New Zealand head coach Gary Stead | Getty
Ahead of his first game as New Zealand's new head coach, Gary Stead says that he will definitely be feeling nervous and hoping for a good showing in the three-match T20I series as well as the full tour of UAE, versus Pakistan.
Having played five Test matches for New Zealand in 1999 before transitioning into a coaching role, Stead, 46, guide BlackCaps' national women’s team to the finals of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 and the ICC Women’s World T20 2010.
He took over the reigns earlier this year, when Mike Hesson left.
“I am (nervous), and I want to be relaxed, but I know I will be nervous tomorrow like the players probably will. But it’s just part of me getting into the role as well. It’s exciting,” he said ahead of the first T20I at Abu Dhabi on October 31.
“They haven’t played for seven months(on the long International break that New Zealand has had) and we can see the excitement in the group as well. It’s nice," and informed, "We’ve had three-four trainings here and the guys are relaxed, and that’s a good thing, I think, going into T20 – it’s a tough game, and you want everyone to play with a smile on their face.”
On the quick adjustment that the Kane Williamson led side will have to make, Stead said, "It’s about getting the balance right between training and also getting out of jetlag and then getting ready for the match as well. We’ve been reasonably thorough in our scouting and looking at our options of what we want to do," before affirming, "Now we have to put the plans into place and trust that they are right, and hopefully, they are. And if they are not, we’ll adjust them and move on again."
Stead is also aware of the task at hands against a Pakistan side, which has now won their 10th successive T20Is series and is currently ranked no.1 in the world.
“What we do know is that we are playing a very good Pakistan team – 3-0 versus Australia, they are obviously on a bit of a roll,” he said, “Hopefully they take us lightly and we can come charging at them early and that will give us a lot of confidence, if we play well in this game,” and signed off.
(Inputs from ICC)
