“To have an opportunity like this come up is pretty special and I am honoured to be chosen for this position”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Former England all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas has been appointed as New Zealand’s interim bowling coach following Shane Bond’s decision to step down from the position.

Mascarenhas’ first assignment will be to help lead the Blackcaps to victory over his own country.

“After being in New Zealand for only a year, to have an opportunity like this come up is pretty special and I am honoured to be chosen for this position,” Mascarenhas, who is currently the head coach of Otago, said. “Bondy has done an extremely good job with his bowling unit; they have operated with real pace, skill and tactical awareness.

“During this World Cup they have been phenomenal and I am looking forward to working with those guys to keep developing them and helping them achieve success on the international stage.”

Mascarenhas believes he will be a major asset for New Zealand since he has played numerous seasons of county cricket in England.

“I am newly out of the scene there as a player and I know most of the guys in the current team very well,” he said. “The new guys I have played a lot with in county cricket and I know all the grounds we are playing at intimately so those factors will be useful in terms of the scouting and bowling plans.”