Cricket: Mark Greatbatch stepping down as CD coach

Mark Greatbatch has stepped down as cricket coach of Central Districts.

Greatbatch told Central Districts chief executive Blair Furlong that he will not seek an extension to his two-year contract which ends on May 31, The Dominion Post newspaper reported today.

Greatbatch, 40, steered Central to the State Shield one-day title this season but the commitment associated with taking a side which is continually on the road has proved too much for the Hawke's Bay-based father of two children.

"Mark has indicated he is not available to extend his contract," Furlong said, adding it was not a big surprise to him.

"Coaching Central Districts is a huge job, possibly one the other provincial coaches might not realise.

"Our players and Mark were away from home from Boxing Day to February 7, so it's not an easy existence for anyone, especially someone like Mark with a young family."

Greatbatch, who played 41 tests between 1987 and 1997, is into his 17th year of service to Central.

He joined them from Auckland as a blockbusting lefthand batsman, moved into the coaching director role and then became coach.

His decision will add plenty of emotion to Central's final game of the season, a three-day fixture against South Africa starting at McLean Park in Napier tomorrow.

"Mark's made a huge contribution to Central Districts and we would have loved him to stay on but we could not have asked for anything more from him. He's been outstanding in every way," Furlong said.

Greatbatch's coaching future is uncertain but he is bound for England next month to spend several weeks with English county Middlesex as part of a $10,000 Prime Minister's coaching scholarship.

- NZPA