Gary Stead named NZ cricket coach

New Zealand Cricket appointed former Test batsman Gary Stead as the new Black Caps coach Wednesday, with pundits describing him as a steady pair of hands to replace predecessor Mike Hesson.
Stead, 46, was a journeyman opening bat, playing just five Tests in 1999 before being dropped. But he has excelled as a coach, guiding Canterbury to domestic titles in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Stead said he wanted to continue the improvement New Zealand had shown under Hesson. “This is a well-established and high-performing Black Caps side with an excellent captain in Kane Williamson and a real desire to win series and titles,” he said.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to be part of that. I can’t wait to get started.”