Mcmillan to depart Black Caps

Craig Mcmillan didn’t canvas the views of senior Black Caps players when deciding to step down as the team’s batting coach.

There was no need. Following discussions with wife Cherie, and other family members, Mcmillan says he knows the decision to walk away from the national cricket side when his contract with NZ Cricket expires after the ICC World Cup in England and Wales in July is the right one.

After almost five years as the team’s batting coach, Mcmillan, 42, wants a break from the relentless grind of being in the Blacks Caps set-up. He wants to step away from the gruelling travel and work schedules that require him to spend so much time away from home.

Mcmillan could have sought the counsel of senior players such as Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor but had already done his due diligence on the home front and knew he had come to the right conclusion.

‘‘I spoke to the family because they are the ones that have had to make a lot of sacrifices over the last five years, just with the amount of cricket in this day and age,’’ Mcmillan, a former New Zealand international who played 55 tests and 197 ODIS, said.

‘‘It just gets more and more every year. And I sort of knew within myself that it was time for a change for me.

‘‘So I have spoken to the players in the last couple of days, just to let them know what my movements are. They have been great and very supportive, so it was a easy decision.’’

He is uncertain what he will do in the future.

Although has a role with the Kings XI Punjab under Mike Hesson lined up for the next couple of years, outside of that his work diary will be a clean sheet.