HAMPSHIRE Cricket legend Dimitri Mascarenhas has quit as New Zealand’s bowling coach – to put his family first.

The former England all-rounder was appointed to the role in June last year when Shane Bond – one of Mascarenhas’ former Ageas Bowl colleagues - walked away after the ICC Cricket World Cup. The 38-year-old, who has a wife and two young children, will finish next month after finding the time on the road too demanding.

Coach Mike Hesson revealed this week that he had only spent 23 days at home in 2015. “It has been really tough being on the road for a long time,” Mascarenhas said. “We thought we could get by it, but it is a little bit tough and I thought I would make the right decision by them [his family].”

Mascarenhas made the decision to finish with the Black Caps before Christmas and insisted there were no issues with any of the players or support staff behind his decision.

“I have a great relationship with all of the squad, the players and the support staff, so the decision is purely based on family.

"It is time for me to go home and spend some more time with them.

“I had an amazing time with the team. It’s probably been the best time I’ve had in cricket, either as a player or as a coach.”

Mascarenhas said the high turnover for international cricket teams’ support staff was not surprising considering the significant demands of the roles.

“Not just bowling coaches. I think any support staff [struggle].

"It is 12 months of the year now, there is no season or time off, it is full on and that does take its toll.

Everyone deals with it in their own way but for me it is the right time to move on.”

Mascarenhas is keen to stay in cricket and wants to stay working as a bowling coach.

“That is what I love. I have loved every minute of this with the guys and that is what I want to keep doing.”

Mascarenhas was New Zealand’s third bowling coach in five years after Bond and South African Allan Donald.

In that time, the trio have developed a bowling stable spearheaded by Trent Boult and Tim Southee, both top-10 Test bowlers, with Boult also the top-ranked ODI bowler.

Hesson said: “While obviously disappointed, we understand that family comes first and the demands of the international calendar are not always compatible with that.

“We look forward to having Dimi with us through to the end of the Australian series and wish him well in the future.”

Mascarenhas retired from first-class cricket when he left Hampshire in 2013 after 18 seasons with the county.

During his time on the south coast he made 195 first-class appearances, scoring 6,495 runs and taking 450 wickets.

He also made 20 England ODI appearances between 2007-2009, and 14 T20 international outings in the same period.

His 152 T20 wickets in 130 matches - including 94 for Hampshire, 14 for Rajasthan Royals and 12 for England and Otago - make him the format's leading England-qualified wicket-taker, two-and-a-half years since his retirement.