Bracewell gets two more years

John Bracewell has been re-appointed as Black Caps coach, New Zealand Cricket announced today.

“We believe that John made good progress with the BLACKCAPS and we are delighted to retain him as the team?s coach,” NZC CEO Justin Vaughan said.

Bracewell has been re-appointed for a two-season term, until April 2009.

“Recent changes to our high performance structure will see John and our elite players supported by a greater network of specialist coaches both on and off tour.

“Our aim for the BLACKCAPS is to concentrate on building the depth of talent available to us and to further develop the skills of individual players.

“As already announced, Dayle Hadlee has been appointed as our head bowling coach.

“I am pleased to announce that Dayle will be joined by Mark O?Neill, who has been appointed as our head batting coach.”

O?Neill, 48, is a former New South Wales and Western Australia batsman, earning five Sheffield Shield titles in a 12-year career.

After retiring from playing in 1991, he became an accredited Level 3 Coach and worked with both states as a batting coach and consultant.

“He has aided and overseen the development of many current Australian international batsmen, who have been very positive in endorsing Mark?s ability as a batting coach of the highest order,” Vaughan said.

“I am also very pleased to announce that John Wright has been secured in a high performance role by NZC.

“There are many areas in our high performance programme in which we can utilise John?s expertise and we are working through these with him to determine his exact role.

“John will be part of our drive to build player depth and to enhance the skills of our elite players.
“We are very pleased to have secured someone of John?s calibre. With his success on the international stage and winning attitude he will be a significant asset,” he said.

The selection panel comes off contract this month and a process will be put in place to determine the make-up of the selection panel moving forward.

“We have decided to change the philosophy under which the selection panel makes decisions. This change in philosophy will see the panel move to consensus decisions.

“Consequently the seldom used ability to veto selection panel decisions that was attached to the position of BLACKCAPS coach has been removed,” he said.

“We want a strong selection panel and this will allow us to use it to best effect.”

New Zealand Cricket Media Release