Sports Call - Imagine the angst if All Blacks coach Steve Hansen had stood down a year out from the World Cup.
The response to Mike Hesson's resignation from the Black Caps yesterday with the Cricket World Cup just a year out has been muted.
After six years in the role Hesson has called it quits despite still having another year to run on his contract.
But Hesson has decided the enthusiasm is starting to wane and he's had enough of the non-stop travelling, which sees him spend the bulk of the year away from home.
Hesson has been hailed for his management abilities.
After six years at the helm Mike Hesson is stepping down as Black Caps coach. Photo: Photosport
His tenure didn't start so well. His axing of Ross Taylor as captain was badly handled forcing New Zealand Cricket to issue a public apology.
The decision to replace Taylor with Brendon McCullum was widely accepted as the right move but there was a backlash over the way Hesson went about replacing him.
It was something which hung over Hesson's tenure, and the relationship between Taylor and Hesson and Taylor and McCullum was difficult for a long time after that.
The fact that Taylor kept on playing and excelling is testament to his character.
Ross Taylor celebrates his 19th ODI century. Photo: Photosport
Apart from the captaincy saga, Hesson must be seen as New Zealand's most successful coach.
The numbers show for the 53 tests he was at the helm, the Black Caps won 21, drew 13 and lost 19.
During his tenure New Zealand won its first tests series in the Caribbean, they reached the World Cup final for the first time and enjoyed their first-ever series win in any format in South Africa - a one day series victory in 2013.
He steered New Zealand to a record five Test wins in 2014-15 and oversaw a record 10 consecutive wins in all formats, twice.
But Hesson always steered away from talking about winning and losing.
He concentrated on creating the right environment for his player and the talk was often of letting the players 'express' themselves which may well sound a bit woolly but was essentially about making sure the players could enjoy themselves despite the intensity of international play.
Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson has talked of Hesson's work ethic and people management skills.
Getting players thinking a similar way could well be akin to herding cats "but the focus he brought in was not about the winning and losing, that's the byproduct of getting things right behind the scenes and that's where he put a lot of his time and effort," Williamson said.
Internationally the New Zealand side has been held up as an example of how cricket should be played, particularly in the wake of the problems the Australian side has found itself in in recent times. Much of the credit for that needs to go to Hesson.
Replacing him will difficult but not insurmountable.
Given international appointments haven't gone so well for the Black Caps previously - think Englishman Andy Moles and Australian John Buchannan, a domestic candidate would seem a more likely option.
Hesson's assistant, former international Craig McMillan, might be eyeing the role but may not not be what New Zealand Cricket is looking for in the head coaching job.
One who might fit the bill is current Canterbury and former White Ferns coach Gary Stead.
Stead who played five tests for New Zealand, has been on the coaching scene for some time now and is well known to the current crop of players.
Gary Stead. Photo: Photosport
He took over at Canterbury in 2012 and has taken them to three Plunket Shield titles in the past four years.
Another name to throw in the mix is Central Districts coach Heinrich Malan, 37, who has previously talked of his interest in the top job.
Malan is from South Africa but has coached CD for the past five years. He was assistant coach of New Zealand A on their tour of India last year.
- RNZ
