Back on familiar ground
Test a true homecoming for New Zealand coach
Just metres from where he hit boundaries in Christchurch club cricket, Gary Stead will coach the Black Caps for the first time in his home city.
Stead has been in the job for only four months, but will experience an early highlight when he peers across Hagley Oval during the winner-takesall second test against Sri Lanka, starting today.
A proud Canterbury man, who regularly captained his province during a successful period in the 1990s and early 2000s and was a batting mainstay for the red-and-blacks, Stead might take a minute to reflect on his journey to the top job in New Zealand Cricket.
Stead was a vital cog in a dominant Riccarton club side in his playing days in Christchurch, who were based at South Hagley Park, just a cricket ball’s throw from the grass bank at the redeveloped Hagley Oval.
‘‘It’s special to come back here. I must admit I drove in [on Monday] and I thought, ‘this is great to come home again and feel like home for me’. We’re only 100 metres away from where I played a lot of my cricket. It is kind of cool.’’
Not one for the limelight, Stead doesn’t want this match to be about his first time in charge of the Black Caps in his hometown, but said it was a humbling moment.
He will have a solid contingent of family, friends, and no doubt former team-mates scattered around the venue for the test with noone prouder than wife Rachel, daughter Libby and son Alex, who are both keen cricketers.
‘‘I don’t know if it’s more special than other tests, but being here at home and in those familiar surroundings is really nice.’’
Since taking over from Mike Hesson on September 1, it has been a busy time for the 46-year-old Stead.
He made a pleasing start to his first tour of duty in charge with New Zealand, upsetting Pakistan 2-1 in the test series in the United Arab Emirates – their first away test series win over Pakistan in 49 years. The Black Caps drew the ODI series 1-1 with one match washed out and were swept in the Twenty20s 3-0.
Stead’s rise to the Black Caps job came after working his way through the coaching ranks. After hanging up his Canterbury cap after 14 first-class seasons in 2006, he started out as Canterbury Magicians women’s coach in 2007.
From there, he progressed to head coach of the White Ferns women before taking on the Canterbury men. Stead guided them to three Plunket Shield titles and a one-day title in his sixyear tenure.
The Black Caps have always been Stead’s dream role, having played five tests for them in 1999 as a gritty No 5 and opener, averaging 34.75 and scoring two half-centuries.
The Black Caps are expected to stick with the same playing XI from Wellington, which means luckless seamer Matt Henry, who was the leading wicket taker in English four-day county cricket (75 at 15.48) with Kent this season, won’t get a 10th test at his Hagley home ground. Second test at Hagley Oval, starting today
Kane Williamson (c), Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Will Young.
What: New Zealand (from):
Sri Lanka (from):
Dinesh Chandimal (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan, Roshen Silva, Lahiru Thirimanne.
New Zealand $1.40, Sri Lanka $6.00, Draw $4.50.
TAB odds: