Craig McMillan is now a full-time member of the White Ferns coaching staff, ending just over a year in a part-time post. New Zealand Cricket confirmed the move late on Monday, noting his “appointment officially beginning this week”. He will sit alongside head coach Ben Sawyer and batting coach Dean Brownlie in the build-up to next month’s 50-over World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
NZC also said the former Black Caps all-rounder will “focus on both the national team and the women’s players of interest programme as he steps back from his successful commentary career and other coaching commitments”.
“I’m over the moon to be in this role,” McMillan said. The 48-year-old was part of the back-room group when New Zealand lifted the T20 World Cup in the UAE last year. “The women’s game is going from strength to strength, and I’m excited to continue to work with our talented players and help them reach their goals. The last year has gone so quickly and I’ve loved every minute of being part of a team that continues to improve, challenge one another, and does special things on the world stage.”
The immediate focus is October’s ODI World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. “It’s been a busy period leading into the 50-over World Cup,” McMillan said. “We’ve had a number of camps including one in Chennai which exposed the players to Indian conditions like what they’ll face in October-November.
“The team is pumped to get back to India and take on another World Cup.”
Selection discussions are close to finished, with the squad expected on 10 September. A handful of younger batters are understood to be pushing for places, though coaches are keeping cards close to their chest for now.
