Paul Strang takes over as high performance coach at Auckland © Getty Images

Paul Strang, the former Zimbabwe legspinner, has been appointed the high performance coach of Auckland Cricket. He will initially work with a squad of 15 players who have been identified by New Zealand and Auckland Cricket High Performance staff as having the potential to play for the national side.

"Each player will have different needs so the process will be slightly organic to begin with," Strang told NZPA, "but the bottom line is I'm here to make certain they are getting the appropriate assistance to ensure their full development as cricketers." The group of players he will be initially involved with include Michael Guptill, who starred during the recent Emerrging Players' tournament in Brisbane, and experienced players like batsman Rob Nicol and wicketkeeper Reece Young.

Strang played 24 Tests and 95 ODIs for Zimbabwe before a chronic muscular injury to his bowling hand ended his career in 2001. He moved to New Zealand four years ago, which gives him first-hand knowledge of the local cricket scene.

Squad
Martin Guptill, Colin de Grandhomme, Andrew de Boorder, Reece Young, Rob Nicol, Jeet Raval, Greg Morgan, Craig Cachopa, Jimmy Neesham, Shaun McCann, Rory Christopherson, Alex Newland, James Fuller, William Brittain, Jack Dowd.