Rookie Hesson goes in to bat
THIRTY-NINE people were involved in a recruitment process that yesterday yielded Mike Hesson as the Black Caps’ coach for the next three years.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said 26 people were emailed and asked to apply for the job; nine of whom eventually did. Thirteen others sent applications off their own bat.
The goal, according to NZC director of cricket John Buchanan, had been to find the best man for the job – regardless of nationality. ‘‘And we got it,’’ he said. So, at 37, and with no playing pedigree and two domestic titles with Otago as the crowing glory of his coaching career, Hesson is that man.
He’s been appointed through until the end of the 2015 World Cup, which New Zealand is co-hosting with Australia, but White described that as only being Hesson’s ‘‘current’’ deal.
The goal, White said, was for Hesson to remain at the helm long after that tournament.
People will wonder why so much faith has been placed in a virtual rookie. White did little to ease those concerns.
He said Hesson was well organised, had good management and communication skills, was technically sound and ‘‘will empower players and support staff’’.
An ability to help teams win cricket games on a regular basis didn’t get a mention.
Hesson’s tenure will begin with a two-test series in India, starting late next month, and he felt he was ready to lead New Zealand cricket into an exciting era.
‘‘One thing I bring as a coach some boldness,’’ Hesson said.
‘‘Especially in limited overs cricket, we need to be bold and courageous under pressure. At times that will be really exciting and at times that will fall over.’’
The Black Caps are ranked seventh in the world in test cricket, eighth in the one-day format and sixth in Twenty20s.
With the 2015 World Cup drawing increasingly close, there has been thought that a greater emphasis should be placed on the 50-over form of the
is game. But, for Hesson, ‘‘all three forms are a priority’’.
In the immediate term, it will be an inherited support staff that helps him attempt to haul the Black Caps up the rankings. Manager Mike Sandle is another contracted through until after the 2015 World Cup, but the terms of assistant coaches Trent Woodhill and Damien Wright conclude much sooner.
Woodhill is off-contract in October, following the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, while White said Wright had another year to go.
As far as the dressing room is concerned, Hesson said he’d have no trouble winning that. Three years as New Zealand A coach meant he had worked with most of the Black Caps at some stage.
‘‘I had a good discussion with [captain] Ross Taylor the other day and I’m looking forward to building that relationship,’’ Hesson said.
One relationship that’s already fully-formed, is the one between Hesson and Brendon McCullum.
The pair have worked together since Hesson became Otago’s director of coaching in 1998.
Hesson described them friends’’ who were capable debate.
Rightly or wrongly, there is a perception that if you have McCullum on side then you’re off to a good start with the entire team and his relationship with the dashing batsman might prove to be the greatest asset Hesson brings to the job. as ‘‘good of robust