Kiwis would like John Wright as coach: Snedden

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">MUMBAI, Sept. 19:</span> New Zealand are lucky to have Martin Snedden as CEO of their cricket board since 2001. The medium-pacer and batsman was part of their most successful Test side of the 80s, when they were nigh unbeatable at home. Snedden played 25 Tests and 93 One-dayers and took 114 ODI and 58 Test wickets.<br /><br />In Mumbai to attend ICC''s Cricket Committee Management meeting, Snedden spoke to TNN about the strengths of his country''s contemporary cricket which could be reflected when the side tours India next month.Excerpts: <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">New Zealand are doing well but do you have enough depth?</span><br /><br />We are third in the Test Championship and fifth in the ODIs. But depth has always been a problem in New Zealand. We are gradually building that up. But it creates a wee bit of a problem when some of our top players are injured. For the upcoming series we have Shane Bond on the injured list. It is a shame but that gives someone else the opportunity. Other young players have come through. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">New Zealand cricket lacks star material? Is it an advantage or disadvantage?</span><br /><br />We have some stars. Stephen Fleming may well be the best captain in the world. But you are right, this has been typical of New Zealand cricket. Most of the time we have one or two world class players and a whole lot of players who contribute as a team. The best thing though is we play together as a team very well and support each other and that is what has helped us through, something lacking in many teams. But we would like to have more world class players in our team and may be as the players keep developing that will happen. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">How has your team prepared for the Indian tour?</span><br /><br />The players trained at the high performance centre in Christchurch on simulated pitches, like the ones we expect in India, sans the heat factor. Last week we trained in Brisbane for seven days where it was hot. Then we have three, four of our guys playing in England. This is the start of our season and it is the same for your players as well I think.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Did you practice on under-prepared wickets?</span><br /><br />Not underprepared but slowish wickets with low bounce. Wickets in India are good batting ones. Sometimes they turn a bit but generally they are good batting wickets.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">During India''s last tour to New Zealand the pitches were criticised a lot. Do you anticipate similar treatment here?</span><br /><br />It was not deliberate what happened in New Zealand. We just prepared for what we expect the conditions to be. We know the wickets would not be fast or bouncy, they will not help the seam bowlers as much. We will play on whatever is given to us.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">There was some talk of John Wright being sought for the New Zealand team?</span><br /><br />John Wright is a very good friend of mine. I think he has done an excellent job with India and I think he is happy here. He is been very successful and the Indian team has done very well under him, particularly in the ODI''s in the last two years. And so I think he would like to continue here. But in the long run and in due course I am sure he will return to New Zealand and will get involved with cricket in NZ. He will chose the time.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Was an offer made to him?</span><br /><br />No offer. I knew John''s plans were to stay here so there was no point in making an offer.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Other countries are complaining of too much cricket? Is that the case with NZ too?</span><br /><br />No, our players quite happy with the amount of cricket they play. We probably don''t play quite as much as some of the other countries so our players get reasonable breaks.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Should ICC take interest in the domestic structure as well?</span><br /><br />No. That should be handled by the respective national boards.<br /></div> </div>