A New and Unique Approach by the BlackCaps

A New and Unique Approach by the BlackCaps: Former England internationals Ian Bell and James Foster have been enlisted to the BLACKCAPS coaching ranks, while Saqlain Mushtaq and Stephen Fleming will also feature in the coming four months of continual touring.

Bell, a five-time Ashes winner who has been coaching since finishing his playing career in 2020, will join the BLACKCAPS as assistant coach for the upcoming T20I series against England starting later this month.

He will then step into Luke Ronchi’s position as batting coach for the four-game ODI series (Sept 8 – 15) and continue in the role for the three ODIs in Bangladesh (Sept 21 – 26), at which point, Ronchi will return and relieve head Coach Gary Stead who will have a short break ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup in India.

Former Test keeper, Foster, will join the BLACKCAPS as assistant coach for the England ODI series and has also been confirmed in the role for the entire World Cup campaign in October and November.

Foster is currently an assistant coach at the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, has coached in T20 leagues all around the world and previously assisted the BLACKCAPS in the UAE in 2018.

Fleming’s second coaching stint assisting the BLACKCAPS will see him join for the ODI series against England after he has finished his duties with the Southern Brave men in The Hundred.

Former Pakistan coach, Mushtaq, will fill the role of spin coach for the Bangladesh Test series in December, following his stint with the team on the white-ball tour of Pakistan in April.

Gary Stead will miss the two Test series in Bangladesh and will instead return home to New Zealand to prepare for the start of the BLACKCAPS home summer on December 16.

Luke Ronchi will be the head coach on the Bangladesh Test tour which will likely be the first assignment for the team’s new bowling coach with Shane Jurgensen moving to the Cricket Wellington men’s job after the World Cup.

BLACKCAPS manager Simon Insley said the coaching additions were a targeted effort to balance the workload of the permanent staff, while also taking the opportunity to introduce fresh voices and ideas to the group.

“The well-being of our players and staff is of vital importance with the sheer amount of cricket being played these days,” he said.

“Following the T20 team’s departure to the UAE (Aug 12), the team will be on the road right through until December 16 when the Test team returns, ahead of a busy home summer.

“That period of time playing, working and simply being away from home is not sustainable and we’ve worked really hard this winter to ensure everyone from players to staff will receive adequate rest.”

Insley said the fact they’re able to use the coaching breaks to bring in the expertise of Bell, Foster, Fleming and Mushtaq is a real bonus.

“We’re delighted with the caliber of coaches we’ve been able to confirm to assist the BLACKCAPS on the various tours.

“New voices don’t just freshen things up for the players but they also bring new ideas and energy to the whole group which is especially important on away tours.

“Ian Bell has had a broad range of experiences as batting coach since retiring, working with Derbyshire, Hobart Hurricanes, England U19 and Lions as well as his current role with the Birmingham Phoenix.

“James Foster has worked with a number of our BLACKCAPS through his extensive coaching history which has featured stints as Head Coach in the ILT20, CPL the PSL along with his current role in with KKR in the IPL.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the new guys into our group and getting stuck into a busy and important period of cricket for the team.”

BLACKCAPS away tour coaching set-up 2023

UAE T20Is (Aug 12-21) – Gary Stead, Luke Ronchi, Shane Jurgensen,

England T20Is (Aug 30 – 5 Sept) – Gary Stead, Luke Ronchi, Shane Jurgensen, Ian Bell

England ODIs (Sept 8-15) – Gary Stead, Shane Jurgensen, Ian Bell, James Foster/Stephen Fleming

Bangladesh ODIs (Sept 21-26) – Luke Ronchi, Shane Jurgensen, Ian Bell

Cricket World Cup (Oct/Nov) – Gary Stead, Luke Ronchi, Shane Jurgensen, James Foster

Bangladesh Tests (Nov 28 – 10 Dec) – Luke Ronchi, Saqlain Mushtaq, bowling coach TBC