Former NZC president, director and White Ferns player Lesley Murdoch (left) with another cricket legend, Debbie Hockley, in 2021. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
In a further email obtained by the Herald, Murdoch wrote to the NZC board last Monday, seeking a full unredacted copy of the secret Deloitte Report, which looked into the options for a T20 league.<\/p>\n
Murdoch, an NZC life member, former White Ferns captain and coach, former NZ hockey representative, Olympian, and NZC president from 2022-25, was interviewed for the report and said the interviewer told her a copy would be made available.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn September 2025 I was interviewed by Deloitte\u2019s as part of their investigation, on behalf of NZC, into various pathways for T20 cricket, including private ownership, a revamped Super Smash, and the possibility of entering a New Zealand team into Australia\u2019s Big Bash League (BBL),\u201d she said in her email, dated September 28.<\/p>\n
\u201cI, like others, am deeply concerned about the lack of transparency around the publication of the report and the reluctance to publicly release the recommendations contained in the report.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have previously raised genuine concerns about the lack of transparency by NZC in certain matters. I have attached copies of previous correspondence which were either personally compiled or which I was a signatory to.\u201d<\/p>\n
The NZ Cricket board – chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon (front) and (from left) deputy chair Kevin Malloy, Mike Devonshire, Alison Shanks, Bill Birnie, Roger Twose, and Anna Campbell. Photo montage \/ Phil Welch<\/p>\n
The Herald has also obtained that correspondence, including the email she wrote to the NZC board while she was still president last October, and another letter, signed by herself, Hadlee and two other former New Zealand players, Stephen Boock and Martin Snedden, last December.<\/p>\n
The four NZC life members wrote to the NZC board, major associations, the cricket players association and the NZ20 establishment committee to register their \u201cdismay at what appears to be the growing dysfunction within New Zealand\u2019s cricket family and the harm this risks to cricket\u2019s reputation and leadership of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urge all of those involved to stop \u2018playing the man\u2019 and instead focus solely on \u2018playing the ball\u2019 (ie, on professionally assessing the [T20] proposal and making good decisions based on the investigation outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
In her earlier email to the board as president, Murdoch reiterated the importance of clear boundaries between governance and management. \u201cWhen we step too far into operational matters, we blur those lines and undermine the people we\u2019ve trusted to lead day to day. Respect for roles and responsibilities is not optional – it\u2019s fundamental to good governance.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Herald approached Murdoch for comment on Saturday after receiving the correspondence from a source, and after publishing on Friday the letter from Sir Richard Hadlee in which he said he was \u201cembarrassed\u201d to have his personal name attached to NZ Cricket.<\/a><\/p>\n Lesley Murdoch was reluctant to comment further – she reiterated her love for the game and said she felt protective of it.<\/p>\n \u201cI just don\u2019t get why we can\u2019t see the Deloitte report when we were interviewed for it and were told we would get a copy. What are they hiding? I worry about where the game\u2019s going, who\u2019s got control of it, and I worry about grassroots.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s sad for the game.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so very sad for cricket here and for what, some transparency in decision-making.\u201d<\/p>\n NZ Cricket responds<\/p>\n NZ Cricket\u2019s board comprises chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon, deputy chair Kevin Malloy, and directors Bill Birnie, Anna Campbell, Mike Devonshire, Alison Shanks and Roger Twose.<\/p>\n The Herald sought a full interview with NZC chief executive Geoff Allott and\/or Puketapu-Lyndon on Saturday, but this was refused.<\/p>\n The Herald is seeking answers to specific questions and concerns, following revelations of the Hadlee letter on Friday.<\/p>\n The Herald also wanted to question Allott and\/or Puketapu-Lyndon about the points raised by Murdoch in the leaked correspondence from last year and last week.<\/p>\n Instead, NZC issued a generic response that largely ignored the questions and assertions, including the comment and question about what NZ Cricket was trying to hide.<\/p>\n \u201cGeoff attempted to call Lesley earlier in the week and has since been in email correspondence with her about catching up with her to discuss her private letter,\u201d said an NZC spokesman.<\/p>\n The spokesman said he had spoken to Allott and Puketapu-Lyndon on Saturday morning and there had been no developments overnight in regard to the CEO and board roles – ie, none of them planned to step down despite Hadlee\u2019s request in his own letter.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Deloitte Report remains confidential and the remainder of your questions are covered in Geoff\u2019s email from yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n The Herald approached the NZ Cricket board and executive with questions at 2pm on Friday about the Hadlee letter, and followed up with an email at 2.26pm.<\/p>\n At 2.44pm, Allott sent the Hadlee letter to NZC\u2019s major associations, along with a cover email outlining his and NZC\u2019s position. <\/p>\n At 3.31pm, NZC sent that Allott letter to the Herald, as its response to our earlier questions.<\/p>\n The NZC spokesman said yesterday that Allott had not \u201creceived any negative feedback from the network following [Friday\u2019s] correspondence and he remains confident that the network is aligned and heading in the right direction\u201d.<\/p>\n Do you know more? Please email Shayne Currie \u2013 shayne.currie@nzherald.co.nz <\/p>\n Hadlee letter<\/p>\n In his own letter to Allott and board members, Hadlee said NZC was \u201cnot an organisation that I recognise any more\u201d.<\/p>\n He said that they needed to look at themselves and \u201cconsider whether changes need to be made to lead NZC into the future\u201d.<\/p>\n Hadlee also said he was prepared to consider approaching other life members, asking for their support in taking legal action if the organisation did not release to them the Deloitte Report.<\/p>\n \u201cI write to you today to express my disappointment at the current state of NZC,\u201d Hadlee says in the letter dated September 20 and obtained by the Herald.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not an organisation that I recognise any more, and it is not an understatement to say that I am embarrassed to have my personal name attached to the organisation at present.<\/p>\n \u201cThe lack of transparency around decision-making, the loss of key staff, the poor staff morale, poor media relations, poor public profile, the financial losses, and the lack of respect shown to, and lack of information shared with, NZC members such as the District Associations and life members, is incredibly upsetting for me to observe.\u201d<\/p>\n NZ Cricket responded to the letter on Friday, with Allott defending the organisation and painting an optimistic picture of the sport\u2019s future.<\/p>\n Allott wrote that Hadlee was \u201cone of the greatest players our country has produced\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has put his name to his concerns and raised them with us directly, which we respect and take seriously. <\/p>\n \u201cEarlier this week, after I returned from my ICC meetings in Dubai, I went and sat down with Sir Richard at his home to discuss his concerns. Sir Richard is a hero of mine and someone I look up to immensely, and I wanted the opportunity to speak face to face.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was an open and honest conversation. It\u2019s been a challenging year for NZC, and I acknowledged that. There has been much change, the cricket landscape is evolving rapidly, and NZC is being challenged to adapt.<\/p>\n \u201cI took him through the progress with NZ20 and its incredible potential to transform cricket in this country from grassroots to the elite. I also explained the confidential nature of the Deloitte process, listened to his concerns, and I\u2019ve agreed to increase our communication and engagement moving forward. We don\u2019t agree on everything, and that\u2019s okay. They\u2019re genuine differences of opinion from people who care deeply about the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Hadlee reiterated to the Herald that he wanted to see the board step aside.<\/p>\n Hadlee said some people might ask whether his concerns were justified. \u201cMy answer is unequivocally yes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOver many decades, I have had a deep connection with cricket in New Zealand, both personally and through my family\u2019s involvement in the game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I outlined in my letter, the Hadlee family has had almost 90 years of involvement with New Zealand cricket, including as players, selectors, administrators and supporters of the game. It is from that perspective that I wrote to the CEO and board.<\/p>\n \u201cMy concerns are about governance, transparency, accountability and the future direction of cricket in New Zealand. Those concerns have developed over an extended period and are based on a series of events and decisions that, when viewed collectively, do not paint a positive picture of the current state of the organisation.<\/p>\n \u201cI remain disappointed by the lack of transparency surrounding significant decisions that have been made by the board.\u201d<\/p>\n A turbulent year<\/p>\n The revelations of the letters from Hadlee and Murdoch follow a turbulent year for NZ Cricket.<\/p>\n Chief executive Scott Weenink resigned in December last year and officially left the organisation in late January. That followed a widely reported political power struggle over the future shape of the domestic game.<\/p>\n Weenink was effectively chased from the role after a falling out with NZC\u2019s six major associations (Northern Districts, Auckland, Central Districts, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago) and the New Zealand Cricket Players Association, specifically over their push and support for the breakout, private franchise T20 competition.<\/p>\nNZ Cricket chief executive Geoff Allott. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
Sir Richard Hadlee has come off the long run at NZ Cricket in a letter obtained by the NZ Herald.<\/p>\n
Sir Richard Hadlee snares the wicket of Allan Border at the Basin Reserve in February 1986 – it was his 300th test wicket. Photo \/ Paul Estcourt<\/p>\n
NZ Cricket chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon (left) and former chief executive Scott Weenink. Illustration \/ Oliver Rusden; photos \/ AFP, Photosport<\/p>\n