D'Arcy Waldegrave: I'm behind Gary Stead, 100%

As long as you want to, Gary.   

He’s not gone yet, but it would appear that the end is nigh for Black Caps coach Gary Stead.  

His contract is due to expire shortly, which will possibly signal the end of a very successful tenure.  

No, the pinnacle titles haven’t rolled in unabated, but the consistency of results at the very top, across all formats, are impressive.   

New Zealand’s men’s cricket first eleven has been in the top table conversation for his whole Black Caps coaching career. Sure, they’ve had some catastrophic results which have set the drums beating for his removal, but poor turnouts are to be expected in international cricket. Australia, India, and England are all capable of blowing a sandshoe sporadically, so it’s not a damning indictment of Stead’s stewardship when the team mount the sidewalk and collect 10 yards of picket fence and some shrubbery. To focus on the smudges during his command would be mealymouthed and small-minded.  

Gary has held this team together during the biggest upheaval in world cricket since Kerry Packer threw a sabretooth amongst the pigeons back in the 70’s. The proliferation of T20 leagues and the money they offer has been a massive challenge for all boards, with NZ cricket, aided by a very fluent and pragmatic coach, navigating the choppy waters with aplomb.   

He has also achieved across all three formats and may well be the last coach to do so. 

To those who roll out the tired, predictable, and myopic line that his success is only due to him inheriting a great team built by Hesson and McCullum, I say this: Yes, he has had access to some of the greats who started under a different regime, but he has also been behind the launch of future greats and the continued development of the meat of the team.  

Did he hold on to Southee too long? Did he treat Neil Wagner as well as he should have?   

This is nitpicking to me. In the wider picture, the measured and calm Gary Stead has been behind some of the greatest times in New Zealand cricket history.  

Whatever he chooses to do, I’ll be behind him %100,  

Top coach, top man, great New Zealander. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk sed be as.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Long as you want, Gary, as long as you want.
He's not gone yet, but it would appear that the
end is nigh for Black Caps coach Gary Steedness contractors
due to expire shortly, which will possibly signal the end
of a very successful tenure. No, the pinnacle titles haven't
rolled and unabated, but the consistency of results at the

(00:34):
very top across all formats impressive. Hezelloman's cricket first eleven
has been in the top table conversation for his whole
Black Cap coaching career. Yep, They've had some catastrophic results
which have set the drums beating for his removal, but
poor turnouts are to be expected. International cricket Australia, India

(00:56):
and England are all cable of blowing a sand shoe sporadically,
so it's not a damning indictment of stead stewardship. When
the team mount the sidewalk collected ten yards of picket
fence and some shrubbery to focus on the smudges. During
his command would be merely mouthed and small minded Gary
has held his team together during the biggest upheaval and

(01:17):
world cricket since Kerry Packer threw a sabertoothed tiger amongst
the pigeons back in the seventies. The proliferation of T
twenty leagues and the money they offer been a massive
challenge for all boards, with New Zealand cricket aided by
a very fluent and pragmatic coach navigating the choppy waters
with a plum. He has also achieved across all three

(01:40):
formats and may well be the last coach to do so.
How many coaches in world cricket look after T twenty
one Day Internationals and Test cricket, it's a rarity. And
to those who roll out the tired and predictable myopic
line that his success is only due to him inheriting
a great team built by Hessen and McCullum, I say this. Yes,

(02:02):
he has had access to some of the rates and
a great team. It started under a different regime, but
he's also been behind the launch of future greats and
the continued development of the meat of the team. He's
been around a long time now. You don't just inherit
a team and it stays the same for seven or
eight years. No, you've got to develop. Did he hold

(02:24):
on southe too long way? Maybe? Did he treat Neil
Wagner as well as he should have done? Probably not.
But this isn't it picking to me? In the wider picture,
the measured and calm Gary Stead has been behind some
of the greatest times in New Zealand cricket history. Whatever
he chooses to do, I'll be behind him one hundred percent.
Top coach, top man, great New Zealander. That'll do.

Speaker 1 (02:49):
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