March 23, 2007	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 3, 1428

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GROS ISLET (St Lucia), March 22: New Zealand coach John Bracewell admits his ‘selfish’ life in charge of an international team has had an impact upon his family as he gave an insight into the stresses of the job just days after Bob Woolmer's death cast a shadow over the World Cup.

Woolmer, the coach of Pakistan, died in hospital in Jamaica on Sunday after being found unconscious in his hotel room less than 24 hours after his side's shock World Cup elimination following a defeat by Ireland.

However, Bracewell said all those in charge of leading teams knew what the job entailed.

Like his friend Woolmer, who was in charge at neighbouring Warwickshire before joining South Africa, Bracewell enjoyed a successful spell coaching another English county, Gloucestershire, ahead of moving back to New Zealand in 2003.

The former New Zealand off-spinner said there was no comparison in terms of the impact of his current job on those closest to him compared to the several years he spent transforming Gloucestershire into the premier English county in one-day cricket.“The intensity is a little bit different. The travel, the away from home stuff makes the pressure of it a lot more intense.

“Gloucestershire was ... a really enjoyable part of our family lifestyle.

“This is a little bit probably more selfish. You are running off, you don't see your family for long, long periods of time, so it's a bit harder.”

But he added: “You do it by choice, no one forces you.”

And while Bracewell is not subject to the stress involved in coaching a team like rugby-centred New Zealand as Woolmer was in having to lead the national side in cricket-crazy Pakistan, he said 'worrying' was integral to the job.

“As a coach you constantly worry. That's part of the job description, the worry of the next game and how far ahead you can look.”

New Zealand have already booked their place in the second phase Super Eight stage of the World Cup after convincing wins over England (by six-wickets) and Kenya (by 148 runs).

Teams that have qualified from the same Group do not face each other in the Super Eights although the side that won their pool match carries forward two points.

And Bracewell was in no doubt about who he would like to see win Saturday's match between England and Kenya which is now a shoot-out for a second round spot.

“There's no doubt the more upsets that happen in other pools will assist us and there's no doubt we'd like to take England through because it makes everybody else's job a darn sight harder.

“Then you can work out how many games you have to win. But the bottom line is you want to win all the games because you want to keep the momentum, keep the confidence,” added Bracewell, whose side finished third in last month's triangular series in Australia.—AFP