Cape Town - A South African is reportedly one of the favourites to become the next head coach of New Zealand’s national cricket team.

The Black Caps are looking for a new coach after Mike Hesson resigned in June, citing family reasons.

According to the Stuff.co.nz website, Central Stags coach Heinrich Malan and Canterbury's Gary Stead are the two main candidates, with final interviews scheduled for this week.

The 37-year-old Malan, who was born in Pretoria and played 10 first class matches for Northerns, has coached the Stags since 2013.

He was previously involved at the University of Pretoria’s cricket club as an administrator and also coached Easterns’ amateur team for two years.

The New Zealand website said Malan is “recognised as an excellent technical coach” and “a methodical planner in the Hesson mould who successfully evolved his methods in his five years in New Zealand”.

Under the guidance of Malan, the Central Stags won New Zealand’s first class competition, the Plunkett Shield, in the 2017/18 season. They also won New Zealand’s main 50-over limited overs competition in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons.

The 46-year-old Stead is a former New Zealand women's coach and played five Tests for the Black Caps.