THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Ross Taylor made himself unavailable for New Zealand’s cricket tour to South Africa this month after being sacked as national captain and replaced by Brendon McCullum.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White announced the move at a news conference in Auckland on Friday, saying Taylor rejected an offer to remain as test captain while allowing McCullum to lead the team in one-day and Twenty20 internationals.
McCullum’s appointment as New Zealand’s 28th test captain comes after Taylor scored a century and half century to lead New Zealand to a drought-breaking test victory over Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. New Zealand had previously lost six-straight tests under Taylor.
Taylor’s sacking also follows a reported breakdown in his relationship with new head coach Mike Hesson.
Hesson, who is a personal friend of McCullum, has been head coach for fewer than three months and has repeatedly refused to express confidence in Taylor’s captaincy.
Taylor was reportedly asked to step down from the captaincy before New Zealand’s tour to Sri Lanka began but refused to do so. He was then told he would be removed from the position when the tour ended.
After winning the second test and drawing the two-test series, New Zealand Cricket approached Taylor and offered to allow him to remain as test captain but he refused.
Taylor said on Friday he would now take a break from cricket, missing the South Africa tour, but expected to be available for New Zealand’s home series against England early next year.
Friday’s move may further strain already deep divisions within New Zealand cricket. While Taylor didn’t enjoy the full support of the New Zealand dressing room, his treatment by Hesson and New Zealand Cricket is not expected to win the approval of his teammates or fans.
Hesson is an unproven international coach, having been awarded the New Zealand role after only months as Kenya’s coach. The New Zealander quit that role over fears for the security of his family.
White said Taylor’s sacking was not the result of a player revolt against his leadership.
He said Hesson "had concerns, not about the captaincy, and he felt it would be better for Ross to focus on his game.
"It was felt that the work load for a young captain was a lot."
McCullum’s appointment is unlikely to be widely popular. After relinquishing the wicketkeeping duties at test level, McCullum has struggled to score the runs necessary to justify his selection as a specialist batsman.
Hesson, who did not attend Friday’s news conference, is believed to prefer McCullum’s risk-taking captaincy to Taylor’s more conservative style.