Legends elude Black Caps for Twenty20 role
Attempts to hook some of New Zealand Cricket’s biggest names to assist with the Black Caps’ Twenty20 World Cup campaign appear to have stalled.
Asked if talks were under way with the likes of Stephen Fleming, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori or Shane Bond to add some highpowered coaching expertise in the buildup to October’s tournament in Australia, head coach Gary Stead said they were, but nothing had materialised.
‘‘We’re always talking with those guys around their opportunities and availability to be part of us, and those discussions have been ongoing, but at this stage we haven’t secured one of those names you just said,’’ Stead said.
The four are among cricket’s most respected and sought after coaches, but all juggle various commitments around the world in an increasingly packed calendar.
When Stead succeeded Mike Hesson in August 2018, NZC chief executive David White said the new coach would be ‘‘given flexibility to introduce specialist coaching support,’’ if and when he wanted to.
At the time Stead said: ‘‘When you talk about some of the franchise coaches that are New Zealanders out there, like Stephen Fleming, Dan Vettori, Shane Bond, [former Aces coach and Black Caps assistant] Mark O’Donnell, people like that, especially in the T20 game with the way it’s expanding so quickly, I’d be silly not to use the expertise of those people.’’
Earlier in 2018 when Hesson was still at the helm, Fleming said he would be interested in some kind of T20 role with the national side.
‘‘At some stage there will hopefully be an opportunity to contribute some of that IP.’’
Revered former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was his side’s assistant coach at last year’s World Cup, and in the occasional T20 series, while another cricket legend Steve Waugh played a mentoring role during the Ashes series in England.
International cricket, which requires an extensive time commitment, struggles to attract the biggest names into fulltime coaching. Higher paid roles with franchise cricket for just a few months a year often prove more appealing. McCullum also fits in commentary around his coaching jobs.
Former national skippers Fleming (Chennai Super Kings) and
McCullum (Kolkata Knight Riders) are head coaches in the Indian Premier League which starts in April, while Vettori was at the helm of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Bond is back as bowling coach of champions Mumbai Indians.
Bond, also head coach of Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, worked with the Black Caps during the England Twenty20 series in November when bowling coach Shane Jurgensen was on leave.
Given his association with the team, having been bowling coach until the 2015 World Cup, Bond looks the most likely candidate for further involvement but Stead said it was tricky nailing down one of the big names.
‘‘We’re talking with those guys at different times but they’re involved in a number of other things around the world so it’s pretty tough.’’
Fleming, Vettori and Bond are also coaching in The Hundred, England’s new competition which launches in July.
Former Black Caps wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi is currently with the side as specialist coach, alongside Stead’s batting and bowling assistants Peter Fulton and Jurgensen.
Ronchi also worked with the team at last year’s World Cup when they reached the final.