New Zealand Cricket seeks new head coach for all formats

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand Cricket has begun a search for a new head coach to lead the Black Caps in all three formats after ruling out the incumbent Gary Stead, who has been national coach since 2018.

Stead stepped down in April from the white ball formats and said he was considering his future as test coach. NZC hurried his decision when it said Wednesday it is now looking for one coach to cover all formats.

South African Rob Walter, former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond and current assistants Luke Ronchi and Shane Jurgensen are expected to be interviewed.

Stead coached the Black Caps in 52 test matches, winning 27 including the inaugural World Test Championship. Under his coaching, New Zealand won 56 of 97 one-day internationals and 64 of 119 Twenty20 internationals.

New Zealand was runner-up on a countback of boundaries in the 2019 World Cup and runner-up at the Champions Trophy earlier this year.

Stead took over as head coach from Mike Hesson, who had enjoyed success in company with captain Brendon McCullum.

“Brendon McCullum and Mike Hesson had left the team with strong values and a style of play and I’ve just tried to build and shape that further to grow our ability to be consistent in everything we do,” Stead said. “It’s been nice to be competitive across all three formats and I’d like to think that regardless of results, the opposition know the Black Caps are a team that won’t fold and will always show the grit and determination to compete.”

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