An uneasy partnership

The captain and coach of the Black Caps have their differences, but talk of change at the helm of the team has been dismissed.

big occasion, with the immense respect of his team.

It’s the meetings with Stead that are understood to cause Williamson the most angst, not through any animosity between the pair who get on well, but those philosophical differences.

Williamson is overtly team first, hammering the point that players should not be out for themselves and must do everything to benefit the Black Caps.

That translates into almost excessive loyalty when tough calls are needed, such as opener Jeet Raval and Santner who were eventually jettisoned.

Stead, meanwhile, is more from the old school, and in the NZC rulebook has the final say on the squad and the playing XI. The Southee decision was partly workload-based but ill-judged in a depleted side missing a sick Williamson and an injured Trent Boult.

Matt Henry’s inclusion sparked more talk of Canterbury favouritism with Latham – long tipped as Williamson’s logical successor – made captain ahead of Southee, the team’s ‘alpha’.

Stead and Latham might work well together but no one who was spoken to by said there was anything to the latest suggestion that a captaincy change was afoot.

Post-Sydney, NZC chief executive David White said Williamson’s workload was ‘‘up for discussion’’ but he backed both captain and coach.

‘‘Their relationship is fine. I’m sure they have some robust conversations like every competitive environment. I have absolute confidence in both of them.’’ That sentiment remains.

In the commentary box in Australia, former skipper Brendon McCullum said Williamson looked weary and needed to seize the reins, and show he wanted and enjoyed the role. He was incredulous Williamson didn’t get the XI he wanted every time, as it appears McCullum did when in tandem with Hesson.

Now to plot a path into the next home summer, everyone refreshed by a lengthy Covid-19 hiatus.

NZC high performance manager Bryan Stronach, and team manager Mike Sandle, will work with their captain and coach, as one learned observer put it: ‘‘To get [Stead and Williamson] on the same page a bit more.’’

That will require give and take from both, their differences clear but not insurmountable to those at head office.

‘‘It’s the meetings with Stead that are understood to cause Williamson the most angst, not through any animosity between the pair who get on well, but those philosophical differences.’’

GETTY IMAGES Getting coach Gary Stead, left, and Black Caps captain Kane Williamson on the same selection page is a work in progress for New Zealand Cricket after some differences of opinion.

Selection issues over Tim Southee, left, and Mitchell Santner, centre, for test matches in Australia raised eyebrows, while the choice of Tom Latham, right, as captain ahead of Southee sparked talk of Canterbury favouritism.