By IANS
Auckland : Former opening batsman John Bracewell will remain the head coach of the New Zealand cricket team until April 2009, the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced.
Bracewell, who has held the post since 2003, helped the Black Caps reach the 2007 World Cup semi-finals but their Test record is less impressive.
"We need to stabilise our game plan in the one-day game, but we need to become a harder unit in Test cricket. We need to become more consistent," he said.
Former New Zealand captain and ex-India coach John Wright has taken on a high performance role to help Bracewell.
"There are many areas in our high performance programme in which we can utilise John's expertise," said NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan.
"John will be part of our drive to build player depth and to enhance the skills of our elite players."
Former first class Australian player Mark O'Neill has been named as specialist batting coach and former New Zealand Test bowler Dayle Hadlee has been retained as the specialist bowling coach.
The make-up of the selection panel for the national team is being considered and Vaughan said Bracewell would lose the right to veto panel decisions.
The panel currently consists of former Test players Sir Richard Hadlee, Dion Nash, Glenn Turner and Bracewell.