Hesson named as New Zealand cricket coach

Former Kenya coach Mike Hesson will guide the Black Caps through to the end of the 2015 World Cup.

Hesson, who coached Otago for six years and recently had a short stint with the Kenyan national side, will join the team for the upcoming tour of India beginning in mid-August, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Friday.

He takes over from former New Zealand opener John Wright, who has coached the Black Caps since December 2010.

NZC director of cricket John Buchanan said Hesson was a high calibre coach, and the stand-out applicant from a strong field of candidates.

His “impressive” career path also includes the SportNZ elite coach accelerator programme.

“He will bring a freshness and new energy to the side, and we know he’s more than capable of developing and growing the team as we work towards the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015,” Buchanan said.

NZC chief executive David White said the organisation was thrilled with the long-term commitment Hesson has made to NZC.

“Mike has all the right attributes we are looking for in a national coach and we’re delighted to have him through to the ICC World Cup 2015,” he said.

Hesson said it was “an honour and a privilege” to be named New Zealand head coach.

“My coaching philosophy is essentially built around setting world-class standards to produce excellence and that’s what I intend to do with the Black Caps,” Hesson said.

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