June 6, 2025 • 10 mins
After seven years in the role, Gary Stead’s time at the helm of the Black Caps is over.
He’s arguably the most successful coach in the team's history, and will be succeeded by Rob Walter.
Stead joined Lesley Murdoch for a chat about his time in the role and what comes next.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, let's go to the man who has been in
charge of the black Caps over the last seven years.
I'm talking about our very good program friend, Gary Stead,
and reflect a little bit on what has been a
phenomenal time for black Caps men. I don't think it's
a job that I'd ever want to be a head coach,
but Gary Stead, welcome back.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah, morning, Leslie.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
We look back to the seven years and the Test
Championship win and getting into finals and three Nuel Series
win in India, just to mention a few highlights, because
there's been many. Sure there's been some downtimes as well,
but when you think about New Zealand and its population,
it's a pretty phenomenal success record.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah, it's been an amazing nearly seven years with the team,
and I guess fest of all, I mean, I feel
very privileged to have been in that position, and I
think I've got a lot of people to thank for
assistance and support through that as well. But we've been lucky.
There's been an incredible group of players that have come
(01:03):
through in this time. But I guess one of the
things I'm most proud about is there has been some
considerable change for the last few years and we still
keep producing good cricketers and I think that's a really
good reflection of the way that things are going below
the Black Caps as well, and in terms of the
development programs, but also that our players are up to
(01:25):
international standard and are certainly competing with the best around
the world.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So does it purely come back to that domestic program,
to the different formats that they play, the opportunities that
the selection of them, because once you select them into
that international arena, you want them to have success.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
In a way, the franchise leagues and what that's done
has created opportunities for players to play those which has
also given us some opportunities to blood new players as well,
and that's one of the advantages of the franchise leagues
in the competition that they do, they have provided more
opportun unity for others and it's been pleasing that you
(02:03):
saw last year the likes of a Moa Bass and
Mitch Hay come into the side and have been rewarded
with national contracts since then, which I think is fantastic
for them. And I think there's a nice blend of seniority,
I guess and experience within the group and also the
young guns that are pushing through now as well, that
we'll put them under pressure in the future.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
And when you look at that how it comes through though,
I mean it's still there's a fragility, isn't there just
because of our depth and our population. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Absolutely, there's no doubt that the franchise competitions are still
somewhat of a threat to us, and that's going to
have to be carefully managed. It's been going now for
two or three years, but I can't see it's sort
of going away. So I think that's going to be
important that that's managed well in the future.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
But You've always said, and I've noted at the end
of series that the players want to play for their country.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, and that's one of the things that I think
is pretty special about this group is there are some
there are some huge offers for people and opportunities out there,
but there is something about coming back and pulling that
silver refern on the chest and doing it for the
fans and doing it for each other in the group,
and that's always Yeah, it's really humbling to see that
(03:15):
and I think as long as we can maintain that,
I think New Zealand Cricket will be in good heart
in the future.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
So you have no doubt about that, you know, and
this high pressured commercial, professional world that they still do
want to do that playing for their country has got currency.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, I think it still has at the moment. There's
no doubt that for some individuals. And yeah, they get
to the different stages of their career and look, the
financial rewards out there for them are great. So that's
the balance. We still, I think in New Zealand need
to try and keep our very best players playing for
as long as we can. And it's striking that balance,
(03:53):
which is just about really good communication and relationships with.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Players, absolutely right. And I guess one of the interesting
initiatives is the North American League that New Zealand Cricket
is brought into and that will give players, not only players,
actually coaches as well opportunities to go over there and
get more experience.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Yeah, I think that's really exciting for New Zealand Cricket
in the future. And as you say, that will provide
opportunities I think as much for staff as it will
for players as well. And that's exciting because I mean
you can only look around the world now and there's
a number of key we coaches that are coaching in
franchise and international leagues, and I know they're highly regarded
(04:33):
and I think that again is as special for New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
So news out that the new black Caps coach will
be Rob Walter, what do you make of that?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
To be honest, I haven't thought a lot about it.
It's been a pretty hectic week for me, to be honest,
just around I guess the announcement that I won't be continuing,
But look, I just wish Rob well. I mean now,
I know he's got a fantastic group of eyes that
are around him and a fantastic group of support staff
as well. So yeah, I'm sure I'll catch up with
(05:07):
Rob in the next few weeks and have a bit
of a handover period, and yeah, wish and well in
his endeavors now as well.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Well. He's certainly inheriting a very successful model.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
I think again, one of the pleasing things is that
hasn't just been in one format where I think done
really well across three formats, and I guess in my
time to have made three white ball finals and also
win the World Test Championship. And as you said earlier,
I think the icing on the cake for me is
the first team in history to beat India three mil
(05:40):
at home was something that's very very special to the
group and I think great for cricket in New Zealand
as well.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
It's a hard thing when it's all so fresh. This
week has had so much change for you. But is
there anything that you would change.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
One more run in twenty nineteen? Perhaps? Look, No, I
mean you work with the players and you work with
the staff around what you have at the time, and look,
I think I think the one thing about this group
of guys is they have an incredible work ethic and
a desire to want to get better. And that's always
(06:19):
easier I think when you come into coaching positions and
you can see that that desire to to I guess
leave the leave the place in a better and a
better space than what it was when you got there.
And that's something we often talk about as how we
just to make those small games from day to day
and look, wins and losses come and go, but we've
(06:39):
tried to be really consistent in the way that we
prepare and the way we go about what we do.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Yeah, it was interesting John Bracewall coming out saying he
thought your biggest strength was also your weakness was your
loyalty to players. It's not a bad weakness, I would have.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Thought, Well, I think sometimes, I mean, it's always subjective
that around selection, and my view around it is if
you're holding a gun to a players ahead all the time,
then you're not going to get the best results from them.
But look, sometimes players do need that little bit of
a kick and perhaps a change and back to domestic
cricket for a while. And I'm confident that the players
(07:16):
that we've been playing have been our best and I
think sometimes forms can come and go, but yeah, it's
trying to ensure that they feel respected, valued and very
clear and what they are trying to achieve when they're
with us, and still allowing that little bit of form
to come and go at times, knowing that we think
that they are our best players.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
As far as we you go to from here, I
guess you've still got a lot of reflecting to do.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah. Look, I mean I still love cricket and want
to be involved in cricket, and New Zealand is very
dear to me. I've generally always coached in the country
here and look, I hope there's still spaces within our
environment that I can continue to to give back to
the game as well. It's been incredibly good to me,
(08:04):
so yeah, I'd love to keep giving back.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
I don't think any of us understand truly some of
the pressures that goes with what you have done, what
your coaching team have done, but particularly you because the
head coach. The buck stops with you, and that tight
wrote that I talked about earlier between players who are
playing in leagues wanting to come back with that silver
fern on their chest, wanting to be part. It is
(08:30):
an individual game, and yet it's a team game. It's
all those bits. It's the CPA as well. I mean,
I personally don't know how you manage it for so
long and achieve so much. I think it's just been truly,
truly remarkable.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Well, I mean, it truly is a twenty four to
seven job and things happen at all times of the
night and stuff as well. So looking away, I'm looking
forward to be able to step back from that and
giving some time back to the family as well. Have
been very good to me in terms of the I
(09:04):
guess the sacrifice that they've made to not have me
around a lot, so certainly, yeah, yeah, looking forward to
having a little bit more downtime, perhaps a bit more
time around Christmas at home and that sort of thing
that you do.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
This well, Gary, We're really grateful for you always being
available to us, and I just always loved the honesty
and the rationale that you always had for whenever any
questions were pointed towards you, whatever the situation, and I
think it's a unique skill and the composure that you've
(09:38):
shown has just been truly wonderful, and thank you, no.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Thank you, Leslie. You've always been a great supporter, and
the show has always been a great supporter of me,
so I certainly appreciate that as well. For more from
News Talks d B, listen live on air or online,
and keep our shows with you wherever you go with
our podcasts on IR Radio.
Well, let's go to the man who has been in
charge of the black Caps over the last seven years.
I'm talking about our very good program friend, Gary Stead,
and reflect a little bit on what has been a
phenomenal time for black Caps men. I don't think it's
a job that I'd ever want to be a head coach,
but Gary Stead, welcome back.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah, morning, Leslie.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
We look back to the seven years and the Test
Championship win and getting into finals and three Nuel Series
win in India, just to mention a few highlights, because
there's been many. Sure there's been some downtimes as well,
but when you think about New Zealand and its population,
it's a pretty phenomenal success record.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah, it's been an amazing nearly seven years with the team,
and I guess fest of all, I mean, I feel
very privileged to have been in that position, and I
think I've got a lot of people to thank for
assistance and support through that as well. But we've been lucky.
There's been an incredible group of players that have come
(01:03):
through in this time. But I guess one of the
things I'm most proud about is there has been some
considerable change for the last few years and we still
keep producing good cricketers and I think that's a really
good reflection of the way that things are going below
the Black Caps as well, and in terms of the
development programs, but also that our players are up to
(01:25):
international standard and are certainly competing with the best around
the world.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So does it purely come back to that domestic program,
to the different formats that they play, the opportunities that
the selection of them, because once you select them into
that international arena, you want them to have success.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
In a way, the franchise leagues and what that's done
has created opportunities for players to play those which has
also given us some opportunities to blood new players as well,
and that's one of the advantages of the franchise leagues
in the competition that they do, they have provided more
opportun unity for others and it's been pleasing that you
(02:03):
saw last year the likes of a Moa Bass and
Mitch Hay come into the side and have been rewarded
with national contracts since then, which I think is fantastic
for them. And I think there's a nice blend of seniority,
I guess and experience within the group and also the
young guns that are pushing through now as well, that
we'll put them under pressure in the future.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
And when you look at that how it comes through though,
I mean it's still there's a fragility, isn't there just
because of our depth and our population. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Absolutely, there's no doubt that the franchise competitions are still
somewhat of a threat to us, and that's going to
have to be carefully managed. It's been going now for
two or three years, but I can't see it's sort
of going away. So I think that's going to be
important that that's managed well in the future.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
But You've always said, and I've noted at the end
of series that the players want to play for their country.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, and that's one of the things that I think
is pretty special about this group is there are some
there are some huge offers for people and opportunities out there,
but there is something about coming back and pulling that
silver refern on the chest and doing it for the
fans and doing it for each other in the group,
and that's always Yeah, it's really humbling to see that
(03:15):
and I think as long as we can maintain that,
I think New Zealand Cricket will be in good heart
in the future.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
So you have no doubt about that, you know, and
this high pressured commercial, professional world that they still do
want to do that playing for their country has got currency.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, I think it still has at the moment. There's
no doubt that for some individuals. And yeah, they get
to the different stages of their career and look, the
financial rewards out there for them are great. So that's
the balance. We still, I think in New Zealand need
to try and keep our very best players playing for
as long as we can. And it's striking that balance,
(03:53):
which is just about really good communication and relationships with.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Players, absolutely right. And I guess one of the interesting
initiatives is the North American League that New Zealand Cricket
is brought into and that will give players, not only players,
actually coaches as well opportunities to go over there and
get more experience.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Yeah, I think that's really exciting for New Zealand Cricket
in the future. And as you say, that will provide
opportunities I think as much for staff as it will
for players as well. And that's exciting because I mean
you can only look around the world now and there's
a number of key we coaches that are coaching in
franchise and international leagues, and I know they're highly regarded
(04:33):
and I think that again is as special for New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
So news out that the new black Caps coach will
be Rob Walter, what do you make of that?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
To be honest, I haven't thought a lot about it.
It's been a pretty hectic week for me, to be honest,
just around I guess the announcement that I won't be continuing,
But look, I just wish Rob well. I mean now,
I know he's got a fantastic group of eyes that
are around him and a fantastic group of support staff
as well. So yeah, I'm sure I'll catch up with
(05:07):
Rob in the next few weeks and have a bit
of a handover period, and yeah, wish and well in
his endeavors now as well.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Well. He's certainly inheriting a very successful model.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
I think again, one of the pleasing things is that
hasn't just been in one format where I think done
really well across three formats, and I guess in my
time to have made three white ball finals and also
win the World Test Championship. And as you said earlier,
I think the icing on the cake for me is
the first team in history to beat India three mil
(05:40):
at home was something that's very very special to the
group and I think great for cricket in New Zealand
as well.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
It's a hard thing when it's all so fresh. This
week has had so much change for you. But is
there anything that you would change.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
One more run in twenty nineteen? Perhaps? Look, No, I
mean you work with the players and you work with
the staff around what you have at the time, and look,
I think I think the one thing about this group
of guys is they have an incredible work ethic and
a desire to want to get better. And that's always
(06:19):
easier I think when you come into coaching positions and
you can see that that desire to to I guess
leave the leave the place in a better and a
better space than what it was when you got there.
And that's something we often talk about as how we
just to make those small games from day to day
and look, wins and losses come and go, but we've
(06:39):
tried to be really consistent in the way that we
prepare and the way we go about what we do.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Yeah, it was interesting John Bracewall coming out saying he
thought your biggest strength was also your weakness was your
loyalty to players. It's not a bad weakness, I would have.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Thought, Well, I think sometimes, I mean, it's always subjective
that around selection, and my view around it is if
you're holding a gun to a players ahead all the time,
then you're not going to get the best results from them.
But look, sometimes players do need that little bit of
a kick and perhaps a change and back to domestic
cricket for a while. And I'm confident that the players
(07:16):
that we've been playing have been our best and I
think sometimes forms can come and go, but yeah, it's
trying to ensure that they feel respected, valued and very
clear and what they are trying to achieve when they're
with us, and still allowing that little bit of form
to come and go at times, knowing that we think
that they are our best players.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
As far as we you go to from here, I
guess you've still got a lot of reflecting to do.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah. Look, I mean I still love cricket and want
to be involved in cricket, and New Zealand is very
dear to me. I've generally always coached in the country
here and look, I hope there's still spaces within our
environment that I can continue to to give back to
the game as well. It's been incredibly good to me,
(08:04):
so yeah, I'd love to keep giving back.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
I don't think any of us understand truly some of
the pressures that goes with what you have done, what
your coaching team have done, but particularly you because the
head coach. The buck stops with you, and that tight
wrote that I talked about earlier between players who are
playing in leagues wanting to come back with that silver
fern on their chest, wanting to be part. It is
(08:30):
an individual game, and yet it's a team game. It's
all those bits. It's the CPA as well. I mean,
I personally don't know how you manage it for so
long and achieve so much. I think it's just been truly,
truly remarkable.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Well, I mean, it truly is a twenty four to
seven job and things happen at all times of the
night and stuff as well. So looking away, I'm looking
forward to be able to step back from that and
giving some time back to the family as well. Have
been very good to me in terms of the I
(09:04):
guess the sacrifice that they've made to not have me
around a lot, so certainly, yeah, yeah, looking forward to
having a little bit more downtime, perhaps a bit more
time around Christmas at home and that sort of thing
that you do.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
This well, Gary, We're really grateful for you always being
available to us, and I just always loved the honesty
and the rationale that you always had for whenever any
questions were pointed towards you, whatever the situation, and I
think it's a unique skill and the composure that you've
(09:38):
shown has just been truly wonderful, and thank you, no.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Thank you, Leslie. You've always been a great supporter, and
the show has always been a great supporter of me,
so I certainly appreciate that as well. For more from
News Talks d B, listen live on air or online,
and keep our shows with you wherever you go with
our podcasts on IR Radio.
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