Fleming open to Black Caps T20 role

New Zealand

Former Black Caps skipper Stephen Fleming has expressed interest in helping out the New Zealand senior men’s team in T20I cricket.

With a growing tendency towards specialized T20 units New Zealand Cricket are under pressure to replace head coach Mike Hesson for the short format.

The former captain has enjoyed success as a coach in the IPL leading to appointments in other high profile T20 leagues.

Fleming makes no bones about wanting the job telling Trackside Radio: “It’s based on my passion and love for New Zealand cricket.

“I’ve got a very good relationship with Craig McMillan [the current batting coach] and spend a lot of time talking to him about where the game is going and what he sees. So I enjoy passing on that knowledge and it comes back to wanting the New Zealand team to be strong.

“I enjoy going away and having a strong New Zealand team performing well around the world, it helps my job and I enjoy getting the New Zealand players in the sides that I’ve got.

“At some stage, who knows and I think Daniel would be the same. I’d love to help, but I certainly appreciate and admire the work Mike has done.”

Williamson

Former New Zealand quick and current broadcaster Simon Doull openly called for Hesson and skipper Kane Williamson to be stood down from their roles in T20Is for the good of New Zealand cricket.

Fleming feels that the days of multi-format coaches are numbered with more and more cricket being played.

He added: “You’ve got to think for a modern day coach these days, to be spending 250-300 days away, or involved in the job, travelling and hotels and being away from the family, that’s unsustainable.

“So Simon [Doull] makes some good points there about looking after your coaches and maybe T20 is one form of the game where there’s an opportunity for the head coach to have some time off.

“Whether you develop a Craig McMillan or another young coach coming forward, or you get an old dog in and maybe Vettori or myself come in to spend a bit of time there?

“It’s whether it keeps Mike Hesson fresh, it’s whether it falls into line with what Mike wants. But I think it’s worth discussing going forward as the schedule gets more cluttered. What I’ve heard from NZ Cricket and Mike right now is that the balance is pretty good, so he’s pretty happy to continue what he’s doing. But it needs to be explored.”

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