Black Caps worry over Pakistan tour

New Zealand's cricketers remain concerned over the security situation in Pakistan ahead of next month's Champions Trophy, players' association chief Heath Mills said.

An International Cricket Council taskforce and Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson spoke to the New Zealand squad in Christchurch on Thursday to update them on the state of affairs in the host country.

However, Mills told The Press newspaper that nothing the taskforce or Lawson said had allayed the players' fears, adding that the situation in Pakistan was changing daily and had worsened even after the delegation had visited New Zealand.

He conceded the security plans were impressive on paper and some of the best he had seen.

"But the fact remains they are untested and we have doubts whether Pakistan could deliver on those plans," he said.

"Getting eight teams around to training and games in two centres is a massive logistical exercise and with the current situation there I don't know if the military could handle it."

Mills said Lawson talked about his year living in Pakistan and generally painted a positive picture.

"Our guys listened patiently and asked some very pertinent questions I thought, but I didn't get the impression that any of them were convinced about the safety of the situation," he said.

New Zealand starts search for a coach

New Zealand started the search for a new national cricket coach on Thursday, saying it was offering an opportunity of a lifetime to a world class candidate with a proven track record.

The search follows the decision of John Bracewell to return to coaching English country side Gloucestershire next season.

"New Zealand Cricket seeks an experienced, passionate, outstanding leader to build on the team's solid foundation and take the Blackcaps to the next level of achievement," NZ Cricket said in the advertisement for job on its website.

Applications close on August 4.

NZ Cricket said it wants someone who has coached at an elite level in the past 12 months; has a proven track record as a world class coach, outstanding leadership, communication and people management skills; and a willingness to be judged on results.

"NZ Cricket's stated strategic goal is for the Blackcaps to be sustainably number one or two in the world in both forms of the game and to regularly win world tournaments and series," it said.

New Zealand, ranked third in the world in the one day game and seventh in test matches, recently toured England where it lost the test series 2-0, but took the one-day series 3-1.

Former India coach John Wright has been mentioned in media reports as a favourite to replace Bracewell.

NZ chief confirms Zimbabwe tour

New Zealand's will tour Zimbabwe next year unless they are expressly instructed not to do so, New Zealand Cricket's (NZC) chief executive has said.

The New Zealand government, which is a vocal critic of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's regime, has said they were opposed to the tour of the southern African state next year but would not intervene.

All teams are bound by the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Future Tours Programme, which has the power to fine a country's cricketing body a minimum of US$2 million if they do not fulfil their touring obligations.

Only government intervention, concerns for security and safety or an ICC directive can excuse the team's obligations.

"No ICC team has unilaterally pulled out because they haven't agreed with the politics of the host nation; that's always been a decision for the government of the day," NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said.

"It's a political question and requires a political solution; it's not a decision NZC should have to make.

"We are a group of cricket administrators. We might have strong feelings about the situation in Zimbabwe but judging international politics is not what we're about. There are other, far more qualified people to do that job, politicians for example."

The British government has led calls for Zimbabwe to be suspended from international cricket following the unopposed re-election of Mugabe. Britain accused Mugabe of using violence and intimidation to silence his political opponents.

Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the main opposition, withdrew from the election following attacks on his supporters.

The England and Wales Cricket Board cancelled Zimbabwe's 2009 tour of England and severed all cricketing ties with the country in June on instruction from the British government.

Zimbabwe said this week it would skip next year's Twenty20 World Cup in Britain, because the players were unlikely to be granted visas.

Vaughan admitted there was still at least a year to go until the Black Caps were scheduled to tour Zimbabwe and NZC would wait and see if the situation changed.

"The tour to Zimbabwe is a year away," he said. "There'll be another ICC conference before then; undoubtedly, a lot will change in Zimbabwe in the next year, and by that time the ICC sub-committee appointed to investigate ZC will have reported back, and we'll have a clearer idea of the situation.

"You never know, we might not have to make a decision. Time is on our side at the moment."

Black Caps Romp To Record Win

New Zealand wound down from their highly-charged NatWest Series against England with a record-breaking display against Ireland.

Three days after completing a 3-1 success over the English, Daniel Vettori's men proved far too strong for a makeshift Irish outfit in the opening game of a Triangular tournament which also involves Scotland.

Their 290-run success at Mannofield was the biggest margin of victory in the history of one-day international cricket, surpassing India's 257-run romp against Bermuda at last year's World Cup.

If Kyle McCallan thought the wicket would offer early assistance to his bowlers, he soon discovered otherwise as the Black Caps rattled-up 402 for two - their highest one-day international total.

That tally included an opening stand of 274 runs between Brendon McCullum and James Marshall - the fifth-highest for any wicket in all one-day international cricket.

McCullum led the way with a blistering knock of 166 from just 141 deliveries for what was his first ODI century.

None of the Irish bowlers were spared from the onslaught as the Black Caps opener stroked 11 fours and bludgeoned 10 sixes.

Marshall, a peripheral figure against England, made the most of his opportunity by also reaching three figures.

Having taken 120 balls to post his hundred, Marshall stepped up several gears to add a further 61 runs from only 21 more deliveries.

Ireland took until the 43rd over to enjoy their first success when McCullum, attempting another clearance, was safely held on the cover boundary by Ryan Haire off the bowling of Phil Eaglestone.

McCullum's departure brought little respite as Ross Taylor set about an increasingly ragged Irish attack with a venomous onslaught which saw him race to an unbeaten 59 from only 24 balls, with one of his four sixes comfortably clearing the pavilion on its way out of the ground.

There was one further consolation for Ireland when Marshall skied a catch to wicketkeeper Gary Wilson off Reinhardt Strydom in the final over.

However, the suffering was to continue for the men from the Emerald Isle as an abject batting display saw them routed for just 112.

Openers Strydom and Wilson looked in little difficulty in moving to 27 without loss off four overs.

However, when Strydom was bowled by Tim Southee in the next over, the rot quickly set in with wickets falling at regular intervals.

Southee and Michael Mason claimed three wickets apiece while only some lusty hitting from tail-ender Peter Connell, who top-scored with 22 not out, ensured Ireland hoisted their tally above the 100 mark.