New Zealand Try To Put Off-Field Issues Behind Them

New Zealand Try To Put Off-Field Issues Behind Them

New Zealand are keen to move on from the Ross Taylor/Mike Hesson/Brendon McCullum/Shane Bond controversy

©REUTERS / Action Images

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Chief Executive Officer David White has issued a statement backing the New Zealand team management as the controversy surrounding Ross Taylor's removal as captaincy continues to make headlines.

Ross Taylor opted out of the tour of South Africa after coach Mike Hesson decided to hand the limited overs captaincy to Brendon McCullum.

After reports were published detailing comments made by bowling coach Shane Bond regarding communications between coach Mike Hesson and Taylor prior to the squad for the South Africa series being named, White has issued the following statement:

"At that time we canvassed all of the BLACKCAPS team management about their views of what happened during the events surrounding the change of captaincy.

"Shane Bond was one of several team managers who reported back to us his impressions of what occurred and we appreciated his input.

"Unfortunately his report was received by NZC late in the evening prior to the planned press conference scheduled for the following day and was the ‘additional material’ referred to by Chairman Chris Moller. We believed the content of Shane’s report to us merited further investigation over a longer period and we made extensive inquiries of team management.

"We found considerable variance with Shane’s account in the assessments given to us by the other members of the senior management team.

"After much investigation NZC’s final conclusion is that the problems that arose over the captaincy issue were the result of misunderstanding and poor communication between the parties involved."

"The important thing to recognise is that Shane wasn’t in the room at the time that the captaincy discussions were taking place. However, we have heard his concerns and have discussed them with him and the team management. Both Shane and NZC have now amicably resolved the issue.

"In regard to the split captaincy argument my greatest regret is that Mike Hesson and myself, on separate occasions, offered Ross Taylor a split captaincy role where he would captain the Test team but that Ross felt he was unable to accept the offer.

"We have apologised to Ross Taylor for the way in which the matter was handled and NZC has publicly pledged to learn from what happened and ensure nothing like this will occur again.

"At this point it now serves no useful purpose for NZC to dwell on who may have said what to whom or make any further comment on such speculation. We need to concentrate on the three remaining ODIs in South Africa and the challenging tour by England next month. It is vital New Zealand Cricket now looks forwards not backwards."

Bond was appointed as bowling coach in October ahead of New Zealand's tour of Sri Lanka, where they claimed a creditable 1-1 draw in a two-Test series.

A statement issued on his behalf read: "As has been outlined publicly, I wanted to share my views and opinion on the captaincy situation and did so in the form of a private letter to New Zealand Cricket.

"I want to go on record saying that I met with Mike Hesson several weeks ago, we have discussed the content of the letter, and put it behind us. 

"We have developed a good working relationship during this tour and are working closely together to make this team better.

"I want to keep working hard with the other support staff so can improve the performance of the team.

"As far as I’m concerned we have dealt with the matter, it has been put behind us and I won’t be making any further comment."

New Zealand begin a three-match One-Day International series against South Africa in Paarl tomorrow (19th January).

© Cricket World 2013