Andhra Pradesh appoint Gary Stead as head coach for 2025-2026 domestic season

Gary Stead has been appointed Andhra Pradesh's new head coach for the 2025-2026 domestic season, ACA confirmed. Stead brings with him a wealth of experience, having previously served as the head coach for the New Zealand national team. His tenure with New Zealand spanned from 2018 until June of this year, during which he oversaw the team in 268 matches across all three formats of the game.

Gary Stead is Andhra Pradesh's new head coach

“The passion for cricket here is palpable. I look forward to working closely with the players, support staff, and leadership to build a team that competes with heart and purpose,” Stead said, as quoted by Sportstar.

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After six years at the helm, Gary Stead, 53, announced in March that he was stepping down from his limited-overs coaching roles with the New Zealand national team. Although he had hoped to continue coaching the Test side, New Zealand Cricket ultimately decided to hire Rob Walter as his replacement, wanting a single head coach across all three formats.

Under Stead's leadership, New Zealand had a highly successful period. The team won the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021 and reached the top of both the ODI and Test rankings. They also finished as runners-up in the Champions Trophy (2025), the Cricket World Cup (2019), and the T20 World Cup (2021).

After a brief international playing career that included five Tests for New Zealand in 1999, Gary Stead transitioned into coaching. He began his coaching journey at the New Zealand Cricket High Performance Centre before taking charge of the New Zealand national women's team in 2008. His experience with the women's team eventually led him to the top job, as he was appointed head coach of the New Zealand men's team in 2018.

Kesineni Sivanath, the honorary president of the ACA, expressed his confidence in Stead, stating that his experience and leadership will inspire both players and coaches during his tenure with the team.

“Gary Stead is not just a coach, he’s a culture-builder. His arrival signals our intent to raise the bar in talent development, tactical preparation, and operational discipline,” he said.

Meanwhile, ACA Secretary Sana Satheesh Babu said:

“His global experience and values align perfectly with ACA’s vision of building a legacy rooted in integrity, performance, and inclusivity. We warmly welcome him to our cricketing family and look forward to a transformative season ahead”.