Struggling Kiwis choose Wright as new coach

He takes over from Mark Greatbatch while Daniel Vettori, the captain, has also been stripped of some of his selection powers.

WELLINGTON // New Zealand, attempting to stem one of their worst international losing streaks, have named John Wright, the former India cricket coach, to replace Mark Greatbatch.

Daniel Vettori, the captain, has also been stripped of some of his selection powers in a restructuring announced yesterday after a New Zealand Cricket (NZC) review of the series losses to Bangladesh and India.

New Zealand's 4-0 series defeat to Bangladesh and 5-0 loss against India took to 11 the losing streak in one-day internationals, approaching the record 13 consecutive losses in the mid-1990s.

Justin Vaughan, the NZC chief executive, said New Zealand's recent win-loss record was unacceptable.

"The changes being made are a direct result of that process and should make a real difference," he said.

"Structural change and coaching change will not immediately turn this team around. But it is, I believe, giving the team its best possible chance of success for the Pakistan tour and for the World Cup."

Wright and Vettori will have a say in the selection process, but Vettori will no longer hold a place on the selection panel. Greatbatch remains the batting coach within NZC's high-performance programme.

Wright will take over the coaching role immediately ahead of New Zealand's home series against Pakistan which begins with a Twenty20 match on Sunday. The teams will meet in two Tests, three Twenty20s and six one-day matches.

"I look at, particularly the one-day team, and if it plays to its potential it's a very, very good side, and that excites me actually," said Wright, who played 82 Tests and 149 one-day internationals as an opening batsman for New Zealand between 1978 and 1993 and coached India from 2000 to 2005.