Styris has no attitude problem - NZ coach

BY AARON LAWTON

BLACK Caps veteran Scott Styris won't need a personality overhaul. The allrounder was devastated by media speculation last week that suggested the reason he wasn't in the side against Bangladesh was because his team-mates had an issue with his atttitude.

"One article in particular took me by surprise and I was really disappointed to read it," Styris told Sunday News.

"But there's not much I can do and I've tried to put all of this to the back of my mind and concentrate on things within my control. I've since had a lot of phone calls and texts of support from the boys in the team.

"I hope that I'm a valued member of that side and I think I am judging by the fact a lot of the guys this week have been telling me that's the case."

Styris was heartened by a call from new Black Caps coach and national selector Mark Greatbatch.

"It was great to speak to him because it raised one question – was I left out of the side because of some attitude issue?" Styris said.

Greatbatch, yesterday, speaking in his capacity as a selector, said there was no issue with Styris' attitude and was at pains to point out why he had been left out of the side.

"The reason Scott missed out was that we wanted to look at some others for this series," Greatbatch said.

"He had an opportunity in Dubai as a batter and he didn't quite take his opportunities to the full there.

"I had a really good discussion with Scott and he's put his hand up in domestic cricket.

"We are encouraged by that and all of this was communicated to Scott.

"It was disappointing to read the speculation that he missed out because of his attitude and there's no truth to that whatsoever.

"There was no discussion during our selection meetings for this series about his behaviour."

Others who have rallied around Styris include New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan and Players' Association boss Heath Mills.

Vaughan said: "Last weekend was the first I'd ever heard talk of an attitude problem with Scott.

"At NZC, we keep in close touch with the selectors to assess whether there are any attitude problems with players because, on occasions in the past, there have been issues around certain players with their commitment and attitude.

"But certainly, we have no issues with Scott at all."

Mills expressed his "disappointment" with the speculation and said Styris was "working harder than ever" in a bid to win back his place in the national side.

Styris is still coming to terms with missing out on the Black Caps after a stellar summer for Auckland and concedes he doesn't know if he's played his last international or not.

"It was disappointing to miss out because playing for the Black Caps is the reason I still play the game," Styris said.

"I still want to play for New Zealand.

"I didn't really see this coming but rather than get all grumpy and sour, I just need to go out there, score runs and keep taking wickets.

"I can only take at face value what the selectors told me.

"Mark Greatbatch has always been straight with me in the past and I have no reason to think that he's not being the same now."

- © Fairfax NZ News