Glenn Turner

I have been thinking about Glenn Turner's announcement that he would like to be a national selector. The annoucement itself was all Glenn - few other New Zealanders broadcast their job applications via the media. Certainly none of the other applicants for the four spots on the selection panel have picked up the phone to tell all to the New Zealand Herald. This brashness and failure to work through the normal channels are the most obvious of Turner's quirks and, overall, they are things which should probably count against his appointment. But Turner is also a batsman, a perfectionist and an innovator.

Turner's best qualification probably is, as the Herald identifies, the fact that he was a batsman. Perhaps even more importantly he was an opening batsman who knew the importance of proper technique and practice. Having a batsman of his reputation in the New Zealand camp should be a great boost for the James Marshalls and Craig Cummings of the side, who would not doubt have been bemused to recieve pep talks on the subject of opening the batting against Australia from such unlikely sources as John Bracewell and Richard Hadlee. Experience is a great teacher and few have the experience at the top of the order that Glenn Turner has had.

Turner is also an innovator with an eye for detail - who can forget his use of a dustbin "umpire" in the nets to get Richard Hadlee to subtly change his approach to the bowling crease in Brisbane in 1985/86? Who can forget that Hadlee went out after that session and took 9-52?

While unconventional methods of communicating count against his appointment, Turner's perfectionism and experience still make him a good choice. If we could find another candidate with the same approach to batting, with similar experience at the top of the order and with a strong background in coaching - but without the baggage - we would be even better off. Does anyone come to mind? Someone who might have just returned from a long trip to somewhere slightly warmer than Darfield perhaps?