New Zealander Tony Hill is to step down from the International Cricket Council’s panel of elite umpires and take up a job coaching local umpires.

The 62-year-old will take up the role of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) umpire coach in March.

It will bring Hill’s 15-year international umpiring career to an end after officiating in 40 Tests, 96 one-day internationals and 17 Twenty20s.

He will manage recruitment and retention processes for amateur umpires, identify potential professional umpires and coach New Zealand’s elite umpires.

“The demand for quality umpires in our game is ever increasing and we’re dedicated to providing top-level officiating at all levels of the game,” said NZC national umpiring manager Rodger McHarg.

“We believe Tony will be instrumental in helping us to continue to raise that bar.”