Crucket

Ever since seeing this picture

I have been haunted by its similarity to this famous photo

On the surface, the only parallel between the first photo – Vettori and Moles watching a rained out ODI at Christchurch – and the second – General McArthur and Emperor Hirohito facing up to the press after Japan’s capitulation at the end of the Second World War – is the angles of Vettori’s and McArthur’s respective elbows.

Perish the thought, but could the developments of the past few days deepen the parallels?

The report in the Dom Post this morning that the players don’t want Andy Moles as coach anymore is a megaton hit to Moles’ position, I would say. This isn’t just mutterings of dissatisfaction, as we’re used to under other coaches. By all accounts, this is mutiny.

Apparently, Moles has not been doing his job. That is, he hasn’t been coaching the team, with Vettori taking on that responsibility. Who knows what’s really been going on behind the scenes, but given what we see of Moles, that doesn’t strike me as unlikely. However, I think it speaks most about Moles’ shortcomings as a coach that such a mutiny could be instigated. There was strong dissatisfaction with Bracewell by several players, but it would have been unthinkable for the team to band together and complain; he was just too much in control.

NZC has issued a press release ‘confirming’ Moles as coach, whatever that means.  Which is a fairly good indication that there is indeed a crisis. And there was precious little defence of Moles in the press release.

It’s not looking good for Moles. But what can he do? Surely the last thing he wants is to end his time in New Zealand the same way he did in Scotland?