Kiwis turn to England for new coach
Former Warwickshire batsman Andy Moles was Tuesday appointed to
replace John Bracewell as the new coach of the New Zealand cricket team,
after front-runner Matthew Mott pulled out at the last minute.
English-born Moles, 47, will take up the role next week in time for
the West Indies series, which begins with the Test in Dunedin starting
on December 11.
As a player, Moles was forced to retire in 1998 by an achilles tendon
injury, and has since gained extensive coaching experience with Free
State in South Africa, Hong Kong, Kenya and Scotland.
For the past two years he has coached the New Zealand state side
Northern Districts, taking them from bottom to top of the national
championship in his first season in charge. “Andy has an outstanding
coaching background,” New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan
said.
“He also brings leadership, passion, commitment and a drive to get
the best out of his teams, attributes we believe are essential for this
role.” Vaughan said Bracewell would step down at the end of the current
Australian tour.
“With the new coach available to start immediately, we have mutually
agreed that John would step down after the Australian series, allowing
Andy to take up the role during a home season rather than on the road.”
Mott had kept New Zealand Cricket on tenterhooks as he weighed up
whether to accept the job, saying a week ago “it’s about a 50-50 split”
before announcing this week he would re-sign with New South Wales.
WELLINGTON, AFP
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