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Leadership Overhaul In New Zealand; Gary Stead To Step Down As Head Coach

Rajgeeta Yadav

Gary Stead to step down as NZ head coach [Source: @SportNationNZ/X]Gary Stead to step down as NZ head coach [Source: @SportNationNZ/X]

Gary Stead, the head coach of New Zealand’s cricket team, has decided to step down from coaching the team in white-ball formats (ODIs and T20s). New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed this news in a press release on April 8.

During Stead’s time, New Zealand had a very successful run in white-ball cricket. The team made it to the finals of three big tournaments – the 2019 World Cup, the 2021 T20 World Cup, and the recent Champions Trophy held in Pakistan and the UAE.

Gary Stead to step down as New Zealand head coach

Now, Stead wants to take a break and think about whether he wants to continue coaching the red-ball (Test) team. He said that while he still has a few years of coaching left in him, he doesn’t want to handle all formats anymore. Interestingly, this update comes at a time when Rob Walter, who recently stepped down as South Africa’s white-ball coach, is being linked to the New Zealand team.

"I’m looking forward to getting away from touring life for a while and having a think about my future,” said Stead in an NZC release. “My focus has been on finishing the season strongly with a lesser experienced team. The past six to seven months has been particularly busy with relatively non-stop cricket action since September.

"I now want to evaluate my options but still feel I have coaching left in me, albeit not as Head Coach across all formats. The next month will give me the opportunity to discuss the situation more with my wife, family and others. “I’ll be in a better position to know whether I want to reapply for the Test coaching position after this time of reflection," Stead added.

Stead became New Zealand’s head coach in 2018 after Mike Hesson left the job. Most recently, he led the team to the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and also guided a less experienced squad to a solid white-ball series win over Pakistan at home. 

Under his leadership, New Zealand also won the first-ever World Test Championship (WTC) in 2021. He was also the coach when New Zealand beat India 3-0 in their own country – something that hadn’t happened in 12 years.

Looking ahead, once the senior players return from the IPL 2025, New Zealand will head to Zimbabwe. There, they will take part in a T20 tri-series that includes South Africa, starting July 14. That series will be followed by a two-match Test series against Zimbabwe.