Cricket: Hesson deserves new contract

Mike Hesson
Mike Hesson
It's time to extend Mike Hesson's contract as New Zealand cricket coach.

Since his appointment in July 2012, after the side were trounced in all formats on the last West Indies tour, Hesson has moulded a balanced and talented test side and one that is achieving rare success.

Before last week's West Indies triumph, New Zealand had twice won three test series in a row.

The most recent was against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the West Indies between April 2005 and March 2006. The first came between November 1985 and July 1986 against Australia home and away and England at home.

Hesson, who is off contract after next year's World Cup, has worked unobtrusively, allowing performances to decorate the shop window. Over summer, he described himself as "no show pony" and a "clinical sort of bloke" who tries to "balance out the highs and lows".

"Winning away from home is the ultimate," he wrote in a blog on nzcricket.co.nz.

"When you're asked to perform on pitches that are completely foreign to how you've moulded yourself as a cricketer ... away wins are rare and to be cherished.

"In the past, we've almost flattered to deceive, as we've won the odd game and then we've lost a few. Even in our own minds, we've not been able to be as consistent as we know we can. The fact we've been able to get three back-to-back series wins in different conditions shows we're making progress."

Professionalism, objectivity and effective communication have been pillars to a stable team.

Hesson had an inauspicious start, removing Ross Taylor as captain five months after taking over and took a further tough stance when Jesse Ryder and Doug Bracewell transgressed before the first India test. The pair haven't played for New Zealand since.

Under Hesson's watch - and that of fellow national selector Bruce Edgar and captain Brendon McCullum - almost every test player has established or reinforced their reputation since the start of the year.

The final test against the West Indies in Barbados was laden with examples.

Kane Williamson made his highest test score of 161 not out. He even eradicated all run-scoring opportunities from mid-off to cover to avoid lapsing into two minds and spooning or edging a catch. In addition, only 20 runs came between cover and point.

Instead, he preferred to play late with soft hands using the pace of the ball by working deliveries into the legside or easing them between backward point and third slip. Eighty of his runs came behind square. A seventh test century before the age of 24 suggests a legacy beckons.

Reinforcing Williamson's prowess was the responsible way his team-mates played 44 overs of spin in the second innings without surrendering a wicket.

A co-ordinated bowling attack also helped. Trent Boult and Tim Southee are established weapons but they built partnerships, and consequent pressure, with Neil Wagner and Mark Craig.

The latter has usurped Ish Sodhi as the primary spinner with an aggressive style maximising bounce and turn. He took 12 wickets at 40.28 compared to Sodhi's eight wickets at 28.50 but averaged 64 with the bat.

Hesson has already pledged he will be "patient and supportive" to help them evolve into top-quality spinners.

Likewise, relentless competition has seen Jimmy Neesham secure the all-rounder berth over Corey Anderson for now.

Marry those performances with the opening promise of Tom Latham, the batting and slip fielding of Ross Taylor and the graft of BJ Watling.

The only likely change for November's tour to play Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, barring injury, will be the removal of Hamish Rutherford as opener.

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