The Wright Impact

The Black Caps are a team to watch at this month’s Cricket World Cup. Despite back-to-back ODI series defeats, players Scott Styris and Brendon McCullum agree the team is in the process of a makeover with new coach, John Wright, at the helm. “We know this tournament is going to be determined by who gets most runs,” McCullum says. “We are a little nervous, but we are also pretty excited … to do something special.” The change in leadership appears to have benefitted the team in their recent series against Pakistan, where they experienced a closer loss of 2-3. “[Wright] is always relaxed and focused,” Styris says. “I think the batsmen have benefited a lot from him.” Since Wright took charge, the Black Caps have experienced their share of success including two centuries by Jesse Ryder and Martin Guptill.