New Zealand cricket icon Ian Smith believes the next Blackcaps selectors need to be more proactive to prevent the side from sliding further down the world Test rankings.
On a high after their 2021 World Test Championship win, the Blackcaps boasted a formidable bowling pack and internationally renowned batsmen in their top order.
However, the retirements of Ross Taylor and Colin de Grandhomme as well as Trent Boult’s absence have seen the Blackcaps slump to fifth in the rankings with just three wins in their last 11 matches.
Following selector Gavin Larsen’s decision to step down, Smith believes a new approach will be necessary to return the side to its winning days.
“I think there’s merit in that (changing the selectors’ role),” Smith told SENZ Mornings.
“I think when you’re looking for answers, you need more people looking and at the moment we are looking for answers.
“First of all, we need to have, I think, some guy with some genuine fast bowling experience in the ranks, a (legendary Kiwi bowler) Shane Bond-like person perhaps floating around, one to advise, two to scout.
“I think we also need to have in the mix there someone who is not going to just fall into line, in other words, he’s going to look at it from all sorts of different angles.”
While admitting Larsen and head coach Gary Stead have enjoyed much success in their time together, Smith believes the next selector needs to be able to ask the tough questions for the Blackcaps to improve.
“I mean the relationship I think between Gavin Larsen and Gary Stead has been a good one, a comfortable one and they’ve made some very good selections and done some good things over their time together,” he added.
“There’s no doubt about it, you can’t deny it, I mean we were the World Test champions but the problem is when you start to go down at such a rapid rate, you have to fix it and you have to ask some very tough questions of the incumbents.
“Henry Nicholls is another case of that in the batting, I’m not quite sure they are (asking those questions).
“So whoever comes in I think has to look Gary Stead or the coach in the eye and so, ‘No, no, no, no, we can’t be comfortable anymore, we have to be a bit more proactive’.”
The Blackcaps have won one of three Tests in 2023, going one-apiece with England after drawing with Pakistan over the New Year.
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