New Zealanders might be gripped with rugby fever as winter descends, but an early decision by the New Zealand board in its search for new selectors has created an unseasonal stir on radio. The speed with which NZC rejected Martin Crowe's application for a position on the four-man selection panel is the hot topic. There are two spots up for grabs after Ross Dykes and Brian McKecknie resigned.

    Crowe's motivation for applying was simple; he wanted "to improve the decision making on selection leading into the 2007 World Cup". Similarly, he states one of his key credentials as "knowing how to plan for World Cups": New Zealand's stunning run at home in the 1992 tournament under Crowe's captaincy springs to mind. Crowe also says he knows New Zealand's captain Stephen Fleming well, although that is more relevant to the position of coach than that of selector.

     Two factors count against Crowe becoming a national selector. The first is logical: his roles at Sky, as cricket producer and commentator, create a potential conflict of interest. The second is more petty: he does not get on with John Bracewell, the convenor of selectors and coach. For that matter Crowe reputedly does not see eye-to-eye with Glenn Turner, another panel candidate, either.

     But should an existing personality clash rule out an applicant with claims as sound as Crowe's? The retired Test batsman Mark Richardson thought not. He told the Herald on Sunday newspaper that "Nowhere in the job description for a national selector do I see the need for a 'must get on with John Bracewell' clause". He added: "I'd hope that the process for selecting a player is strong enough to overcome clashes of personality within the panel. But it obviously isn't".