Christchurch, Aug 17 (UNI) New Zealand on Tuesday added former fast-bowler Shane Bond as a fourth coach for the upcoming ICC men's T20 World Cup in the UAE and the following three-game T20I series against India.
Bond will work with head coach Gary Stead, batting coach Luke Ronchi and bowling coach Shane Jurgensen in the New Zealand setup.
The 'fourth coach' role has been used by New Zealand in past home summers, away tours and world events such as the ICC men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, where it was carried out by current batting coach Luke Ronchi.
'The fourth coach for me is an opportunity to bring in different voices to the environment and we’ve used it in a whole host of ways in the past,' said head coach Gary Stead in a New Zealand Cricket statement.
'Shane is someone who always adds value and we’re delighted to have him on board,' he added.
The former pacer, who played 18 Tests, 82 ODIs and 20 T20Is for New Zealand, is familiar with the Black Caps set-up having spent three years as the bowling coach from 2012 to 2015 and was involved in a 2019 T20I series against England. He has also spent stints in charge of New Zealand A.
Until recently, Bond was coaching the Sydney Thunder in Australia’s Big Bash League competition, and since then has been assisting the Black Caps' winter training squads and helping the White Ferns prepare for their tour of England.
'Shane’s been in our environment before and understands what we’re about,” Stead said.
Stead is hopeful Bond’s time with the Mumbai Indians as their bowling coach in the United Arab Emirates before the T20 World Cup proves beneficial for New Zealand.
'Being in the UAE (with the IPL) immediately prior to the World Cup … he’ll hopefully bring some tactical insight into what’s been happening in the competition.
He’ll be an extra set of hands especially around the bowlers, working with the spin and the pace bowlers and developing their plans in a tournament that moves pretty quick - so we need to be one step ahead of other teams,' he said.
'Shane’s been working away with New Zealand players for a long time and he’s been involved in our recent camps so it’s been good for him to reacquaint himself with our guys. He’s held in high regard and I know he’ll bring a lot of knowledge and opinions to the group,' he added.
New Zealand start their ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2021 campaign against Pakistan in their Super 12s match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 26 and play India three days later at the Dubai International Stadium.
Apart from former champions India and Pakistan, New Zealand also have to contend with Afghanistan and two qualifiers from Round 1 in Group 2 of the Super 12 stage.
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