'Wee Bit Of Hurt From Time To Time': Coach Gary Stead Recalls New Zealand's Heart-Breaking WC Final Defeat 

Recalling New Zealand's World Cup 2019 final defeat against England, coach Gary Stead said although there's a 'wee bit of hurt from time to time', he is 'enormously proud' of the way his team played in the tournament.

Photo: ANI

Some media reports in the month of May this year had suggested that New Zealand cricket team head coach Gary Stead wanted Tom Latham to replace talisman Kane Williamson as the captain of the national squad due to differences between him and Williamson. Stead has rubbished claims and said there's no truth to these rumours. ALSO WATCH | Work Hard: Mohammad Shami Trains Hard To Keeps Fit Amid Lockdown, Shares Video Of Intense Workout Drill 

"There's no truth to it," Stead was quoted as saying by newshub.co.nz. "I think I probably have philosophical differences with every single person in the team at different times, and that's just about me being a human being and him being a human being.

"That was certainly news to me… certainly had no conversations around that sort of thing.

"At this stage, Kane's our man. He's the guy we've backed, he's been a great leader for this team and I'm sure he will be in the future as well," he added.

Taking about his relationship with Williamson, Stead said: "I think it's very good. I think it's strong."

"I like him as a bloke, like what he stands for. He's a very values-based person and he adds a hell of a lot to the team," the Kiwi head coach added.

Recalling New Zealand's World Cup 2019 final defeat against England, coach Gary Stead said although there's a 'wee bit of hurt from time to time', he is 'enormously proud' of the way his team played in the tournament.

"I do think about it a bit, I think everyone has really different emotions around it. The thing that stands out for me is that it's all a bit numb, really, in some ways but enormously proud of the way we played the whole tournament. As a Kiwi and as a supporter of the Blackcaps it was hard to be any more proud of the way they played and fought in that match," ESPNcricinfo quoted Stead as saying.

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