New Zealand Coach Gary Stead Steps Down After Seven Years

Gary Stead is set to step down as head coach of New Zealand's men's cricket team at the end of his contract in June, marking the end of a highly successful seven-year tenure. Stead, who had already stepped away from white-ball coaching duties, was not in contention to continue as Test coach due to New Zealand Cricket's decision to appoint a single head coach for all formats. Under his leadership, New Zealand achieved historic milestones including winning the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021 and becoming the first team to whitewash India 3-0 in a Test series on Indian soil. The team also reached multiple ICC tournament finals and maintained top positions in ICC Test and ODI rankings, with Stead credited for fostering a resilient and competitive team culture. Stead expressed pride in the team's achievements and acknowledged the strong foundation laid by predecessors Brendon McCullum and Mike Hesson, while signaling his intention to explore future coaching opportunities. His departure marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy of unity, resilience, and consistent high-level performance for the Black Caps.