Mott undecided on New Zealand job

Matthew Mott has said he is 50-50 on whether to accept the job as New Zealand's coach or stay in his current role with New South Wales. Mott is New Zealand Cricket's preferred choice to replace John Bracewell but after only one season as a first-class coach he is uncertain whether to take on the job.

"I'm definitely keeping my options open. I'll be brutally honest, it's about a 50-50 split at the moment," Mott told NZPA. "I'd love to keep repaying the faith that New South Wales showed in me when I made the progression from player to coach. I can't fault the way they've looked after me."

Mott, 35, was a first-class batsman with Queensland and Victoria but ended his playing career relatively early to move into coaching. He was an assistant under Trevor Bayliss at New South Wales before taking the senior role in 2007-08 and he guided the Blues to the Pura Cup title in his first season.

He became the frontrunner for the New Zealand job when the South Africans Graham Ford and Mickey Arthur made themselves unavailable. However, an improved two-year offer from New South Wales has made the decision a difficult one for Mott.

"There always comes a time to move on, and whether that time's now," he said. "In an ideal world I'd love to have another couple of years here. There's also the fact that the job you knock back is the one you probably never get. That's weighing on my mind a bit."

Mott has some links with the New Zealand team; he coached Brendon McCullum at the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. He said besides landing the job as Australia's coach, the New Zealand role was the next best option on the international scene.

"From what I've heard Dan Vettori is a very good captain and a fresh bunch of senior players around him are keen to make a difference," Mott said. "With the management changes there seems to be a good young vibe with a bit of a blank canvas, which is what appeals to me."

Mott will this week get a closer look at the New Zealanders when they face New South Wales in a tour match at the SCG starting on Thursday. New Zealand have confirmed their starting line-up for the match and it includes four specialist fast bowlers with Mark Gillespie and Grant Elliott left out.

New Zealand team for tour match Jamie How, Aaron Redmond, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (wk), Daniel Flynn, Daniel Vettori (capt), Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.