Cricket: John Wright named NZ coach

NZ batting coach Mark Greatbatch. Photo / Photosport.

John Wright has been named the new Black Caps cricket coach while Daniel Vettori has been axed as a selector, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced at a media conference in Auckland this afternoon.

Wright replaces Mark Greatbatch as coach following the Black Caps 11 successive one-day losses, including clean sweeps in Bangladesh and India, in recent months.

Greatbatch will stay on as a national selector and work as a batting coach within NZC's high performance programme.

Wright will assume his new role immediately after being offered it yesterday. He said the time was right for him to step into the job.

"I'd always thought it would be a great challenge. If you look back at past history it's been a tough one but that's coaching," Wright said.

"I'm excited, I want to give it a go and I want to test myself as a coach....It's almost like unfinished business for me and to get this opportunity from New Zealand Cricket again, I'm very grateful.

"I know it will be hard and we'll have some good days and bad days, winning and losing is part of the game but I would just like to put together a team that fights.

"I don't think it's about individuals...it's about the team. "

His contract ends after the West Indies tour in 2012.

The changes come as part of a wide-ranging review into the side's recent poor performances.

Other changes include a new independent selection panel featuring Lance Cairns, Greatbatch and incumbent head of selectors Glenn Turner.

Wright said his first step was to get to know the players in the Black Caps.

"I understand it will be small steps. I look at particularly the one day team and they have potential. But the trick is to help the players find that consistency, find how to rediscover their form and confidence.

"I've been in a similar situation before going into a World Cup that was very very low on confidence," he said.

The Black Caps begin their domestic international program with a Twenty20 clash against Pakistan at Eden Park on Boxing Day.

Announcing the changes, New Zealand Cricket CEO, Justin Vaughan said: "A thorough review of the Black Caps tour of India has been undertaken over the last week.

"All aspects of the tour - playing performance, preparation, selection and support staff - were examined to ensure that the Black Caps have the greatest chance of succeeding.

"The changes being made are a direct result of that process and should make a real difference," said Vaughan.