New Zealand is gearing up for the 2023 ODI World Cup by strengthening their support team. Stephen Fleming and James Foster will soon be part of the team, and Ian Bell and Saqlain Mushtaq will also be among the coaches during the upcoming months.
Stephen Fleming, currently coaching the Southern Braves in the men’s Hundred, is a former New Zealand captain and has extensive coaching experience, having led Chennai Super Kings to five IPL titles.
He will join the New Zealand team for the ODI series against England from September 8, shortly after the T20I series ends. He will be joined by Foster, who has also worked in the IPL, as both a fielding and assistant coach for Kolkata Knight Riders.
He has also coached in other leagues, including the PSL, CPL, BPL, BBL, and ILT20. He will serve as New Zealand's assistant coach for the England ODI series and will continue in that role for the ODI World Cup in India.
“I think Flem will be great for players on that side of it and also good for the staff as well,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said.
“He's got [an] immense amount of knowledge in that part of the world [India] and has coached in the IPL right from the start of the competition [from 2009], so he's coached in all those areas where we're going to play in.
“So, it might just be the little one-two percenters you can get from that information that could tip the results on your side as well. If things go well you can pick up on some of those small things.”
Ian Bell to join Stephen Fleming
The Kiwis have also named former England batter Ian Bell as an assistant coach for the upcoming T20I series against England. He will later step in for Luke Ronchi as the batting coach for the subsequent ODI series against England.
Ronchi will then take on the role of stand-in head coach for the three-match ODI series in Bangladesh in September, which is their final ODI assignment before the World Cup.
This arrangement will give current head coach Gary Stead a brief break before the World Cup. Bell will also provide support to Ronchi and bowling coach Shane Jurgensen during the ODIs in Bangladesh.
Stead will also take time off during the Test leg of the Bangladesh tour, starting from November 23. This comes just four days after the World Cup final on November 19.
The side will also be bolstered by the addition of Saqlain, a former Pakistani spinner who will rejoin the team for the Bangladesh Test tour, having previously worked with the white-ball side during the Pakistan tour in April. He will now assume the role of spin coach.
New Zealand coaching staff for away tours
- England T20Is (Aug 30- 5 Sept) – Gary Stead, Luke Ronchi, Shane Jurgensen, Ian Bell
- England ODIs (Sept 8-15) – Gary Stead, Shane Jurgensen, Ian Bell, James Foster/Stephen Fleming
- Bangladesh ODIs (Sept 21-26) – Luke Ronchi, Shane Jurgensen, Ian Bell
- ODI World Cup (Oct-Nov) – Gary Stead, Luke Ronchi, Shane Jurgensen, James Foster
- Bangladesh Tests (Nov 28 – 10 Dec) – Luke Ronchi, Saqlain Mushtaq
