As New Zealand gears up for the forthcoming 2023 ODI World Cup, its coaching lineup is receiving a boost with the inclusion of former England cricketers Ian Bell and James Foster. Alongside them, Stephen Fleming and Saqlain Mushtaq will join the coaching staff for the upcoming busy schedule of away tours.
Ian Bell, a five-time Ashes victor who transitioned to coaching after concluding his playing career in 2020, is set to serve as the assistant coach for the BlackCaps during the upcoming T20I series against England, commencing later this month. Subsequently, he will take on the role of batting coach for the four-game ODI series (September 8 – 15) and retain this position for the three ODIs in Bangladesh (September 21 – 26).
In a significant move, Luke Ronchi, the current batting coach, will temporarily assume the responsibilities of head coach Gary Stead during the Bangladesh tour. This shift will aid in Stead’s preparations for the impending ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
James Foster, a former Test wicketkeeper and current assistant coach at the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, will join the New Zealand team as an assistant coach for the England ODI series. He has also been confirmed to maintain this role throughout the entirety of the World Cup campaign in October and November. Foster’s coaching experience in T20 leagues globally and his previous assistance to the New Zealand team in 2018 add to his credentials.
Furthermore, New Zealand will welcome back Stephen Fleming for his second coaching stint. Fleming, after fulfilling his responsibilities with the Southern Brave men in The Hundred, will participate in the ODI series against England (September 8-15).
The coaching staff will also benefit from the expertise of Saqlain Mushtaq, former Pakistan coach, who will serve as the spin coach for the Bangladesh Test series in December. This follows his contribution to the team during the white-ball tour of Pakistan in April.
After the culmination of the World Cup, Gary Stead will be absent during the two-Test series in Bangladesh (November 28 – December 10), with Luke Ronchi stepping in as the head coach for the Bangladesh Test tour. This arrangement allows Stead to return to New Zealand to prepare for the commencement of the home summer on December 16.
-IANS
