New Zealand mentor earns two-year extension
Black Caps re-sign coach Hesson
Improved results and a no-nonsense approach to discipline have compelled New Zealand Cricket to extend Mike Hesson's reign as Black Caps coach.
Hesson will oversee the Black Caps until April 2017, adding two years to a contract which was set to expire after the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.
The 39-year-old replaced John Wright in July 2012 and has overseen a relatively successful period, notably in Test cricket over the last 12 months.
He coached the Black Caps to Test series wins over India and the West Indies at home last summer, followed by a series victory in the West Indies in June - New Zealand's first offshore defeat of a tier one opponent for 12 years.
Hesson has overcome an inauspicious start in which New Zealand lost or drew their first six Test series, including a low when they were dismissed for 45 by South Africa in Cape Town.
Fourth months into the job he courted controversy by replacing Ross Taylor as captain with Brendon McCullum, a move which earned praise from NZC chief executive David White when announcing the contract extension on Wednesday.
White said Hesson and McCullum had formed a "formidable" partnership.
"How the team performed at home over the summer against both the West Indies and India showed that both Mike and Brendon have built a side capable of knocking over anyone on their day."
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Hesson has shown little sympathy to players who breach team protocol, regardless of their ability, with Jesse Ryder and Doug Bracewell both currently not in the selection frame following multiple offences.
Hesson, who coached Otago for six years and also had a year-long stint with the Kenyan national team, wants to continue the Black Caps' momentum heading into the World Cup.
"It's a really exciting time for the sport with the World Cup at home, our senior players performing well and a promising group of youngsters who are all fighting for World Cup spots," he said.
New Zealand remain ranked seventh in the Test and one-day international world rankings despite some world class performances from batsmen Taylor, McCullum and Kane Williamson and seam bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult. The emergence of allrounders Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham has been a bonus in both forms.
NZ RESULTS UNDER MIKE HESSON
Test series:
Jun 2014 - best West Indies 2-1 (A)
Feb 2014 - beat India 1-0 (H)
Dec 2013 - beat West Indies 2-0 (H)
Oct 2013 - drew with Bangladesh 0-0 (A)
May 2013 - lost to England 0-2 (A)
Mar 2013 - drew with England 0-0 (H)
Jan 2013 - lost to South Africa 0-2 (A)
Nov 2012 - drew with Sri Lanka 1-1 (A)
Aug 2012 - lost to India 0-2 (A).
Test series: Three wins, three draws, three losses
Test matches: Six wins, seven draws, eight losses
ODI matches: 13 wins, one tie, 14 losses.