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Sport Nation
Leading candidate ruled out of Blackcaps coaching job
Alex Chapman • May 8th, 2025 9:00 am
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
A month to the day after New Zealand Cricket went to market for the next Blackcaps coach, there’s been confirmation one of the names perceived to be a leading candidate for the role won’t be applying.
Sport Nation understands that former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie won’t be putting his name forward for the role, which has been advertised since early April.
Gillespie was highly-speculated to be a frontrunner for the position, after Gary Stead announced last month he’d take time to reflect on whether he wants to reapply for the role of Blackcaps Test coach when his current contract expires in June.
Stead won’t reapply for the white ball job.
One source had indicated that Gillespie would be a strong contender for either or both roles and would be “a great option if we want an Aussie”.
However a separate source has confirmed the 50-year-old has ruled himself out - the reason is unknown.
As a player, Gillespie who sported a distinctive ringlet mullet for much of his career, took 259 Test wickets at an average of 26.13 and snared 142 ODI scalps at 25.42.
However, his greatest accomplishment came in fact with the bat in 2006, as he posted the highest-score by a night watchman (a record that still stands), an unbeaten 201 not out for what was also his maiden Test century. It would be his last Test though.
Gillespie's biggest coaching triumph to date has been turning around English side Yorkshire, earning them promotion from division two of the county championship in his first season, with the side finishing runners-up in their first season returning to division one. They went one better the following year (2014) before defending their title in 2015.
He’s also spent time in charge of fellow-county side Sussex, as well as his former Australian state team South Australia and Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League.
Gillespie was appointed as Pakistan Test coach in April 2024 on a two-year deal, however stepped down eight months into the role, expressing his frustration over the lack of communication, which led him to feel that the Pakistan Cricket Board no longer wanted him in the role.
The bitter break-up is believed to have also included delayed financial remunerations.
Last month, Gary Stead confirmed that he will step away from coaching white-ball cricket, a position he’s held since 2018 when he took over from Mike Hesson.
Under his tenure, New Zealand won the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021, and made the 2019 50-over World Cup final, 2021 T20 World Cup final, this year’s Champions Trophy decider, and last year’s historic 3-nil Test series sweep over India in India.
Last week NZC CEO Scott Weenink told Sport Nation Mornings that they were still unsure if they will be looking at one coach for all formats or a split role.
Weenink confirmed that the interest had been “fantastic” and that the quality of names were “exciting” as well as that there had been “pretty amazing interest from both New Zealand and also overseas.”
While an exact timeline or date hasn’t been set, it’s believed NZC wants to have a coach in place within the next six weeks.
Tune into Ric & Chappy on Sport Nation Mornings, 9am-12pm Thursdays and Fridays.
Uncertainty around Blackcaps coaching roles | Ric & Chappy
