Duo had look at NSW job

Two of the leading contenders for the Black Caps coaching role chased one of the top jobs in Australian cricket this year.

Canterbury’s Gary Stead and Central Stags’ Heinrich Malan are understood to have applied for and missed out on the New South Wales job that went to Phil Jaques in May, a week before Mike Hesson’s sudden resignation with a year to run on his New Zealand contract.

Sources on both sides of the Tasman confirmed Stead reached the interview stage with NSW but didn’t make the final two, which was understood to be Jaques and Brad Haddin, who then withdrew. Former Black Cap Andre Adams was also confirmed last week as NSW bowling coach.

Neither Stead nor Malan have publicly confirmed they applied for the Black Caps job which closed on Sunday, but on the evidence of their Australian ambition and success in domestic cricket it would be a surprise if they hadn’t.

Stead, a former White Ferns coach who won three Plunket Shield titles in four years and spent time in the Black Caps environment, looks the favourite to succeed Hesson.

Auckland Aces coach Mark O’Donnell confirmed his application, while Scotland and former Northern Knights coach Grant Bradburn told Stuff last month he would enter the race.

Wellington Firebirds coach and former national selector Bruce Edgar is on holiday and said in a text message that he hadn’t applied because he couldn’t commit the time under the job’s current structure, while former bowling coach Shane Bond also confirmed he was a non-starter.

Stead and Malan are both understood to be on holiday, too, and neither returned calls or messages in recent days.