Gary Stead To Remain New Zealand Head Coach Until WTC 2023-25 

image-ljxscq40Gary Stead [Source: Twitter]

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has decided to extend the coaching contract of current national men's head coach Gary Stead. Stead's current contract ended after the conclusion of the upcoming Cricket World Cup 2023 but has now been extended until mid-2025.

The term will see the 51-year-old coach the Black Caps in major tournaments like T20 World Cup 2024, ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle 2023-25. Both parties have been in talks for a while now, with the board deliberating on the idea of having a split coach for New Zealand's white-and-red ball sides. 

In a statement, NZC GM high-performance Bryan Stronach expressed delight over their continuing their association with Stead, who has been working with the side since 2018.


Here's what Stronach said

"There was strong feedback around Gary continuing, but there was also feedback around making sure we keep having fresh voices and ideas coming into the environment. I suppose the split coaching is one way of doing that, but when we weighed it all up we thought we could continue the good stuff Gary has brought to the side and the organisation, but also get the fresh ideas and so forth through other means, than just the split coaching."

Speaking about the extension, Stead talked about being excited about future challenges that lie ahead for the Kiwis.

"I'm very humbled and privileged to do the role I do and for me it's a real privilege to want to be involved with a great set of human beings representing New Zealand."

Under Stead, New Zealand reached the finals of the 2019 World Cup and 2021 World T20 and lifted the inaugural WTC Final 2021.