New Zealand Cricket Board has reappointed Gary Stead as their men’s head coach and confirmed to continue the role until mid-2025.
New Zealand men’s head coach
As Gary Stead’s previous contract ran until the end of this year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India. Under the new deal, the 51-year-old will also oversee the Black Caps T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in the USA and West Indies.
According to the national board, the decision to continue with Stead “received unanimous support, ” rejecting a formal split-coaching model discussed as part of the coaching consideration process.
Stead took charge in 2018, taking the team to the Cricket World Cup Final in 2019. The side claimed the inaugural World Test Championship mace in 2021 and reached the T20 World Cup 2021 final.
New Zealand’s manager with high-performance Bryan Stronach said the man at the helm of the Men’s national team remains the best position for the role.
The Support for Gary was Overwhelmingly positive from the players, the Blackcaps support staff, major Association coaches and support staff, as well as the New Zealand Cricket Players Association and NZC High-Performance Unit Staff,” said Bryan.
“Gary’s results have been very impressive and we’re confident that he still has a lot to offer the team.”
“Of course, a big part of this decision came down to whether Gary wanted to continue and he made it clear his appetite to take this team forward was as keen as ever.”
NZC David White on Stead’s Reappointment
“Several months of discussions and consultations preceded this decision and as CEO, I am very satisfied all options were well considered,” said White.
“I am very pleased for Gary. He is a quality person, he has the support and trust of the players, and he is very good at his job. I am sure all Kiwi cricket fans will join me in wishing him well over the next two years”.
New Zealand Test Captain Tim Southee echoed Stronach’s sentiments, highlighting Stead’s people skills as a key Virtue, on Top of his expertise for on-field success.
“Gary’s had great success leading us into finals in all three formats and, of course, that World Test Championship win. It’s been great the way that he’s come in and built on what was previously achieved.
“The sheer amount of time players and support staff spend away from family and loved ones makes for a challenging environment.
“With so much cricket being played these days, being able to effectively manage people and their workloads is a huge part of the job.”
As per New Zealand ODI World Cup 2023 schedule, the team will play their first match against England on October 5 in Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Check ICC World Cup 2023 Live Streaming Details for All Locations>> Here.
