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Veteran Australian state fast bowler Damien Wright has been set as the final piece of the New Zealand cricket coaching mystery. The 35-year-old was confirmed today as the New Zealand bowling coach, combination head coach John Wright and one more Australian, assistant Trent Woodhill.
Damien Wright was Victoria's bowling coach last summer but still played Sheffield Shield cricket, and also twisted out for Worcestershire in England this season. He has 123 first-class matches to his name over a 14-year career for Tasmania, Victoria, and five English counties, taking 406 wickets at 28.62.
He also made three cameo appearances for Wellington in the New Zealand Twenty20 opposition last season.
"It's fantastic. I'm pleased to bits. I'm looking onward to getting concerned, it was a huge chance and one I was thrilled to take," Damien Wright told The Dominion Post on Wednesday of his imminent appointment.
He said he was approach by former Australian coach John Buchanan, now NZC's director of cricket.
"I had a pair of interviews and a chat with John Wright and that go really well."
The New Zealand job became accessible last month after former South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald made a late U-turn to go back to his homeland to support Gary Kirsten with the Proteas.
Donald had a verbal agreement to carry on the role he took up in January, but NZC didn't secure his signature after the World Cup and he conventional Kirsten's offer soon after he was long-established as South Africa's head coach.
Coach John Wright said the selection is an exciting one for NZC and capitalises on years of experience playing first-class cricket and his work as bowling coach with Victoria.
"Damien comes highly regard by his peers and coaches in Australia. He is a coach on the rise and we are lucky to secure his services.
"As a player he made the most of his capability and got everything out of himself and they are character he will bring to his coaching.
"He will offer a lot to the team in terms of energy and eagerness and relate mainly well to the young fast bowlers."
The other leading contender for the New Zealand job was unspoken to be New South Wales bowling Coach Matt Nicholson. He played 124 first-class matches for NSW and Western Australia, and a solitary test against England at Melbourne in 1998.
Damien Wright begins on September 5 with the role base at NZC's high presentation centre at Lincoln in Christchurch.
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