N Zealand cricket coach steps down
WELLINGTON: New Zealand coach Andy Moles quit on Saturday, New Zealand Cricket officials confirmed, ending a stand-off in which senior players had appealed for him to be sacked.
English-born Moles, who was contracted through to the 2011 World Cup, lasted less than a year in the job, resigning just three days before he was to have taken the team to the United Arab Emirates for a series against Pakistan.
The announcement came following a day of mediation talks after it became public that senior players had raised concerns about his abilities.
Former Warwickshire batsman Moles was a surprise choice to replace John Bracewell as the coach of the New Zealand team last November.
At the time, New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said Moles brought "leadership, passion, commitment and a drive to get the best out of his teams, attributes we believe are essential for this role."
However, New Zealand''s record has been patchy since them. Four Tests have been drawn and three lost, and in one-day internationals New Zealand have won nine and lost 10.
A review of New Zealand''s recent tour of Sri Lanka and South Africa, which included making the finals of the Champions Trophy tournament, is understood to have been critical of Moles'' performance.
Leaked media reports early this week said senior players claimed Moles had not provided them with adequate tactical or technical support, and wanted him sacked.
But captain Daniel Vettori was non-specific when asked about player dissatisfaction. "I don''t think I''d put it in those terms .... we''re not sitting around trying to plot Andy''s demise," he said.
"Whenever players are asked honest questions about anything they give their answers. I think guys have voiced ways of making the team better."
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N Zealand cricket coach steps down
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