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Cricket: Black Caps target Kiwi greats Stephen Fleming, Shane Bond to assist at Twenty20 World Cup
By Alex Powell19 Mar, 2024 10:53 AM3 mins to read
Stephen Fleming and Shane Bond. Photo / Photosport
The Black Caps’ are aiming to significantly bolster their coaching stocks heading into this year’s Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA, by targeting two of New Zealand’s all-time greats.
The Herald understands the pair of former captain Stephen Fleming and ex-fast bowler Shane Bond are actively wanted by New Zealand Cricket to fill the role of a fourth coach as part of Gary Stead’s team.
But while New Zealand Cricket are understood to be doubtful of acquiring either of the pair’s services - given Fleming and Bond already have multiple coaching roles in Twenty20 leagues around the world - attempts will still be made to secure one of them.
Since his retirement as a player, Fleming has quickly become one of the most decorated short-form coaches in the game.
Taking over coaching roles of the Chennai Super Kings in 2009, Fleming has won five Indian Premier League titles, as well as the now-defunct Champions League T20, twice.
Outside of India, Fleming has also coached Chennai’s sister-sided Johannesburg Super Kings in the SA20, and the Texas Super Kings in American Major League Cricket.
Fleming briefly linked with the Black Caps in a consultancy role during the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, where New Zealand lost to Australia in the final.
Elsewhere, Bond is also an option for the Black Caps, and would likely assist with the bowlers - if New Zealand Cricket could secure him.
Bond, 48, was the Black Caps’ fulltime bowling coach from 2012 to early 2015, and was instrumental in the rise of New Zealand under then-captain Brendon McCullum.
His appointment - albeit temporary - would fill the void left by longtime bowling coach Shane Jurgensen, who left the Black Caps after last year’s World Cup in India.
As a coach, Bond has achieved success with Mumbai Indians in the IPL, and is currently preparing for this year’s season where he is an assistant at Rajasthan Royals.
Bond has also been a head coach with Sydney Thunder in Australia’s Big Bash League, and Paarl Royals in the SA20.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/cr...nd-the-black-caps/XEIGQUKRUVDM3DHPRYIALKQBZI/
The Black Caps are no strangers to bringing in coaches on short-term consultant roles, given the modern landscape of T20 cricket.
Last year, former England internationals Ian Bell and James Foster worked with the Black Caps before the World Cup in India.
This summer, former Black Caps Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram and Daniel Flynn were also part of the coaching set-up, for series against Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Africa and Australia.
Former Black Cap and Northern Districts bowler Graeme Aldridge has also been part of the coaching group.
Black Caps target Kiwi greats to boost T20 World Cup coaching staff
The Herald understands two NZ greats are wanted for this year’s tournament.
www.nzherald.co.nz
Best thing they could do would be to offer them the role as 20/20 coach and let Stead do the other formats, or even better, let Stead go and hire them for all formats
CRICKET
Michael Bracewell will lead an under-strength Blackcaps squad for their upcoming five-match Twenty20 international series against Pakistan.
Bracewell will captain New Zealand for the first time, after working his way back to full fitness from an achilles injury sustained in England last year.
The allrounder hasn't played a T20 for the Blackcaps since their tour of India in February 2023.
The squad is without a host of first choice players, including veteran seamer Tim Southee.
As reported by Newshub last month, Southee will skip the series to rest after a busy schedule across all formats, as he prioritises a bumper tour of Asia.
Tim Robinson. Photo credit: Getty Images
New Zealand will play one test against Afghanistan, two tests in Sri Lanka and three tests in India, in September and October.
Unavailable due to Indian Premier League commitments are Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner and Kane Williamson.
Will Young was also unavailable for selection as he takes up a winter contract with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, as was Tom Latham, who is awaiting the birth of his second child, as well as Colin Munro.
The squad features two new names in batter Tim Robinson and bowler Will O'Rourke.
Robinson earns his maiden selection courtesy of a stand-out Super Smash campaign, where he finished as the second-highest run scorer in the men's competition, despite playing only six of the Firebirds' eleven games due to injury.
O'Rourke backs up from an impressive maiden test campaign with the Blackcaps, marking his debut against South Africa with figures of 9/93 - the best by an NZ debutant.
The squad departs for Pakistan on April 12, with the first match against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on April 18.
www.newshub.co.nz
Cricket: Michael Bracewell named to captain depleted Blackcaps side for Twenty20 tour to Pakistan
Michael Bracewell will lead an under-strength Blackcaps squad for their upcoming five-match Twenty20 international series against Pakistan.
Bracewell will captain New Zealand for the first time, after working his way back to full fitness from an achilles injury sustained in England last year.
The allrounder hasn't played a T20 for the Blackcaps since their tour of India in February 2023.
The squad is without a host of first choice players, including veteran seamer Tim Southee.
As reported by Newshub last month, Southee will skip the series to rest after a busy schedule across all formats, as he prioritises a bumper tour of Asia.
Tim Robinson. Photo credit: Getty Images
New Zealand will play one test against Afghanistan, two tests in Sri Lanka and three tests in India, in September and October.
Unavailable due to Indian Premier League commitments are Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner and Kane Williamson.
Will Young was also unavailable for selection as he takes up a winter contract with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, as was Tom Latham, who is awaiting the birth of his second child, as well as Colin Munro.
The squad features two new names in batter Tim Robinson and bowler Will O'Rourke.
Robinson earns his maiden selection courtesy of a stand-out Super Smash campaign, where he finished as the second-highest run scorer in the men's competition, despite playing only six of the Firebirds' eleven games due to injury.
O'Rourke backs up from an impressive maiden test campaign with the Blackcaps, marking his debut against South Africa with figures of 9/93 - the best by an NZ debutant.
The squad departs for Pakistan on April 12, with the first match against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on April 18.
Bracewell named to captain depleted Blackcaps side for T20 tour to Pakistan
The Blackcaps will be without a host of first-choice players for the five-match series.
www.newshub.co.nz
Spence
Contributor
Some nice clean hitting too, good innings.
