NZ depart sans coach

Captain Daniel Vettori will act as player-coach for the three ODIs in Abu Dhabi and two T20 internationals in Dubai after the resignation of coach Andy Moles on Saturday.

Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum was stripped of his roles as vice-captain days later, leaving Vettori with unprecedented power as captain, coach and national selector.

Moles’ resignation was forced after players expressed a lack of confidence in his abilities on returning from its run to the final of the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Players were able to contribute assessments of the coach during a standard review of the team’s performance at the Champions Trophy and on its recent tour to Sri Lanka. Many of the comments were reportedly negative, suggesting Moles, 48, had not provided the technical or tactical support sought by players.

After entering employment mediation with New Zealand Cricket, Moles tendered his resignation less than 11 months into a tenure due to last to 2011.

New Zealand Cricket has indicated it will not hurry the appointment of a new coach and it is likely Vettori will act in the role through December’s home Test series against Pakistan.
Vettori said he was not concerned at the extra burden.

“Now every single person in the squad has to pick up a little bit of the slack,” he said. “People will still expect us to win, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t and that’s the mindset that we have to have going away.

“We need to win these games to take some pressure off what’s happening here.” New Zealand has won 30 and lost 47 of 79 ODIs against Pakistan.