New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has received a three-year contract extension. This allows him to train the Black Caps through the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The Board of New Zealand Cricket on Wednesday approved the extension.
The extension also takes in the T20 World Cups in India next year and in Australia in 2022.
The Board originally appointed Stead on a two-year deal. He took over from Mike Hesson, who stepped down after six years in 2018.
He guided New Zealand to the 2019 World Cup final. The match was tied, and a Super Over before England was declared champion on a boundary count.
Stead on Wednesday said that he is “appreciative of the backing I have enjoyed from the players, the support staff and NZ Cricket and I hope I can repay that confidence.”
“I think this group of players is growing as a team. There is an exciting schedule ahead of us and I know everyone is feeling very optimistic about our chances in all three formats.”
The Black Caps haven’t played a match in almost six months because of the on-going pandemic. Its future schedule is uncertain as of now.
NZ Cricket is close to confirming a schedule. It would see the Black Caps play 37 days of international cricket at home next summer. That would include two tests and three T20s against the West Indies and Pakistan. It will also include five T20s against Australia and three T20s and three ODIs again Bangladesh.