New Zealand cricket coach John Bracewell has denied any rift with captain Stephen Fleming over the decision not to select all-rounder Chris Cairns for the just completed one-day series against South Africa.
The New Zealand team returned home on Wednesday from South Africa after losing the one day series 0-4.
A report in the Dominion Post newspaper on Tuesday said a rift had developed between Bracewell and Fleming over the non-selection of Cairns, with the two barely speaking at the start of the tour.
Cairns, who in his prime was one of the world's leading all-rounders, had been left out after indifferent form and a lack of regular play in recent months. The 35-year-old retired from Test cricket last year but said he hoped to keep playing one-day internationals until after the 2007 World Cup.
He was told to go back to club and first class domestic cricket and improve his fitness so he could be considered for selection later in the southern summer season.
Bracewell said Cairns' better fitness and recent flurry of runs for provincial team Canterbury - including an 80-ball century - had vindicated the decision to leave him out for South Africa.
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