By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gary Stead will step down as coach of the Black Caps’ white-ball teams, but will spend the next few weeks to decide if he will stay to lead the test team.
Stead, 53, played five Tests for the Black Caps in 1999 before moving into coaching, taking charge of his country’s women’s team in 2008, and then the men’s team in 2018.
In the one-day international format, he led New Zealand to the final of the World Cup in 2019 where England famously won after a super over at Lord’s
Christchurch-born Stead also steered the Kiwis to the finals of the T20 World Cup in 2021 and this year’s Champions Trophy, as well as winning the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021.
The side have just completed a home limited-overs series against Pakistan, with New Zealand winning both the ODI and T20 legs.
“I’m looking forward to getting away from touring life for a while and having a think about my future,” Stead said in a statement released by New Zealand Cricket.
“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 will step away from the ODI and T20 sides when his contract expires in June, with former South Africa coach Rob Walter linked to the job.
The 49-year-old and his family live in New Zealand.
New Zealand Cricket’s chief high-performance officer Bryan Stronach said the search for a new coach would begin next week, with Stead being given time to decide if he wants to reapply for the Test role.
“Gary’s results have been very impressive over a long period and we’re very comfortable giving him some time to collect his thoughts and mull things over,” said Stronach.
“At the moment we haven’t any strong preference for either a split-coaching role or a sole appointment who covers all three formats.”
The Black Caps’ next scheduled assignment is a tour of Zimbabwe starting in July.