Coach to sit out one-day series . . .
It’s the most untimely holiday since Scott Morrison’s.
Black Caps coach Gary Stead has handed over the reins to bowling coach Shane Jurgensen for the one-day series against India starting in Hamilton today.
The ‘‘pre-planned’’ break for the national men’s coach comes after eight consecutive defeats – Australia swept the test series either side of Christmas and India cleaned up the Twenty20 series 5-0.
Jurgensen said that run of results wasn’t going to stop the change of mentor for the threegame series, despite the flak Stead may receive along the lines of the Australian PM when he holidayed in Hawaii while his country was gripped by bushfires in December.
‘‘No, this has always been preplanned,’’ Jurgensen said.
‘‘So I’ve been planning for it for a while to look after this series.
‘‘It’s been happening throughout the summer, I’ve had breaks, other coaches have had a break to freshen up and get ready for the other challenges ahead after this series.’’
The problems though are of timing and perception – the team will now miss their head coach and their captain for at least two games, after Kane Williamson’s shoulder injury ruled him out of Wednesday’s game and Saturday’s in Auckland.
Jurgensen also had to defend senior bowler Tim Southee, who was on the losing side of both Super Over deciders in the T20 series and then took further tap in the final game of the series last Sunday.
‘‘Tim’s a great bowler,’’ Jurgensen said when asked if Southee might be rested despite the absence of the injured trio of Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry.
‘‘He’s done some great things for New Zealand – he’ll be ready for the series. He’s also a fantastic asset with the leadership in the group.’’
Jurgensen’s advice to Southee and his battered team-mates was effectively ‘‘move on’’ as they switched to the one-day game.
‘‘It’s a format we’re familiar with, we’ve performed well, we’ve got some good memories ... had some good wins against India – nothing will change.
‘‘We’ve got guys coming in who have played this format and not the T20s, so they’re going to come in with a fresh set of eyes.’’