<p>“New Zealand Cricket today announced that John Wright will assume the position of Blackcaps head coach, effective immediately,” New Zealand Cricket said in a statement.<br /><br />The decision was one of several changes in the team management after a review of the recent tour to India in which the Kiwis lost the Test series 0-1 and were whitewashed 0-5 in the ODIs.<br /><br />The thrashing followed an embarrassing 0-4 loss to Bangladesh in an October ODI series.<br />Wright, who played 82 Tests and 149 ODIs, coached India from 2000 to 2005 before joining NZC to oversee its High Performance programme.<br /><br />The 56-year-old will assume responsibility immediately, with his opening match being the Boxing Day Twenty20 International against Pakistan.<br /><br />Besides appointing Wright as coach, the NZC also appointed an independent selection panel with Greatbatch as its convener.<br /><br />“Greatbatch will also continue his role as batting coach within the New Zealand Cricket high performance programme,” the NZC said.<br /><br />The panel will also have Glen Turner and former international Lance Cairns, who is currently a selector for the New Zealand Under-19 team. “The coach and captain of the national team will continue to contribute to the selection process and will be actively responsible for team selections on tour,” the NZC said.<br /><br />NZC CEO Justin Vaughan said all the changes have been agreed upon unanimously.<br />“All aspects of the tour-playing performance, preparation, selection and support staff - were examined to ensure that the Blackcaps have the greatest chance of succeeding. The changes being made are a direct result of that process and should make a real difference,” said Vaughan.</p>
<p>“New Zealand Cricket today announced that John Wright will assume the position of Blackcaps head coach, effective immediately,” New Zealand Cricket said in a statement.<br /><br />The decision was one of several changes in the team management after a review of the recent tour to India in which the Kiwis lost the Test series 0-1 and were whitewashed 0-5 in the ODIs.<br /><br />The thrashing followed an embarrassing 0-4 loss to Bangladesh in an October ODI series.<br />Wright, who played 82 Tests and 149 ODIs, coached India from 2000 to 2005 before joining NZC to oversee its High Performance programme.<br /><br />The 56-year-old will assume responsibility immediately, with his opening match being the Boxing Day Twenty20 International against Pakistan.<br /><br />Besides appointing Wright as coach, the NZC also appointed an independent selection panel with Greatbatch as its convener.<br /><br />“Greatbatch will also continue his role as batting coach within the New Zealand Cricket high performance programme,” the NZC said.<br /><br />The panel will also have Glen Turner and former international Lance Cairns, who is currently a selector for the New Zealand Under-19 team. “The coach and captain of the national team will continue to contribute to the selection process and will be actively responsible for team selections on tour,” the NZC said.<br /><br />NZC CEO Justin Vaughan said all the changes have been agreed upon unanimously.<br />“All aspects of the tour-playing performance, preparation, selection and support staff - were examined to ensure that the Blackcaps have the greatest chance of succeeding. The changes being made are a direct result of that process and should make a real difference,” said Vaughan.</p>
