As long as you want to, Gary.   

He’s not gone yet, but it would appear that the end is nigh for Black Caps coach Gary Stead.  

His contract is due to expire shortly, which will possibly signal the end of a very successful tenure.  

No, the pinnacle titles haven’t rolled in unabated, but the consistency of results at the very top, across all formats, are impressive.   

New Zealand’s men’s cricket first eleven has been in the top table conversation for his whole Black Caps coaching career. Sure, they’ve had some catastrophic results which have set the drums beating for his removal, but poor turnouts are to be expected in international cricket. Australia, India, and England are all capable of blowing a sandshoe sporadically, so it’s not a damning indictment of Stead’s stewardship when the team mount the sidewalk and collect 10 yards of picket fence and some shrubbery. To focus on the smudges during his command would be mealymouthed and small-minded.  

Gary has held this team together during the biggest upheaval in world cricket since Kerry Packer threw a sabretooth amongst the pigeons back in the 70’s. The proliferation of T20 leagues and the money they offer has been a massive challenge for all boards, with NZ cricket, aided by a very fluent and pragmatic coach, navigating the choppy waters with aplomb.   

He has also achieved across all three formats and may well be the last coach to do so. 

To those who roll out the tired, predictable, and myopic line that his success is only due to him inheriting a great team built by Hesson and McCullum, I say this: Yes, he has had access to some of the greats who started under a different regime, but he has also been behind the launch of future greats and the continued development of the meat of the team.  

Did he hold on to Southee too long? Did he treat Neil Wagner as well as he should have?   

This is nitpicking to me. In the wider picture, the measured and calm Gary Stead has been behind some of the greatest times in New Zealand cricket history.  

Whatever he chooses to do, I’ll be behind him %100,  

Top coach, top man, great New Zealander. 

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