Vettori steps down as Brisbane Heat coach

Daniel Vettori has departed from another T20 coaching role after he quit as head coach of Brisbane Heat to continue the end of strong New Zealand links to the club following Brendon McCullum's decision to finish his BBL career.

Vettori, the former New Zealand captain, informed the Heat management earlier this season he would not seek a new contract and that decision was accepted in an indication that the Heat wanted a fresh coaching set-up. To date, the Heat's best result in the four years Vettori has been coach was a semi-final in 2016-17

They have made a last-ditch bid to qualify for the semi-finals this season with their thrilling chase against Melbourne Stars on Friday, where Max Bryant and Ben Cutting put on 158 in ten overs, but still need two results to go their way in order to reach the knockouts.

Vettori has been associated with the Heat since its inception and was involved in Queensland cricket prior to the Big Bash launching.

"The Heat have been very grateful to Dan for his involvement, as a player from BBL|01, and then as our coach for the past four seasons,'' general manager Andrew McShea said. "It's an end of an era for the Heat with both Brendon McCullum and now Dan leaving our club and we can only express our deepest gratitude to both men for their passion and dedication to the Heat during their time with us.

"We will take this opportunity to review our planning and our structures and look to make a fresh start in BBL09."

After the Heat's final home game of the season, captain Chris Lynn said: "It was important for us to do our best to send Baz off a winner in our last home game but equally so for Dan. His composure throughout our campaigns has been a constant in the background and I'm grateful to have benefited from his experience and knowledge of the game."

Stepping aside from his Heat role is the latest T20 coaching job Vettori has lost following his departures from Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL and Middlesex in the T20 Blast.