Gary Stead

{{short description|New Zealand cricketer}}

{{for|the speedway rider|Garry Stead}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Gary Stead

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Gary Raymond Stead

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|1|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand

| family = David Stead (father)
Janice Stead (aunt)

| country = New Zealand

| international = true

| internationalspan = 1999

| testdebutdate = 11 March

| testdebutyear = 1999

| testdebutagainst = South Africa

| testcap = 207

| lasttestdate = 26 December

| lasttestyear = 1999

| lasttestagainst = West Indies

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Legbreak

| columns = 3

| column1 = Test

| matches1 = 5

| runs1 = 278

| bat avg1 = 34.75

| 100s/50s1 = 0/2

| top score1 = 78

| deliveries1 = 6

| wickets1 = 0

| bowl avg1 = –

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = –

| catches/stumpings1= 2/–

| column2 = FC

| matches2 = 101

| runs2 = 4,984

| bat avg2 = 32.15

| 100s/50s2 = 10/24

| top score2 = 190

| deliveries2 = 1,053

| wickets2 = 9

| bowl avg2 = 65.22

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 4/58

| catches/stumpings2= 46/–

| column3 = LA

| matches3 = 103

| runs3 = 2,173

| bat avg3 = 27.85

| 100s/50s3 = 2/10

| top score3 = 101*

| deliveries3 = 48

| wickets3 = 1

| bowl avg3 = 43.00

| fivefor3 = 0

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 1/20

| catches/stumpings3= 37/–

| coachclub1 = New Zealand

| coachyear1 = 2018–2025

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport|Men's Cricket}}

{{MedalCountry |{{NZ}}}} as Coach

{{MedalCompetition|ICC Cricket World Cup}}

{{Medal|RU|2019 England and Wales|}}

{{MedalCompetition|ICC World Test Championship}}

{{Medal|W|2019-2021|}}

{{MedalCompetition|ICC Men's T20 World Cup}}

{{Medal|RU|2021 UAE and Oman|}}

| date = 1 May

| year = 2017

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/38403.html Cricinfo

}}

Gary Raymond Stead (born 9 January 1972) is a New Zealand cricket coach and former cricketer. He was the head coach of the New Zealand cricket team from August 2018 to June 2025, and coached the New Zealand squad which won the 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzc.nz/news-items/gary-stead-bows-out-as-blackcaps-coach/|title=Gary Stead bows out as BLACKCAPS coach|website=New Zealand Cricket|accessdate=6 June 2025}}

A top-order batsman, Stead played five Tests in nine months in 1999, averaging 34.75 and never being dismissed in single figures. Against South Africa he showed his great character at Wellington, scoring 68 and 33,{{cite web |title=New Zealand v South Africa, Wellington 1998-99 |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/67/67387.html |website=CricketArchive |accessdate=18 August 2018}} but after two mediocre performances against West Indies he was dropped. His Test call-up had come after eight years of first-class cricket with Canterbury, and he led them for five seasons from 1998–99 in a period when they struggled.

After he finished playing, he took up coaching and became coach of the successful New Zealand women's team. In August 2018, New Zealand Cricket appointed Stead coach of the New Zealand men's team, succeeding Mike Hesson.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzc.nz/news-items/stead-named-blackcaps-head-coach|title=Stead named BLACKCAPS Head Coach|website=New Zealand Cricket|accessdate=15 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815131442/https://www.nzc.nz/news-items/stead-named-blackcaps-head-coach|archive-date=15 August 2018|url-status=dead}}

After New Zealand's loss in a Super over against England in the 2019 World Cup, Stead criticised the decision of the ICC to go to a tie break and raised the idea of sharing the World Cup Trophy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27196320/sharing-world-cup-be-considered-new-zealand-coach|title=Sharing World Cup 'something that should be considered' - New Zealand coach|date=2019-07-15|website=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2019-07-16}}