, like [former England coach] Duncan Fletcher and [former Pakistan spinner] Saqlain Mushtaq.”

“There’s no talk in the back rooms of ‘no, this can’t happen’. All the guys play for is to win, so anyone who can help is an asset,” he added.

Vettori further confirmed that he had contacted Wright before New Zealand went to India early last month to utilize his experience and knowledge of Indian players and conditions.

“John is high performance manager [for New Zealand Cricket] and I thought he’d be readily available and want to help out, but he wasn’t really interested at the time,” the all-rounder said.

“It didn’t suit him and I suppose I can sit back and understand that it was a difficult assignment. I wanted to use him from the perspective of his experience and as a great New Zealand cricketer coming in and inspiring the group,” he added. (ANI)