He cited two players in particular, saying fast bowler Chris Cairns suffered `uncontrollable rage' and wicket keeper Adam Parore was `abusive to kids.'

In an interview with Television New Zealand, he slammed his successor, Australian Steve Rixon. Turner quoted the first speech he said Rixon gave the New Zealand team which included a line: ``We all like a drink and a root while on tour.''

This had come after Turner's reign of trying to stop wild behaviour by players, including allegations of marijuana use in South Africa. He said Rixon ``didn't have the qualifications, never did'' to coach New Zealand.

Turner lost his position two years ago but had been under an agreement to remain silent. This will end tomorrow with his book Lifting The Covers.

He said the team was dominated by a few egos. ``They wanted to run the ship...and when they weren't able to run the ship they turned on it.''

The crisis came to a head in India in 1996 with a clash between Cairns and Turner.

``Chris didn't have problems with me, he had problems with any guidelines or rules,'' Turner said. He said once at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai Cairns and several others had too much to drink. Next day Turner put those who had drunk too much on to extra practice and Cairns had walked out. He went back to the hotel and the team manager, Glenn Alabaster, went to get him.

``He threw an absolute wobbly, Glenn felt threatened... The degree of the anger that comes out, it's like an explosion''

Turner said Cairns' anger had never been physical but he felt it could result in that.

``He never hit anybody, but you just felt it was the next step, it was uncontrollable rage.''

He said he was sorry for Cairns.

``Anyone who has that sort of anger, it must be of concern to them.''

Turner said Parore was the kind of person who took everything to the brink.``He was very difficult, very abusive to kids when they want autographs and just a poor role model, I'm afraid.''

Turner said the team had gone backwards under Rixon.

TVNZ said New Zealand cricket and the players named have received legal advice to make no comment about Turner's claims or his book.