Former New Zealand international Craig Cumming was appointed as Head Coach of The Blaze in December 2024.

He had previously enjoyed a successful four years in charge of Otago Sparks in his homeland, winning the 50-over Hallyburton Johnstone Shield in 2022 and 2024, as well as reaching the final of the T20 Super Smash in 2022.

As a player, Cumming was an opening batter who made 24 appearances for his country in Test and ODI cricket, and in March 2005, he faced what is considered to be the fastest ball ever witnessed in New Zealand, when Australian speedster Brett Lee bowled him a delivery at over 99mph.

He played domestically for his home state of Canterbury between 1993 and 2000, but it was his 12 years with Otago that followed where he truly made his name, and to this day, he remains the state’s all-time leading run-scorer in First-Class cricket, with 6,589.

After The Blaze reached the semi-finals of all three competitions in Cumming’s first season in charge in 2025, the side truly flourished in his second, bringing home an unprecedented treble of the Metro Bank One Day Cup, the Vitality Blast, and the Vitality Women’s T20 County Cup.