Kiwi coach Bracewell to step down in 2009

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- National head coach John Bracewell will not seek reappointment when his current contract ends in April 2009, New Zealand Cricket said on Friday.

Bracewell, who has coached New Zealand since 2003, has indicated he would like to return to coaching an English county side.

He coached Gloucestershire with considerable success before taking up the New Zealand post.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said Bracewell's early announcement gave the sport's national governing body extra time to seek a replacement.

"It's to really allow New Zealand Cricket an unrushed search and recruitment process so we can go around having discussions with coaches either within New Zealand or internationally," Vaughan said. "And to be able to do that in an open manner, rather than having to try and do it on the sly.

"The preference is for the coach who can take this group of players and win lots of games. Whether that's a New Zealander or an international coach, they will just have to be decided on their merits."

Bracewell is in England with the New Zealand team ahead of a three-Test series which starts next week.

In other cricket news on Friday, Australian vice captain Michael Clarke has withdrawn from the start of their three-Test tour to the West Indies for family reasons. The remainder of the squad broke camp in Brisbane on Friday and will leave on Saturday for Jamaica.

Cricket Australia released a statement saying Clarke had been granted "compassionate leave for private family reasons" and his arrival date in the West Indies remained unclear.

Domestic media reported that Clarke asked for a delay in his departure due to the failing health of his fiancee Lara Bingle's father Graham, who reportedly has liver cancer.

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