New Zealand cricket has taken a significant step in strengthening the New Zealand women’s backroom staff, with former New Zealand men’s player Craig McMillan officially appointed as a full-time assistant coach. The announcement comes just over a year after McMillan first joined the side on a part-time basis, during which he played an important role in their growth and success.
McMillan, who previously balanced coaching with commentary and other cricketing responsibilities, will now dedicate his time solely to the New Zealand women’s setup. His focus will remain on batting and fielding, working closely alongside head coach Ben Sawyer and fellow assistant Dean Brownlie. This marks a new chapter in McMillan’s career as he steps away from his successful commentary duties to fully invest in women’s cricket.
Having been part of the coaching group during the New Zealand women’s landmark triumph at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE, McMillan is no stranger to success with the side.
Reflecting on his journey so far, he said, “I’m over the moon to be in this role with the WHITE FERNS. The women’s game is going from strength to strength, and I’m excited to continue to work with our talented players and help them reach their goals. The last year has gone so quickly, and I’ve loved every minute of being part of a team that continues to improve, challenge one another, and does special things on the world stage.”
Attention has now shifted to the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, with New Zealand eager to end a long wait for success in the 50-over format. McMillan highlighted the intense preparation already underway, “It’s been a busy period leading into the 50-over World Cup. We’ve had a number of camps including one in Chennai which exposed the players to Indian conditions like what they’ll face in October-November. The team is pumped to get back to India and take on another World Cup.”
The New Zealand women’s official squad announcement for the World Cup is scheduled for September 10, with anticipation running high across the cricketing community.
Despite being the defending champions in the shortest format, the New Zealand women’s record in One-Day Internationals has been far less inspiring. The team last lifted the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2000 and has not reached the knockout stages since 2005. Their most recent campaign, on home soil in 2022, ended in disappointment with a sixth-place finish.
Qualification for the upcoming edition was also far from straightforward. New Zealand narrowly avoided having to play in the Qualifiers, relying on a superior net run rate after Bangladesh fell short in their series against West Indies in January 2025.
McMillan’s full-time appointment brings renewed optimism to the New Zealand women as they prepare for India. With the experience of guiding the team to T20 glory and the hunger to chase down a long-awaited ODI title, he is determined to help the players achieve new heights on the global stage.
(Quotes sourced from New Zealand Cricket press release)
