Grant Bradburn eyeing coaching role with New Zealand

Scotland Cricket had a decent time with Bradburn as coach

Mike Hesson resigned as New Zealand head coach last week | Getty Images

Former New Zealand off-spinner Grant Bradburn, who is currently working as Scotland head coach, has expressed his desire to take up Mike Hesson's role with New Zealand cricket team after the latter has resigned from the post recently. He had still a year to go for the completion of his contract, but he has retired citing family reasons. 

Bradburn has the experience of coaching Kiwis domestic side Northern Knights, New Zealand A and U19 teams and current Scotland side, which will help him when he starts his tenure with New Zealand. 

Recently, Hesson submitted his resignation as Head Coach of the Kiwis citing personal reason and Bradburn said it was always his dream to coach the national side and if he gets selected for the role, it would be really a great opportunity for him.

Under Bradburn, Scotland has done a terrific job, beating Afghanistan and Zimbabwe in the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, but unfortunately, they missed out on a berth for the World Cup 2019, as well as, registered a memorable six-run win over the No.1 ranked ODI side England last week.

As per reports in Stuff.co.nz, Bradburn said, “I would absolutely love to apply for the Black Caps job. It has always been my dream to coach a full member nation, especially my home nation. As a family that has always been our intent to come home at some stage and this presents a double opportunity really for me to pursue what would be a dream job and for us as a family to head back home.”

He added, “They've had some excellent success under Mike, and first Brendon McCullum and now Kane Williamson. There is a lot of depth in New Zealand Cricket so it would be important for me to build on and add to that success. In any role like this, I think it is really important to have an understanding and appreciation of the current environment and add to that winning culture that is already there.”

Even, the former off-spinner has also revealed that he has already made up the strategy for the Black Caps for the World Cup 2019, but it is all up to New Zealand Cricket whether they will select him for the role. He stated, “I've already thought about a strategy that I feel would be suited for the Black Caps role, but I think it would be important for me to just talk to NZ Cricket first and just get their feeling on what they believe they need particularly in the short term building towards the World Cup next year.”

Meanwhile, it is learned that Scotland Cricket wants to renew his contract, but Bradburn said they already knew about his dream to coach the full nation and did encourage him to take up the role. 

Bradburn signed off by saying, “That's really nice that they want to retain me and to have that support, but equally Malcolm Cannon, the CEO, he does realize coaching a full member nation has always been my dream. He is well aware the role has come up and he has been encouraging of me applying for that role. They are well aware that the opportunity with these positions is never perfect in timing.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 16 Jun, 2018

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