Nottingham: For some teams, accompanying families can be a distraction in a major tournament but not for New Zealand with head cricket coach Gary Stead encouraging players to spend time with their loved ones during breaks in the ongoing World Cup.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) banned families of cricketers from accompanying them initially but has allowed them since the game against Australia, Wednesday. However, partners and families of the Australian cricket team have been kept away.
Stead however, has a different opinion. He has asked the families to travel with the players.
“I think it’s important that you manage your breaks,” Stead said when asked about families of players travelling with the team. “The presence of families relaxes players mentally.”
The pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee and opener Martin Guptill have been bringing their young kids on the flight.
After a washout game against India, the Black Caps will next play South Africa, June 19 and Stead said the players can now take a bit of time off with families.
“Whilst we haven’t played India, we’ve still prepared and everything you do in the build-up days is on the assumption you’ll play a full day of cricket,” Stead informed.
“We travel to Birmingham now but the players have the option to go elsewhere with their families. They have the option to stay elsewhere for a couple of days and get a bit of down time,” added the Kiwi coach.
PTI
