Gary Stead to Continue as New Zealand Head Coach in All Formats until 2025

The New Zealand cricket board announced on Tuesday that Gary Stead would retain his position as the head coach for all formats of the game until the conclusion of the World Test Championship cycle in 2025.

Initially, New Zealand Cricket had considered the possibility of appointing separate coaches for Test and limited-overs cricket. However, after careful deliberation, it was decided that Stead would be able to handle the responsibilities effectively.

Bryan Stronach, NZC’s high-performance chief, explained the decision, stating, “With most of our leading Black Caps playing across all three formats, and the culture of the group so strong and positive, we saw clear benefits in supporting the status quo.”

Although Stead had suggested the idea of a separate limited-overs head coach earlier in March, he acknowledged that such a division might not be suitable for New Zealand. He highlighted the smaller pool of players and the country’s unique circumstances, making the split coaching model less relevant.

Instead, Stead will continue to receive support from short-term consultant coaches during specific tours. These coaches will bring specialized skills and knowledge of the formats and conditions in overseas locations. Recent appointments have included Stephen Fleming, Shane Bond, Saqlain Mushtaq, and Thilan Samaraweera.

Stead will also have the flexibility to opt out of certain tour commitments, allowing other staff members to step in. Recognizing the challenges of prolonged periods away from home, Stead emphasized the need for sustainable schedules for both players and staff.

He said, “I’m certainly open to new coaches coming in. I don’t have to be the head guy, the front guy all the time.”

Since his appointment in 2018, Stead has achieved notable success, guiding New Zealand to the final of the 2019 Cricket World Cup and securing victory in the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021.

Currently, Stead’s immediate focus is on preparing the Black Caps for the upcoming one-day World Cup in India, scheduled for October-November. Following that, the team will be gearing up for the T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies next year.