Tiffen pulls stumps on White Ferns tenure

White Ferns head coach Haidee Tiffen has decided against reapplying for the role when her contract expires at the end of July.

Tiffen, coach of the New Zealand women’s cricket team for the past four years, had already indicated she was considering her future with the team when she stepped aside for the three-match Rosebowl series against Australia last month.

In a statement issued by New Zealand Cricket yesterday, Tiffen said she wanted to look for ‘‘other opportunities to develop her skills and work with a wider range of people, possibly in different codes’’.

‘‘I believe in collaboration, hard work, respect, and team first and I have enjoyed developing a learning environment where players are supported and encouraged to take responsibility to be better every day,’’ Tiffen said in the statement.

NZC chief executive David White said Tiffen had been a valued and highlyrespected member of the White Ferns, and had contributed strongly to the growth of the women’s game.

‘‘Haidee’s made a decision and we understand and respect that,’’ White said.

Tiffen had requested a leave of absence from the Rosebowl series in the wake of a NZC World T20 campaign review, which recommended all coaching and support staff roles be advertised at the completion of their contract periods. High performance coach Bob Carter was appointed as interim coach.

Tiffen, 39, said given the nature of the recent review it was in the team’s best interests that she did not join the team in Australia.

‘‘The review was fairly confronting and challenging and I can’t really imagine being in the right frame of mind to help this side during the upcoming Rose Bowl series,’’ she said in an NZC statement at the time.

‘‘I love the players, I love the team and I love the job – but for everyone’s sake I think this is the best course of action at the moment.’’

The White Ferns failed to advance from pool play at last year’s World Twenty20 in the Caribbean amid reports about disharmony among senior players and questions over Tiffen’s leadership.

In September last year captain Suzie Bates stepped down after six years in charge of the team. On the same day she announced she was stepping down, Bates opened up on the frustrations which led to the decision. Some of those were differences with Tiffen, mainly over selection.

‘‘The selectors, not just Haidee, had a clear campaign plan on bringing youngsters through, and I was just fighting to pick our

‘‘I believe in collaboration, hard work, respect, and team first.’’ Haidee Tiffen, above