Belfast: New Zealander John Bracewell will step down as head coach of Ireland at the end of his contract in December, the country’s cricket board has said. The former New Zealand coach replaced West Indian Phil Simmons at the helm following the 2015 World Cup and will step down after two and half years in the role. Last month, the International Cricket Council (ICC) voted to admit Afghanistan and Ireland into the elite group permitted to play traditional five-day Test matches. As new full members of the ICC, Ireland and Afghanistan will take the total of countries playing Tests to 12.
“Having been down the full-on Full Member road before with New Zealand Cricket, it is not my desire to do so again,” Bracewell said.
