Roger Federer is coming back to US Open four years after retirement, set for two blockbuster matches US Open confirmed Roger Federer's return on Sunday, and he will be joined by three other tennis greats Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:25:16 IST Written by Aratrick Mondal Prefer HTon Google Share
Nerves cost us against Australia, but I'm proud of the team: women's hockey coach: Marijne Nerves cost us against Australia, but I'm proud of the team: women's hockey coach: Marijne Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:09:14 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Amstelveen
After seventh seed Victor Lai fell in three games to ninth seed Alex Lanier at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi, the former described the Frenchman as a ‘beast’, lauding his physical fitness and tenacity to go the distance and play the long game
India men’s football team will face Panama in a FIFA international friendly in September, ahead of another friendly against five-time FIFA World Cup winners Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. According to a report by The Times of India, the match between India and the North American side is
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out of the running to replace Gianni Infantino, but says he expects a candidate to challenge the Fifa president's leadership in March. Infantino has faced calls to step down after he scrapped a controversial plan to sell off stakes in Fifa's
A Stead-y Kiwi hand in the quest to revitalise Andhra’s domestic fortunes
A Stead-y Kiwi hand in the quest to revitalise Andhra’s domestic fortunes Premium
Andhra has enjoyed an optimistic run in the Ranji Trophy's ongoing season so far. After draws with Uttar Pradesh and Baroda, the side pummeled Odisha, winning by an innings and 50 runs.
But, the best was yet to come.
An emphatic four-wicket win against Tamil Nadu where Andhra wrapped the game up in three days has the domestic ecosystem talking about one unit needing some long-pending introspection while another seems to be heralding a new dawn.
Andhra's rise has been slow but steady. Putting the blocks together is newly-appointed head coach Gary Stead. Funnily, if both he and the Andhra Cricket Association had their ways, this partnership wouldn't have happened at all.
Stead initially wanted to continue as New Zealand's Test coach, which New Zealand Cricket was not keen on. It named Rob Walter as his successor across formats, pushing him to look for new opportunities.
Tamil Nadu was stripped of every morsel of pleasure it had earned on the second day, first being bowled out for 195 after resuming at 101 for three, and then watching Andhra chase down a 201-run target with four wickets to spare on the third day of their Elite Group-A fourth-round Ranji Trophy match at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. | Photo Credit: K.R. Deepak
“I had seven years with the Black Caps and made a decision that I wasn't going to continue in all formats of the game. New Zealand cricket then decided that they wanted a coach to do it all. So it worked out that my time was up, but I was okay with that and understood that it might be that way,” he told The Hindu.
ALSO READ | Why shape-shifter Ravindra Jadeja is a rare breed of all-rounder
Stead stayed with coaching, helping Otago, a team based in the country's south. He stepped in to help the side while they hunted for a full-time head coach. It was then that the opportunity to coach Andhra was put before him.
“I got approached around August. I had an online meeting with a few people from the Andhra Cricket Association. We talked about the opportunities and we agreed that coaching the Ranji Trophy was something that they were prepared to take me on and I'm very grateful for that,” he added.
The ACA wanted an Australian coach who turned down the association, but pointed them in Stead's direction instead.
“I wanted to bring someone serious from outside India. I was trying for a few people and one of them, who couldn't join us, suggested that Stead might be available. He gave us the lead and we immediately sent him a request,” ACA secretary Sana Satish Babu told The Hindu.
“We had two calls to figure out plans and align our goals. That involved Girish Dongre (ACA CEO), too. He was convinced, but his only concern was wanting to go back home for Christmas. We were flexible and he was pleased,” Satish said.
If the ACA ever had any doubts about how Stead would fit in, they would have been abated when Stead dove right into his meticulous homework done on the outfit and the setup, long before he was officially appointed.
“Gary took us by surprise. He has some friends in Mumbai, at Kolkata Knight Riders and other places. He took all the Andhra players' analysis from them, not only Ranji players but also the under-19 and under-23 players. He took all the analysis and studied them during the negotiation time. That pleasantly surprised us and showed us that he was not speaking with us out of formality.”
ALSO READ | Crisis man Axar on a mission to make up for lost time
For all the talk of Stead taking a ‘step down' in his career, the excitement and eagerness in his voice about turning around Andhra's fortunes tell a different tale.
“I love cricket in India. I love the way it's played and the difference in terms of pitches, compared to New Zealand. I thought this is a great way for me to get out of my comfort zone as well, because I've coached in New Zealand my whole life,” Stead said.
He is confident that he will not be the last foreign coach to try his hand on the Indian domestic circuit, just as he is not the first to do so – the likes of Dav Whatmore, Michael Bevan, Intikhab Alam, Darren Holder and Alvin Kallicharan having produced varied results over the years.
The 53-year-old is also aware that he will have to adjust to his players as much as they are adjusting to his methods.
“This is an opportunity for me to grow. I'm coming into a different environment now, so as much as there are things that I think will work, I also have to adapt to the culture of the Indian people and the Andhra Cricket Association as well. It works both ways,” he admitted.
“Coaching is about trying to get the best out of the players and help them develop. That is the same here as it was in New Zealand. I think the differences are obviously the cultural aspect, very different from the Western world that I lived in, compared to the Indian culture of cricket and how it's almost a religion here.”
Andhra captain Ricky Bhui in conversation with head coach Gary Stead during a practice session. | Photo Credit: K.R. Deepak
In a country teeming with talent and opportunities sparse to come by, Stead is aware of how important performances on the domestic front are for Indian cricketers.
“I think one of the tough things for an Indian cricketer is actually getting noticed, and being noticed by the right people. There are so many good players here and that's just a population thing as well. I'm sure there are thousands of cricketers here who haven't been given an opportunity, who are outstanding cricketers and they haven't been noticed because they haven't been in the right place at the right time,” he said.
ALSO READ | The ‘forgotten' craftsman: why Kuldeep still waits for his turn
Stead worked with a large squad of 31 before the Ranji Trophy's playing squad was announced, commuting between Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram to stay on top of things.
“I think there's a good mix of different bowlers, different varieties, left-armers, right-armers, good pacers and spinners as well. And I think there are some really exciting batsmen as well. You know who the leaders of the group are: KS Bharat and Ricky Bhui, but I guess Shaikh Rashid as well… he's recently been with the Rest of India XI, so they're probably the most well-known ones.”
“But there are several guys who have played IPL: Prithvi Raj Yarra and Satyendra Raju for example. They have some experience at higher levels. We will be leaning on some of these characters this season,” he added. Incidentally, Rashid and Prithvi Raj played crucial roles in Andhra's takedown of TN in Visakhapatnam.
Stead's long-term targets are all about overall improvement in performance, both for the team and for each player individually. Silverware would be a bonus, but not something he is necessarily targeting this season.
“I don't look at it like there's a whole lot of expectations from me. I know the team wants to improve on how they've done in the past and I want them to do as well as they can. My job is to try and help the team adapt, to understand what the situations are and then to give them the confidence to go out and attack the game,” he stated.
“I want all players to feel like they're improving their games. I want Andhra to start being talked about by other teams as a team that is very, very good. If results come our way, well and good. You obviously have some big states here in India that have done well in the past, your Mumbais, Karnatakas etc. I see no reason why Andhra can't be talked about in the same breath and that's what I'd like to get in the long run for this team.”
Conversations with players in the Andhra Ranji team shed some light on how Stead likes to operate. His emphasis is on the team doing well, with individual performances not being judged purely by statistics. He has repeatedly spoken to his bowling unit about hunting in packs, explaining that the pressure built by a pair could bear fruit for those who follow.
In his quest to change Andhra's fortunes, Stead has put in rules to ensure that nothing derails his plans, including injuries and suspensions.
“15 people will go for Ranji matches. There are five standbys. He said every other player should be in the Vizianagaram camp. He has given our coaches the agenda for the upcoming weeks. He said that if one selected player is unavailable, for whatever reason, he wants to pick someone who is in the camp, not a player who is sitting at home relaxing,” Satish revealed.
ALSO READ | The ‘A' matches conundrum: to play or not is the question
Stead has also worked with coaches back in New Zealand as coach development manager and sees value in transferring those experiences here too.
“I was still playing at the time, so I guess I tried to bring a number of current happenings which was going on in the First Class scene in New Zealand and make sure our coaches were up to speed with the current game as well. There'd been a bit of a gap at New Zealand Cricket for a while around their Level 3 course, so I helped to redevelop that and, I guess, bring in a little bit more professionalism along with some ideas, not necessarily about playing the game, but around the game as well, planning, periodisation, coaching process, things like that. So that was interesting.”
Meanwhile, Stead – whose heart still beats for the Kiwi cricket ecosystem – has found a way to stay connected to the workings of the sport back home. In September, he was signed on as a high-performance coach tasked with supporting player and coach development and overseeing high-performance programmes within the ambit of New Zealand Cricket.
The ‘part-time' gig, as he calls it, will let him continue to contribute to the cricket ecosystem in his country and not something that will require him to divide his attention and resources between two entities.
“My new role is a part-time thing. I'm there to help support the first-class players and coaches when I'm back in New Zealand, but also to probably oversee the New Zealand A program a little bit more and the players that are coming in,” he explained.
“That could be across men and women as well. It's exciting for me that there is still that opportunity to give back to New Zealand. It's been a huge part of my life for the last 30 years, when you consider coaching and playing. To be able to still have a connection there is great for me.”
Published - November 11, 2025 12:03 am IST
cricket
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: Andhra Ranji Trophy 2025, Gary Stead Andhra coach, Andhra cricket team rise, Ranji Trophy 2025 highlights, Gary Stead New Zealand coach, Andhra vs Tamil Nadu Ranji match
Barcelona began their La Liga title defence with a commanding 5-0 victory over Elche on Sunday, with Raphinha and Fermin Lopez scoring twice each and Anthony Gordon setting up two goals on his debut. The result comea a day after Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-1 with a late winner
12 hours ago
GCT Grand Finale: Praggnanandhaa beats Keymer to stake his claim for finals GCT Grand Finale: Praggnanandhaa beats Keymer to stake his claim for finals Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 09:43:17 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link St. Louis
12 hours ago
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin may have been vocal in his demand for the current FIFA president Gianni Infantino to step down but he has no interest in replacing the under-fire Swiss. Infantino continues to face pressure to leave his position as world football’s governing body chief following
12 hours ago
The French are known for a lot of things but badminton isn’t one of them. Till Sunday, when the country that has never been considered among the top nations even in Europe created history at the 2026 World championships, in more ways than one
12 hours ago
AITA picked them, the government cut them: Why has India’s Asian Games tennis squad been slashed from 12 to 7? The AITA had originally proposed a 12-member squad for for the Asian Games, which included six women. But the list was slashed down to just seven players. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026
12 hours ago
Ashton Jeanty injury update: Is the Raiders RB out for the season? Doctor reveals possible diagnoses; ‘best case…’ Ashton Jeanty was injured after attempting a catch, prompting a tense silence at the Raiders’ facility before his teammates gathered and knelt in prayer. Updated on: Aug 24
15 hours ago
When Liverpool came to Newcastle last August, there was utter jubilation as Rio Ngumoha scored a remarkable 100th-minute winner. They scored late again this time around, through Dominik Szoboszlai's 99th-minute penalty, but it felt more like a sense of relief than joy as they rescued a point
15 hours ago
'Is Sydney Taylor playing tonight?' Chicago Sky guard's slow start vs Fever sparks injury concerns Sydney Taylor was in Chicago’s starting lineup when the Sky hosted the Indiana Fever on Sunday night. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:32:12 IST By Ojas Jaiswal Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
15 hours ago
Yet again, the England men's cricket team is picking through the wreckage of a late-night misdemeanour. The latest stain on the game's reputation is a result of pictures of fast bowler Brydon Carse in handcuffs and surrounded by police officers outside a nightspot in Derby
15 hours ago
Jean-Philippe Mateta is arguing the remainder of his Crystal Palace contract is invalid and has taken his case to Fifa. Multiple sources have told BBC Sport the France international has launched an official challenge over the validity of the final 10 months on his Selhurst Park deal
1 days ago
Bangladesh 64: Starc 6-12 & 95: Shanto 31; Starc 4-39, Cummins 3-10, Lyon 3-25 Mitchell Starc took 10 wickets in the match as Australia bounced back from last week's shock defeat by Bangladesh to win the second Test by an innings and 51 runs and draw the series 1-1. Second Test
1 days ago
Jannik Sinner's absence benefits Carlos Alcaraz: What to expect from the US Open champion after his long injury layoff Jannik Sinner is out, but is it premature to call Carlos Alcaraz the US Open favourite after four months away? Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
US Open leaves Stan Wawrinka out in the cold, denying former champion a wild card for his final Grand Slam The US Open has surprisingly denied Stan Wawrinka a wild card for what could be his final appearance at a Grand Slam. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
India faced the Netherlands in their Pool E match of the ongoing FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 on Saturday (August 22) at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen but suffered a 1-3 defeat. India conceded one goal in the third quarter and two in the fourth quarter to go down against the hosts
1 days ago
There is an uncanny resemblance between Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa’s bronze-medal run at the 2011 BWF World Championships and Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand’s campaign at the 2026 edition. Jwala and Ashwini faced the second-seeded Cheng Wen-hsing and Chien Yu-chin as early as the
1 days ago
Runs on the board and rival wickets, is the template that Dhananjaya de Silva will chase when the second Test commences at the SSC Ground on Sunday (August 23, 2026). “It’s about putting runs on the board. That’s what India did [at Galle]. For the first two days they batted and got 460 runs
1 days ago
Serena Williams returns to US Open after four years, joins Carlos Alcaraz for mixed doubles Serena Williams will return to the US Open for the first time since 2022, partnering Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles after receiving a wildcard. Published on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
Roberto De Zerbi may have spent close to £400m by the time his Tottenham Hotspur rebuild is complete – but it took just his side's first Premier League game of the season to prove all the money in the world is no guaranteed cure for a losing mentality
1 days ago
Manchester United's fans had endured a bad enough day on the banks of the River Humber when Hull City's stadium announcer gleefully piped up midway through the second half. Two trains back to Manchester from the city centre station had been cancelled
1 days ago
From a shy girl to team mentor, Savita Punia says hockey changed her life From a shy girl to team mentor, Savita Punia says hockey changed her life Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 12:08:49 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Amstelveen
2 days ago
Shubhankar makes cut after spectacular ace at Nexo Championship Shubhankar makes cut after spectacular ace at Nexo Championship Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 12:17:58 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Aberdeenshire , Shubhankar Sharma ended his streak of four missed cuts as he made the
2 days ago
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi has been fined for slapping Philadelphia Union's Quinn Sullivan during their side's Major League Soccer (MLS) 2-2 draw on Wednesday. Messi, 39, slapped Sullivan around the back of the head towards the end of the game as he complained the Union player had elbowed him after
2 days ago
Premier League champions Arsenal will start the new season with some of the nightmares of the previous two as their marquee signing, midfielder Bruno Guimarães, is not part of the squad due to an injury. Guimarães signed for £75 million (Rs. 979 crore) from Newcastle United and suffered a knock
2 days ago
Nostalgia may have enveloped Sairaj Bahutule when he entered the SSC Ground. He would have remembered his last Test played at the same venue in 2001, a game India lost. The Indian spin-bowling coach, though, quickly immersed himself in the nets here Friday (August 21, 2026)
2 days ago
Lionel Messi fined for slapping opponent on the head as Inter Miami-Philadelphia clash erupts into late red-card chaos Lionel Messi was fined by MLS after slapping Philadelphia's Quinn Sullivan on the head as Inter Miami's 2-2 draw desecended into stoppage-time chaos. Updated on: Aug 22, 2026
2 days ago
Double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra managed to deliver his season’s best performance at the Lausanne Diamond League on Friday but fell agonisingly short of the top spot, as Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage finished first with a throw just nine centimetres more than his
2 days ago
Why did Nick Chubb retire? Net worth in focus as NFL player ends career at 30 Nick Chubb played for eight seasons in NFL that included seven years with the Cleveland Browns and one with the Houston Texans. Updated on: Aug 22, 2026, 09:25:09 IST By Shirin Gupta Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
2 days ago
