Skyfall looms over Bond letter
ANOTHER WAVE of controversy from the Shane Bond letter is set to engulf the embattled Black Caps and New Zealand Cricket.
Bond’s controversial letter to NZC over the Black Caps captaincy issue contains another explosive accusation.
The Sunday Star-Times understands Bond’s letter contains further opinions on the Black Caps environment beyond his highly publicised comments over how coach Mike Hesson had handled the demotion of Ross Taylor.
Those aspects of his letter, sent in his capacity as Black Caps bowling coach five weeks ago, are yet to become public – and never will if NZC has its way.
If they do emerge, they will inflame the current row to an incendiary level capable of consuming the embattled organisation itself.
Sources have told the Star-Times that the comments relate to Bond’s opinion of problems with the cul- ture and behaviour Black Caps.
After issuing a joint statement with Hesson on Friday saying the pair had discussed their differences and were committed to a ‘‘professional’’ working relationship, Bond has been told by NZC not to
within
the
I’d like to make it very, very clear that I had no prior knowledge to the captaincy announcement. Brendon McCullum
comment any further on his letter.
NZC is also desperately trying to put the lid on the issue.
The Star- Times asked NZC to comment on the information received by our sources but the organisation has refused.
‘‘The matter has been dealt with and we are moving on,’’ said chief executive David White last night in continuing the party line.
On Friday, White was at pains to state that Bond’s letter, written ahead of the South African tour, contained ‘‘opinions’’. The unpublished comments could be judged as falling into that category.
But they are explosive nonetheless.
The culture within the underperforming Black Caps remains a hot topic, with Wellington coach Jamie Siddons alluding in a radio interview last week that he wasn’t convinced in-form batsman Jesse Ryder should return to the national squad for the upcoming England series.
In a further development to the original story on the Bond letter, Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum said he had discussed Bond’s claim that the Otago star knew Taylor would be stripped of the captaincy by Hesson.
‘‘I’d like to make it very,
very clear that I had no prior knowledge to the captaincy announcement, or being offered the captaincy from David White after the board’s decision, or no involvement in it,’’ he said ahead of leading the Black Caps into the first one-day international against South Africa last night.
‘‘I’ve made that very, very clear to Shane [Bond] and we’ll go about acting in a professional manner which is best for this cricket team.’’
In the meantime, sources also tell the Star-Times that Ryder is likely to reject the plea to make himself available for the England series. Ryder is due to meet Hesson on January 29.