Coach Bracewell to part ways with Ireland in December

Photo: AFP

New Delhi: John Bracewell, the head coach of the Ireland Cricket team has decided to resign from his post, in December at the end of his current contract of two and a half years.

Bracewell was handed over the responsibility as Irish coach in April 2015, but hasn’t enjoyed as much success as he would have hoped for, despite Ireland being granted Test status alongside Afghanistan.

Ireland was beaten by Afghanistan earlier this year in the Inter-continental Cup and was beaten comprehensively by England, New Zealand and Bangladesh in One Day International exchanges. 

“Having been down the full-on Full Member road before with New Zealand Cricket, it is not my desire to do so again,” said Bracewell, who took over from Phil Simmons after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

 “Whilst my wife and I have immersed ourselves into Ireland and Irish culture we feel it is now time to return home to New Zealand and our families.”

The 59 year old added, “I have loved working with an honest group of players whose values and work ethic have been second to none. As challenging as the future may be, they will be the first to honour the Test cap and I am proud to have spent some time with them on that journey.”

The former New Zealander however said that a lot had to be done with the Ireland cricket before finally leaving the team.

“Before my departure, there are still a mountain of things to be put in place in assisting Richard Holdsworth (Cricket Ireland's Performance Director) and the coaching staff in preparing the Irish players for this new, exciting and very tough future. For the players, there is the small matter of the Inter-Continental Cup to win, and a West Indies team to beat.”

Warren Deutrom, the Cricket Ireland chief executive, said that the decision to part ways was mutual and hailed Bracewell for his contribution to the national team.

“John is a man of great integrity who has offered a great deal to Irish cricket's cause in the last two years,” he said. “He is admired by the players and his colleagues at Cricket Ireland.”