Cricket: Hesson named new Black Caps coach

Mike Hesson. Photo / Photosport

Former Otago and Kenya coach Mike Hesson has been appointed John Wright's successor as coach of the Black Caps.

New Zealand Cricket this afternoon confirmed Hesson's hiring at a media conference in Auckland, bringing to a close months of speculation since Wright announced in May he had declined an offer to extend his contract.

His contract runs through to the end of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

Hesson, 37, was recently reported to be one of four candidates in the running for the job, but was left the last man standing after South African Paddy Upton withdrew his application, current Black Caps assistant Trent Woodhill was eliminated from contention and Australian Matthew Mott decided to stay with Welsh club Glamorgan.

NZC Director of Cricket, John Buchanan, said he was delighted to have a coach of such a high calibre working with the Black Caps.

"We were impressed with the way Mike presented himself and he was the stand-out applicant from a strong field of candidates.

"Mike has been a successful First-Class coach with the Otago teamin recent years and has also had valuable experience working with New Zealand A sides. He also spent some time assisting the Black Caps coaching staff during the 2010 Chappell/Hadlee Series and we're fortunate to have secured his services for the national team.

"Mike's impressive career path also includes the SportNZ Elite Coach Accelerator Programme where henot only had the honour of being selected for the programme, but finished as one of the highly commended participants.

"He will bring a freshness and new energy to the sideand we know he is more than capable of developing and growing the team as we work towards the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015."

The selection panel included Buchanan, NZC chief executive David White, former internationals Stephen Fleming and Robbie Hart, and Sport New Zealand high performance manager Alex Baumann.

Hesson began coaching at the age of 22 and was involved with Otago cricket for 15 years. He enjoyed a six-year spell in the top job from 2004-2010, during which time he transformed a struggling franchise into one of the best in the domestic game.

After ending the province's 20-year wait for a trophy by winning the one-day competition in 2008, Hesson took over as the Kenyan national coach in 2011. But he resigned from that post less than a year after taking charge, citing a number of security concerns affecting his young family.

Hesson is said to enjoy a strong relationship with the New Zealand players, including influential vice-captain and Otago batsman Brendon McCullum, and that will be put to the test when he begins his role for the Black Caps' tour of India in August.

Hesson said it was 'an honour and a privilege' to be named Black Caps head coach.

"Having the opportunity to coach the Black Caps is very special for me.

"I am passionate about cricket in New Zealand and doing the best job I can for the players and the fans of cricket in this country.

"My coaching philosophy is essentially built around setting world-class standards to produce excellence and that's what I intend to do with the Black Caps.

"It's a big challenge but one I'm ready for and excited about."