New Zealand chasing Murali's help

24 October 2012 03:38 am - 23 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka's most successful international bowlers, Muttiah Muralidharan and Chaminda Vaas will assist new New Zealand bowling coach Shane Bond during the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, the stuff.co.nz reported.

Head coach Mike Hesson today announced Muralidharan would be involved before the management team departed Christchurch this morning, but Vaas' involvement was meant to remain under wraps.

But Bond himself let the cat out of the bag before apologising to Hesson.

Fairfax Media understands Vaas is still under contract in Sri Lanka, but has agreed to work with the Black Caps during the eight-match tour that includes one Twenty20 international, five one-dayers and two tests.

Hesson and co couldn't ask for better help; Muralidharan is the leading test wicket-taker of all time with 795 scalps while left-armer Vaas is easily the second most successful Sri Lankan bowler with 355 wickets.

Vaas will work with the entire bowling group, but will also spend time helping the three left-arm seamers in the Black Caps squad; Trent Boult, James Franklin and Neil Wagner.

Boult and Franklin are involved with both the limited overs squad that left today and the test squad while Wagner is only involved in the test squad.

With Hesson and assistant coach Bob Carter batting and fielding specialists and Bond more accustomed to quick bowling, the involvement of Muralidharan fills a big gap in the spin coaching ranks.

And with four spin options in each of the side's limited overs and tests squads, plus wickets expected to take plenty of turn, Muralidharan's expertise will be welcomed with open arms.

"Obviously Muralitharan lives in Sri Lanka in Colombo and he's someone we've got contacts with," Hesson said today at Christchurch airport on the eve of the team's departure.

"We haven't been able to firm things up but we're also looking into the possibility of another specialist coach [in Vaas]. We've got some guys lined up but they add to the mix and help Shane in terms of his development - and also the players.

"We play half of our cricket in the sub-continent and even now the West Indies' conditions are very sub-continental. We'll get exposed to a lot of spin, and in this series 70-80 per cent of our overs we face will be spin-based. How well we adapt and how well we play them will dictate the outcome."

New Zealand open their tour with their one Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka next Tuesday at Pallakele - the same ground where the Black Caps were eliminated from the Twenty20 World Cup earlier this month.

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Comments - 23

HappyJohn Wednesday, 24 October 2012 06:54 AM

800 wickets. Murali has 800 wickets.

warra85 Thursday, 25 October 2012 12:09 PM

well done at least some one has seen their potential. they would have been the best bowling couches for the team. but this is a good lesson for the SLC board.

Jay Wednesday, 24 October 2012 02:47 PM

some dismissals reviewed and they were taken away by 3rd umpire

Laws Wednesday, 24 October 2012 02:42 PM

Now, don't call them unpatriotic. They aren't doing anything wrong.

Christopher, J.R. Wednesday, 24 October 2012 02:26 PM

Congratulations! Good luck for Murali n Vaas.

shehan jayawardene Wednesday, 24 October 2012 12:12 PM

Absolutely correct.

suny Wednesday, 24 October 2012 10:54 AM

Sri Lankan always wants advisers from foreign countries for sports as well as on other areas and do not like Sri Lankan advisers.

jan Wednesday, 24 October 2012 09:12 AM

Good idea show the money

Dilini Siriwardane Wednesday, 24 October 2012 08:30 AM

I hope the so called 'Patriots' dont call them traitors.

james Wednesday, 24 October 2012 08:16 AM

Murali's total wickets 800 ( but for SL, it's 795 and other 5 wickets for world eleven )

kandykolla Wednesday, 24 October 2012 07:51 AM

Good !! instead of that can we get some very good rugby coaches here ???

agro chem Wednesday, 24 October 2012 07:12 AM

Vaas is one of the three best left arm pace bowlers of all time. he was treated very shabbily by the SLC and some seniors.

aja Wednesday, 24 October 2012 04:00 AM

Well done atleast NZ cricket can undetstand our former stars than our own crick board. Good going u guys are the best SL produced happy for u guys.

nasrullah-beruwala Wednesday, 24 October 2012 06:29 AM

that's mean if u watch other land from your land, other land is GREEN!!!

Cricket Fan Wednesday, 24 October 2012 05:46 AM

How come muralies test wickets column reduced to 795! It is 800 !!!

jan Wednesday, 24 October 2012 05:40 AM

Hope Malinga will be playing for us than the opposition.

kuriosity Wednesday, 24 October 2012 05:22 AM

this is always the case, outsiders value what we have and make use of them. and then a few years later we wonder what happened?

Chams Wednesday, 24 October 2012 05:19 AM

I think Vaas is one guy who was completely hard done by, whatever the reasons are. He has been an asset to the country and narrow minded individuals seem to have driven him away from SL not only physically but also mentally. Still the entire world knows what he is capable of and they seem to have no hesitation in making use of him. After all we don't have the luck for the services of Vaas while rest of the world enjoys it.

Big Ears Wednesday, 24 October 2012 05:06 AM

They can also get some good fielding advise.

karu Wednesday, 24 October 2012 04:23 AM

We still have good bowling attacks such as Herath, Mendis and Malinga after Murali.......but unfortunately still missing to fulfill succesful combination like Murali and Vass

MM Wednesday, 24 October 2012 04:20 AM

MONEY TALKS! However, I agree with "aja". Sri Lanka never appreciate our own talent in developing SRI LANKA CRICKET, if not for political influence!

Homagama Wednesday, 24 October 2012 04:13 AM

Consider this as knowledge transfer I do value the service by the former cricketers

true sri lankan Wednesday, 24 October 2012 04:02 AM

Sad to see at opposition. any how Good luck Murali & Vaas

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New Zealand chasing Murali's help

Comments - 23

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