KEY POINTS:
Black Caps' coach-in-waiting Matthew Mott is keeping New Zealand Cricket on tenterhooks as he agonises over an offer to remain with New South Wales.
Mott admitted yesterday he was yet to decide whether to accept NZC's offer to replace John Bracewell next April as he wondered aloud whether he was ready for an international job.
"I'm definitely keeping my options open. I'll be brutally honest, it's about a 50-50 split at the moment," he said as he prepared his side to face New Zealand in the tour match starting today.
"I'd love to keep repaying the faith that NSW showed in me when I made the progression from player to coach. I can't fault the way they've looked after me.
"There always comes a time to move on, and whether that time's now ... in an ideal world I'd love to have another couple of years here.
"There's also the fact that the job you knock back is the one you probably never get. That's weighing on my mind a bit."
Mott, 35, is widely known to be NZC's preferred candidate since the withdrawals of South Africans Graham Ford and Mickey Arthur narrowed the shortlist to three: Mott, Northern Districts' Andy Moles and national under-19 coach Dipak Patel. Moles appears to be next in line.
Mott said he'd had positive discussions with NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan who'd been "exceptional" in not placing a deadline on the offer.
Complicating matters was a hectic early-season schedule with NSW, while his wife Taryn gave birth last week to their first child.
Mott said he would take time to discuss the decision with his wife and give NZC an answer within the next month.
"I definitely haven't cooled on the idea. It's just ongoing, a process I want to get right and think of things objectively and come up with the best outcome.
"It's a tough decision, and it's a shame a decision has to be made because both options are very good."
Mott spoke recently with New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum who played for him in the Indian Premier League with the Kolkata Knight Riders, and pushed Mott's case to NZC.
Outside coaching Australia, Mott said it was the next best job for him on the international stage.
"From what I've heard Dan Vettori is a very good captain and a fresh bunch of senior players around him are keen to make a difference. With the management changes there seems to be a good young vibe with a bit of a blank canvas, which is what appeals to me."
Cricket NSW has offered an improved contract.
- NZPA
