NZ squad unsettled after earthquake, not gloomy: John Wright

Despite being unsettled by Christchurch earthquake, NZ coach John Wright tells MiD DAY that the kiwis are focussed on their World Cup challenge

NZ squad unsettled after earthquake, not gloomy: John Wright

Despite being unsettled by Christchurch earthquake,u00a0NZ coach John Wright tells MiDu00a0DAY that the kiwis are focussed on their World Cup challenge

New Zealand cricket team's coach John Wright said yesterday that the atmosphere in his World Cup squad was unsettling rather than gloomy after an earthquake hit Christchurch, the city where the former India coach lives.

"Not gloomy. We worked very hard today. It is certainly unsettling, but we will wait for further news,' Wright told MiD DAY before departing for Nagpur where New Zealand take on Australia in their second game of the World Cup on Friday. The Kiwis thrashed Kenya in their opening match on Sunday.

"My relatives are okay as far as I know, but we probably don't know any major details as yet. We are carrying on to Nagpur. The worrying thing is that it's is a small town really by Indian standards. Probably, everyone knows someone who is affected by the earthquake,' Wright added.

According to agency reports, at least 300 people are feared killed after a 6.3 magnitude quake hit Christchurch yesterday. Wright got the crushing news at 5:45 am last morning in Chennai.

International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: "At times like this, sport can only offer its support and its deepest sympathy to those who have lost loved ones during such a tragedy.

"It's a helpless feeling but I will be discussing with the organisers of the World Cup how we can most appropriately remember those who lost their lives or have been injured and affected when the Black Caps play their next match against Australia in Nagpur on Friday. "

It is learnt that New Zealand media manager Ellery Tappin's house has been damaged.

New Zealand cricketers have faced a fair degree of adversity during tours. In 2002, there was a bomb blast outside their team hotel in Karachi and in 1992, Martin Crowe's team were devastated when a suicide bomber on motorbike rammed into a car carrying Navy commander, Clancy Fernando just outside the Taj Samudra hotel in Colombo, where Crowe's team was lodged. Understandably, some players thought about returning home and some of them did.

In 2002, Stephen Fleming told reporters on his return from Pakistan:

"I saw things people shouldn't see. It will haunt me for the rest of my life. I saw one guy with a limb missing walking around. It was pretty harrowing and the noise he was making was horrific."

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