Wright to decide on future with New Zealand

New Zealand coach John Wright's contract is due to expire in August, after the tour of the West Indies, but New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White is hopeful that a decision on Wright's future will be made before the end of April. Wright, who took over the coaching job in 2010, has had a successful summer with a historic win in Hobart over Australia and a reasonably solid showing in a 1-0 series loss against South Africa.

"We said we would give John three weeks after the South African series, just to give him time to think about his future," White said, according to the New Zealand Herald. "We would like something sealed within four weeks."

White would prefer a contract extension for Wright. However, after a long season of cricket, he would like Wright not to rush into a decision. "We'll give John some space, it's been a long period of cricket, and then we'll sit down and discuss the future.

"It's a big commitment these days. If you look at our calendar for the next 12 months it's really challenging in terms of both time and commitment, so John is weighing his options."

Wright's apparent tension with John Buchanan, New Zealand's director of cricket, could be a reason for him to reconsider the extension. However, White expects that Wright's relationship with Buchanan should not be a deciding factor.

"In any professional sporting organisation you have strong people and sometimes you have positive tension. Sometimes that's a good thing, because you get [positive] outcomes," he told Fairfax NZ News.

Ross Taylor, who was appointed as the captain by Wright, has come out in his support and expects him to continue in the role. "I've got a good relationship with him, and obviously I'm looking forward to him hopefully staying around," Taylor said.

New Zealand has a busy season ahead of them: after the West Indies tour, they embark on a three-Test tour to India in August, followed by the World Twenty20, tours to Sri Lanka and South Africa and a home series against England.