NZ players give views on next captain

New Zealand’s top 20 cricketers have been asked to give their views on the leadership abilities of Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor before the board names Daniel Vettori’s successor.

They have been also asked to give their views as the culture within the national side, as part of their end-of-season reviews.

The interviews have taken place as New Zealand Cricket has to decide between Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor to captain the Blackcaps.

John Buchanan, New Zealand’s director of cricket, confirmed Sunday that the subject of captaincy had been broached with the players, but said there was no question of the players picking the man for the job.

“We are not necessarily canvassing them on a voting process. We really just want a viewpoint,” Buchanan was quoted as saying in the New Zealand media.

Buchanan, national selection manager Mark Greatbatch and coach John Wright are all currently interviewing players.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Cricket has renewed assistant coach Trent Woodhill’s contract until 2012. Woodhill first joined the team for the tri-series in Sri Lanka in August 2010.

New Zealand coach John Wright said: “Trent has forged a strong and successful relationship with John and indeed the entire Blackcaps unit.

He has been recognised as a key influence behind the team’s remarkable fielding performance at the World Cup. Having his specialist skills to support the Blackcaps is a fantastic step forward for New Zealand Cricket.”