The Wash Up - a summary

Villain or Saviour?

Seen off or justified

The Unknown Factor

It's messy for sure.  NCZ CEO and board - what role by them?  Mike Hesson - was there ever a Right Time?  Ross Taylor - victim or justified.  Brendon McCullum - Darth Vader maybe??

It's fair to say that since the axing, plenty has been said by all the main players on this saga, yes even BMac's interview.  And it's obvious that Taylor is the centre of everyone's thoughts and he has most to say.  NZC board and CEO and Hesson are being offered up as the villains in this episode but to be honest many with a passion for the game have been baying for Taylors blood for some time now, especially after the Windies series (where he served under the saviour of NZ cricket - John Wright)  It was evident (and highlighted by commentators) in India and the first test in Sri Lanka that Taylor appeared to be lost in translation, at times showing the 50 mile stare when things weren't going well.  

Yes he has been involved in two significant wins (and has the same record as a skipper as Dan Vettori - thanks Bryan Waddle) but apart from that innings of 142 in the SL second test, his position as capatain was always on tenterhooks.  We can only surmise that he indeed didn't have the intestinal fortitude or technical ability to successfully captain AND mould a winning team that played it's best ALL the time.

Mike Hesson and NZC were in the unenviable position that they needed results and quickly to help the game here (and overseas - no one likes playing 8th or 9th ranked team).  They too saw that Taylor was a liability to their plans going forward based on results and Taylor was the scapegoat and always would be.  As stated, there is no time as the right time to remove a captain so whoever took the first step would be vilified and as has proven this is indeed the case.  Sure, I concede the manner of the dismissal is regrettable and one feature that doesn't seem to be discussed is where else the other pressure was coming from - i.e. how many were behind Taylor in the team and how many wanted change?

I'm not happy Brendon McCullum is the new captain, as it was plainly obvious from the Windies tour that young Kane Williamson was John Wrights second choice.  Sure, this whole saga smacks of cronyism with McCullum being with Mike Hesson in his domestic career, but to be fair I see McCullum's promotion as a positive for NZ cricket for the short term, but I do say that with a word of warning.  McCullum can only lead if he has the full undivided loyalty of the whole team, and the Taylor fallout will be widespread as he was a popular leader and fellow player. How this plays out in South Africa is anyone's guess.  Guptill  for one is a mate of Taylor, and Williamson will obviously be wondering why he didn't get the reins, so that's two of our five top order hesitant, and with Taylor out that's 60% of the top order basically gone, and that bearing in mind the top order has failed miserably in over a year (barring some innings).

Is it fair to surmise when Mike Hesson took over he approached Brendon McCullum and let him know his plans for the near future??  In his interview McCullum appeared very relaxed and comfortable with his promotion almost as if he's had some time to chew over the situation and slot straight in.  But that's an aside, going forward, Taylor will bat, Hesson will coach, and McCullum will be McCullum.  And NZC had better hope it works out somehow.  The best we can hope for is a shellacking in South Africa and an utter annihilation on home shores to England as I doubt we'll have a team that can stand the rigours of test cricket versus top five teams.

We are officially cricketing minnows and minnows always get yaffled by bigger fish.