A low-profile South African is emerging as a leading contender to take over from John Wright, as significant changes to New Zealand's cricket coaching structure are brewing.
An increasingly hectic international programme and the need for expertise over three formats has compelled New Zealand Cricket to look at overhauling the brief of the head coach.
NZC was impressed by the way South Africa structured its coaching and management team during its ruthless dismantling of New Zealand this year.
One of the key planks of the Proteas' operations has been Paddy Upton (43).
He has been South African coach Gary Kirsten's right-hand man going back to their days in charge of the Indian team from 2008 until the end of last year's World Cup.
Upton joined the South African staff in June last year as mental conditioning coach.
Despite strong ties to Kirsten, Upton, who played two first-class games for Western Province and is now trainer and mental skills coach at the Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League, is known to covet a head role in international cricket.
Despite his lack of credentials as an international player, he is regarded as a coach with the wide and necessary range of skills.
It is understood while decisions on the replacement for Wright are some way off, the models used by both South Africa and England, where former Zimbabwe batsman Andy Flower is the head of team operations, appeal to NZC.
At those teams, a head coach has several staff under him with specific roles in one-dayers, twenty/20 or test cricket and an element of rotation would apply, related to the type of cricket each tour involves.
"Whilst the team is touring and playing one form of the game you must ensure other specialists are preparing [for other assignments] as well.
"South Africa do that; England do that and it is something we need to look at," NZC chief executive David White said.
The demanding nature of the Future Tours Programme, now inked in from this year until 2020, meant it was prudent to consider how the national side was run, he said.
With Wright opting not to take up a fresh contract, but still in charge until the end of the tour of the West Indies in July-August, NZC believed the time was right to investigate all options.
Another coach in the frame is Wellington's Australian, Jamie Siddons.
He has completed his first season in charge, after working under NZC director of cricket John Buchanan as an Australian assistant coach, then doing three years with Bangladesh.
He rates Buchanan's lateral-thinking skills while his term with Bangladesh gave him an insight into the demands oncoaches in the modern game.
Siddons, who has a young family, said he would need to consider all aspects if offered a part in a new NZC setup, but would be interested in a role.
