Gary Stead and Kane Williamson after winning the 2021 World Test Championship. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Outgoing Black Caps coach Gary Stead admits he wondered how he could coach a player like Kane Williamson.
Stead stood down as Black Caps coach on Wednesday after seven years in charge.
Stead quit as coach of the ODI and T20 white-ball teams in April and New Zealand Cricket said he had effectively been ruled out of retaining the test job after they decided on having one coach across all formats.
Stead took over from Mike Hesson, who had helped guide the Black Caps to the final of the 2015 World Cup and the semi-finals of the 2016 T20 World Cup.
The team was playing well under the captaincy of Kane Williamson, who by then was well established as one of the best batters in the world.
"It's easy as a coach to come in and have imposter syndrome, how can I help a Kane Williamson," Stead said about his start in the role in 2018.
"Kane Williamson knows a lot more about batting than I ever will, but that's where you find yourself, how you question them and how you challenge them to keep going to that next level.
"That is the part of coaching I really enjoy."
Stead oversaw the inaugural World Test Championship win in 2021, an unprecedented three-nil test series sweep of India on the sub-continent last year, alongside five out of six finals appearances in ICC white-ball World Cups.
"To continually make those stages of those events says to me that the team is running well and that we also have plans in place to allow us to get there as well.
"This team is seen by our opposition as a team that won't go away and you know when you play New Zealand you're in for a fight."
New Zealand coach Gary Stead and New Zealand captain Tim Southee. N Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Stead obviously played his part in that success and felt he achieved most of the things he wanted to.
"When you enter these roles you want to see people grow and one of the things I'm most proud about is the guys coming through now and the New Zealand cricket team is in good heart.
"I sit here today proud of what we've done, but equally proud of the people that have been involved throughout."
Stead, 53, said it felt like the right time to stand down.
"All good things come to an end at some stage and you have to look beyond that and what is best for the team.
"Right now a new coach coming in two years out from a world cup gives them the chance to put their spin on the team as well.
"I certainly don't see this as the end of coaching for me."
New Zealand Cricket hope to unveil the new Black Caps coach by the end of the week.
Former Black Caps bowler Shane Bond, South African Rob Walter, who has coach Otago and Central Districts, and current Black Caps assistants Luke Ronchi and Shane Jurgensen are viewed as contenders to replace Stead.
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