Sweeping changes for New Zealand Cricket

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has undergone a major restructuring program, removing 11 positions and creating 20 in an effort to become a world-class sporting organisation. The positions abolished include those of general manager of the New Zealand team, currently held by Lindsay Crocker, and acting high performance manager, held by John Wright.

Justin Vaughan, the NZC chief executive, explained that the restructuring did not mean the end of the road for those whose positions have been abolished, reiterating that the new posts offered them plenty of scope to expand their roles in the organisation.

"Many of the people who have had their positions disestablished have been encouraged to apply for the new roles and a number will be strong candidates," Vaughan told the Press. "We certainly don't want to lose him [Wright] but these jobs are all open and contestable."

Crocker, currently with the national team in England, could be a contender for the new position of general manager (cricket), which will oversee all aspects of NZC's high performance programmes. For Wright, the former India coach, the roles open are of elite coaching manager or elite player development manager.

Vaughan said the changes came about after an extensive review lasting several months.

"Over the past four or five years, since it was last done, the business has grown considerably and instead of just adding on people here and there we wanted to take a coherent overall approach to where we are headed," Vaughan said. "It's really a matter of reviewing how we do things and how we can do them better."

The changes extend to women's cricket too, with the position of women's cricket manager, held by Catherine Campbell, being scrapped. Vaughan, acknowledging Campbell's contribution, said a new position of team operations manager would be created.