NZ cricket legend Ian Smith believes Kane Williamson was pushed from his position as Blackcaps test captain.
The master batter has been replaced by veteran fast bowler Tim Southee as skipper for the longest form of the game, as the national side head to Pakistan for a two-test series, beginning Boxing Day.
Under Williamson's leadership, New Zealand won the inaugural World Test Championship last year, but have fared poorly in their title defence, languishing near the bottom of the competition ladder, after home defeats to Bangladesh and South Africa last summer.
During his Fox Sport commentary stint for the Australia-South Africa series across the Tasman, Smith insists Williamson has not stepped aside on his own volition.
"It wasn't that long ago he said he wanted to stay on and be heavily involved in all three forms of the game," Smith told fellow commentators during the lunch break at Brisbane.
"I haven't got my head around this and I haven't got to the bottom of it, because I don't think he would have done it willingly. That's my punt here.
"Let's not forget New Zealand cricket... are world test champions and are now second last on the test championship ladder, so you've got to do something pretty desperate to fix that downward trend.
"I think they said, 'We can't continue to play in a mundane, slow fashion... we have to up the ante and be more positive, and we might be better without you, Kane, leading'."
Since taking over the leadership from Brendon McCullum in 2016, Williamson has guided New Zealand to 22 victories in 40 tests - a better winning percentage (55) than any previous skipper - maintaining a scoring average of 57.43 during that tenure.
"It's literally just around trying to manage my energy as best as possible - not just me, but what's in the best interest of the team," Williamson said, as he handed the baton to Southee.
"It's different, it's change, it's a bit of transition and it's not an overnight thing, but I'm looking forward to walking that path."
Smith, 65, suggests Williamson's flow of runs has slowed recently, hampered by an elbow injury over the past 12 months, and surrendering the captaincy may also ease the burden on the team's best player.
"New Zealand cricket really does need Kane Williamson to be their best batsman again."
