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Wellington: New Zealand's top cricketers have called for national coach Andy Moles to be fired, saying the 48-year-old Englishman is not up to the job, local media reported on Thursday.
Wellington's Dominion-Post newspaper said the players took their concerns to New Zealand Cricket on their return from the recent Champions Trophy limited-overs series in South Africa, where they lost to top-ranked Australia in the final.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan refused to comment on the report on Thursday, saying it was his policy not to speak publicly on employment issues. The reported player revolt comes less than a week before the New Zealand team's departure for the United Arab Emirates where it will play Pakistan in a series of limited-overs and Twenty20 internationals.
"Andy is still the coach and he is preparing the team for Dubai," Vaughan said. "The team has been away for nine weeks and we are performing a complete review of the team, both individually and collectively, and we are looking at ways to improve with such a big summer ahead."
Dominion-Post cricket writer Jonathan Millmow, a former New Zealand fast bowler, quoted an unnamed source as saying senior New Zealand players had a number of concerns about Moles' performance.
The players claim captain Daniel Vettori has effectively been coaching the team for the past six months and believe Moles had failed to provide them with "an acceptable level of technical and tactical support."
The newspaper was unable to reach Moles or Vettori for comment. Moles, who formerly coached the New Zealand province Northern Districts, was a surprise choice to replace John Bracewell as New Zealand coach last season and is contracted through the 2011 World Cup. The former English county batsman also coached Kenya in 2003 and Scotland in 2005.
He has yet to win a test as New Zealand coach, with four draws and three losses in his tenure. New Zealand has won nine and lost 10 one-day internationals since he was appointed.
