EX-ENGLAND ALL-ROUNDER TO LINK UP WITH NEW ZEALAND

FORMER England all-rounder Luke Wright will join New Zealand’s coaching staff on a short-term basis later this summer.

Wright was part of Paul Collingwood’s T20 World Cup-winning side in 2010 and played 101 white-ball internationals for his country. The 37-year-old still holds a limited-overs contract at Sussex but has agreed to assist the Black Caps’ backroom team during their one-day trips to Ireland, Scotland and Holland. “Luke will offer in-depth knowledge of the conditions in the UK and his vast experiences in T20 cricket all around the world,” said head coach Gary Stead.

“The fourth coach is a role we’ve used in the past for away tours, with the likes of Luke Ronchi, Thilan Samaweera, Heinrich Malan, Shane Bond, and Jimmy Pamment.

“Along with the practicality of having an extra set of hands, it’s also a way of introducing different voices and skills to the group, as well as giving the fourth coaches themselves an opportunity to learn and develop.” Stead will lead the threematch Test series against England, with two warm-up matches later this month leading into the Lord’s opener on June 2, but will hand over the reigns in Ireland to assistant Shane Jurgensen. Experienced middle-order batter Henry Nicholls has emerged as a fitness doubt ahead of the squad’s departure for England this weekend.

The 30-year-old suffered a calf injury in training and is waiting for medical staff to confirm the extent of the problem.

“He’s having an MRI scan, so we’ll know more after that as to the extent of it,” said Stead. “He’s got it strapped up and the next 24 to 48 hours will tell us how serious that is.”

MARK Boucher is free to continue as South Africa’s head coach after charges of gross misconduct and racism were “formally and unreservedly withdrawn”. Cricket South Africa laid the charges against Boucher following allegations involving his former Proteas teammate Paul Adams and an investigation into the resignation of his former assistant coach Enoch Nkwe, with a hearing due on May 16. But both Adams and Nkwe opted against giving testimony, leaving CSA to conclude that “there is no basis to sustain any of the disciplinary charges”.