Dimitri Mascarenhas named New Zealand bowling coach

Former England all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas has been appointed as New Zealand’s bowling coach for their tour of England this summer.

The 37-year-old, who played 20 one-day internationals for England, replaces Shane Bond who will leave the New Zealand coaching panel at the end of the World Cup to take up a role with the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.

Former Hampshire captain Mascarenhas, who is currently coaching the Otago Volts in the New Zealand domestic competition, believes his knowledge of pitches and players in England will be a valuable asset for New Zealand.

"I am newly out of the scene there as a player and I know most of the guys in the current team very well ... and I know all the grounds we are playing at intimately so those factors will be useful in terms of the scouting and bowling plans," he said.

New Zealand head to England in late May to play two Tests, five ODIs and one Twenty20 with Mascarenhas taking over a bowling unit spearheaded by Trent Boult and Tim Southee, both top-10 ranked Test bowlers and two of the leading World Cup wicket takers.

"Bondy (Shane Bond) has done an extremely good job with his bowling unit; they have operated with real pace, skill and tactical awareness,” he added.

"During this World Cup they have been phenomenal and I am looking forward to working with those guys to keep developing them and helping them achieve success on the international stage."

Mascarenhas played the last of his 20 ODIs in 2009 and took 13 wickets at 48.76 for England as well as averaging 22.27 with the bat.

New Zealand Cricket will make a long-term decision on a new bowling coach before the side leaves to tour Zimbabwe and South Africa in late July.