Cricket: Former Black Caps coach John Bracewell pulls plug on Ireland stint

Ireland coach John Bracewell during a nets session at The Brightside Ground. Photo/Getty Images

John Bracewell will step down as head coach of Ireland and return to New Zealand when his contract expires in December.

A former New Zealand offspinner and coach of the Black Caps for five years, Bracewell won't extend an Irish stint, which began after the 2015 World Cup.

The ICC's decision to promote Ireland to full test status earlier this year has played a part in the 59-year-old's decision to pull up stumps.

"Having been down the full-on full member road before with New Zealand Cricket, it is not my desire to do so again," Bracewell said.

"Whilst my wife and I have immersed ourselves into Ireland and Irish culture, we feel it is now time to return home to New Zealand and our families. I have therefore agreed with Cricket Ireland to finish up at the conclusion of my contract."

It is unclear if he will pursue a coaching position in New Zealand. He quit the Black Caps post a year early in 2008, after they had slumped to eighth in the test rankings, choosing to return to England for a second stint with Gloucestershire.

Ireland have endured modest one-day international results for the past two years under Bracewell. Those performances, with an ageing team, were defended by Cricket Ireland performance director Richard Holdsworth.

"The last two years have been a difficult period of transition and rebuilding in which John has tried to nurture inexperienced talent against the best teams in the world."

Bracewell said he took enormous satisfaction at helping oversee the Irish promotion to test level.

"I took on the role as head coach, because I believed in the little guy getting a fair break and the cause of attaining test status appealed to my underdog psyche."