A blend of current and former international and domestic cricketers will feature in New Zealand Cricket's Performance Coaching Course (PCC) for the 2026/27 season.
Now entering its fourth year, the NZC Performance Coaching Course is a 10-month programme designed to support the development of high-performing coaches across the country. The programme combines three in-person residential camps, online learning forums, mentoring opportunities and observation within participants' own coaching environments.
NZC Hall of Fame inductee Emily Drumm (Auckland), current contracted BLACKCAP Tom Blundell (Wellington), Former BLACKCAP Anton Devcich (Northern Districts) and WHITE FERNS selector Sarah Tsukigawa (Otago) are among the 13 coaches named in the latest cohort, showcasing the depth of coaching talent continuing to emerge across the New Zealand Cricket system.
For Drumm, one of the most decorated figures in New Zealand women's cricket history, the move into coaching has felt like a natural progression.
"For me, it's about continuing to develop and broaden my learning, while also giving back to the game that’s given me so much.
"I'm excited to be back involved and have the opportunity to work with the rising stars of tomorrow.”
Drumm was also equally enthusiastic about what the cohort represents for the future of women's coaching in New Zealand.
“When I look around at the women involved in coaching across New Zealand, there is so much talent here.
“This programme is a brilliant way to nurture that and make sure those coaches get the opportunity and support they deserve at the performance level."
The cohort also reflects the international talent of cricket in New Zealand, with former Sri Lankan international Malinda Warnapura (Wellington) and Prabodha Ellawala Liyanage (Northern Districts) adding global experience to the group.
Current domestic player Cam Fletcher (Auckland) is joined by a strong contingent of former domestic representatives in Ken McClure (Canterbury), Louis Delport (Auckland), Mitch Renwick (Northern Districts), Nick White (Auckland), Rob Frew (Canterbury) and Sam Fairley (Wellington).
National Coach Development Manager, Toby Doyle, says the cohort represents a meaningful step in how New Zealand Cricket continues to build coaching capability at the performance level.
"This Performance Coaching cohort represents an exciting step forward for how we continue to grow coaching capability across the country," said Doyle.
"We have been deliberate in using feedback and reflection from past cohorts to evolve the programme. Those learnings have helped sharpen our focus, strengthen the learning design and ensure the course remains relevant to the realities coaches are working within in performance environments."
NZC High Performance Coach Development Manager Dave Keetly was equally enthusiastic about the calibre of this year's intake.
"We've selected 13 high-quality coaches for this cohort, and it's exciting to see some well-known names from their playing careers now showing real potential as coaches," said Keetly.
"People like Tom Blundell, Anton Devcich, and Emily Drumm bring significant mana to the game, and seeing them transition into coaching roles to share their knowledge is hugely positive.
"One of the key selection criteria for this programme is an openness to learning, and this cohort clearly demonstrates that mindset. Through their applications, this group showed a genuine willingness to challenge themselves and their thinking as they continue to grow their coaching capability."
The first residential camp for the new cohort will take place in Lincoln on June 6 and 7.
The previous cohort completed the programme in April 2025, with graduates continuing to contribute across high performance, domestic and community cricket environments.
2026/27 Performance Coaching Course Participants
Anton Devcich Northern Districts
Cam Fletcher Auckland
Emily Drumm Auckland
Ken McClure Canterbury
Louis Delport Auckland
Malinda Warnapura Wellington
Mitch Renwick Northern Districts
Nick White Auckland
Prabodha Ellawala Liyanage Northern Districts
Rob Frew Canterbury
Sam Fairley Wellington
Sarah Tsukigawa Otago
Tom Blundell Wellington
