Cricket: CD Stags coach Heinrich Malan will take stock before putting up hand for Black Caps job

Central Districts Stags coach Heinrich Malan is taking a wait-and-see approach before deciding to throw his hat in the ring for the Black Caps job.

"If a process is put in place and the change presents itself I will take a look at it then but until we know how that'll pan out it's a pretty tough position to say if you will or you won't," Malan said tonight before boarding his flight back from Christchurch to Napier.

The 37-year-old from Pretoria was attending a three-day NZ Cricket coaches' conference and made the comments when asked if he was keen on the job after Mike Hesson resigned today.

The South African-born mentor, who has been at the helm of the Stags for five summers, is a prime candidate to assume the mantle of New Zealand men's coach after helping establish a culture and structure at CD to groom predominantly homegrown talent from the major association catchment area.

In February, Malan had said it was a pivotal part of his career pathway but tonight reiterated it was about getting a clearer picture of structures. Last September he toured with the New Zealand A men as an assistant to Shane Bond for two four-day games and five one-dayers.

"New Zealand Cricket will feel the best way forward will be the [ICC ODI) World Cup next year and when they put that way in place things will become a little clearer not just for myself but all the other coaches in the country and around the world who are in a position to make some decisions before putting their names forward," he said.