For openness, the Kiwis take some beating

Comparisons were even drawn with the All Blacks rugby team, who supposedly follow the same tactics. The team management was immediately ‘‘spoken to’’ by New Zealand Cricket CEO Martin Snedden. ‘‘I have received an explanation for the comments and have reminded those concerned of the need to be open and honest with the media,’’ Snedden had told this reporter days after the outrage.

If there was a silver lining to the anger it was this: it was merely a reflection of the high standards the Kiwi media expected from NZC and its open-book policy of administration.

‘‘It is important that our stakeholders, the cricket supporters of New Zealand, are accurately informed about all aspects of cricket, whether the Black Caps or the administration of cricket,’’ Snedden said then. What about information that cannot be disclosed? ‘‘We try to inform the media the reasons why and, if possible, an indication of when we can do so. Our policy is to release details fully at the earliest appropriate time.’’

A similar policy of openness is found across the cricketing world; team selection is usually followed by a full briefing from the chairman of selectors giving reasons why players have been picked/dropped. It’s simple and prevents speculation and conspiracy theories. India’s cricketing establishment delights in the multiplicity of talking heads, each one to be believed at your own risk. On the recent Pakistan tour, vice-captain Rahul Dravid announced that Ashish Nehra was injured; he was immediately snubbed by skipper Ganguly, who announced that the Delhi paceman would play.

Go back farther for more of the same:

• The build-up to the 2001 tour of South Africa was marred by confusion surrounding Zaheer and Nehra’s fitness. The BCCI maintained silence

• Similar silence surrounding Harbhajan’s finger problem that got exposed in Australia. His replacement Murali Kartik was rushed to Australia as an undercover agent, with instructions to his family not to revealing the information

• When the BCCI replaced Azhar with Sachin as team captain, they failed to inform the new incumbent. He was on a week’s vacation in Lonavala and didn’t confirm acceptance of the job till he was himself assured!