Englishman Andy Moles was named on Tuesday to succeed John Bracewell as New Zealand cricket coach.
Moles, 47, has previously coached Kenya and Scotland and has been coach of the New Zealand provincial side Northern Districts for the past two seasons.
His appointment, announced by New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan, followed news earlier on Tuesday that Australian Matthew Mott, the leading contender for the role, had withdrawn.
Mott decided to sign a new two-year contract with the Australian state side New South Wales, leaving Moles and former New Zealand allrounder Dipak Patel the only candidates for the position Bracewell will vacate in April.
At a hastily-convened news conference on Tuesday, Vaughan hailed Moles' coaching credentials.
"He has made a real impact at Northern Districts over the past two seasons and also brings more than 15 years' experience coaching," Vaughan said.
Moles will take over when Bracewell's contract expires in April.
Moles was a top-order batsman for the English country Warwickshire until injury forced his retirement in 1998. He also coached in Hong Kong and South Africa as well as guiding the Kenyan and Scottish national team.
In his first season in charge of Northern Districts - home province of New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori - he won the New Zealand first-class championship but Northern dropped to next-to-last place.
{{/usCountry}}In his first season in charge of Northern Districts - home province of New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori - he won the New Zealand first-class championship but Northern dropped to next-to-last place.
{{/usCountry}}Moles takes over the New Zealand team at a difficult time. It recently dropped to seventh place on the rankings of Test-playing nations.