New Black Caps coach will be a Kiwi: Buchanan

Wellington, July 19 (ANI): New Zealand director of cricket John Buchanan has confirmed that final interviews had been completed and a recommendation had been made to the New Zealand Cricket Board (NZCB) to appoint a new coach.

Buchanan admitted there had not been as many applications for the job vacated by John Wright as he thought, but he was happy with the panel's choice.

"I'm really happy with the quality of the people who applied for the role, there wasn't the quantity for whatever reason but the quality was good," he told LiveSport radio.

"I think we had in our final interviews a really good selection of individuals who brought a range of different skills and it was a very difficult choice in the end, or at least the recommendation of choice," he said.

"I think we're very satisfied with the recommendation and we're really looking forward to this person stepping into the role," Buchanan said.

The coach in question must be approved by the NZCB before their appointment can be made official.

While Buchanan did not name names, he did indicate it had been the panel's preference that the new national coach is a Kiwi, stuff.co.nz reports.

"You're always aiming to get the best person in whatever the role and I'm a strong believer in, ideally, that the best person is always from the country in which you're providing your services to. It's certainly firstly about getting the right person and then, hopefully, that person will be from the resident country," he said.

Incumbent coach Wright will conclude his role with the Black Caps after their current tour of the West Indies. (ANI)