New Delhi: Rob Walter, who recently stepped down from his role as South Africa’s white-ball coach, has been named as New Zealand men’s new head coach across all formats. For the next three years, Walter, 49, will be with the Blackcaps as announced by the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Friday. He had been one of the leading candidates after he quit the role with South Africa despite having more than two years of time left on his Cricket South Africa (CSA) contract.
Walter notably led South Africa to the semifinals of the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy as well, also the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Walter’s family was based in New Zealand all this time when he coached the Proteas, having set up his life in Hawke’s Bay after the head coaching roles with Otago Volts and Central Stags in New Zealand domestic cricket.
His coaching led Stags to titles in the Ford Trophy and the Plunket Shield in 2022-23. Previously, Walter also led New Zealand A on a tour of India in 2022 and has also done stints as an assistant coach in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He will take over as New Zealand’s all-format head coach from Gary Stead, despite the Kiwi board initially advertising to split the head coaching roles between white and red-ball formats.
Walter’s tenure will run for the Blackcaps through the next WTC cycle, the next ODI World Cup in 2027, the next two T20 World Cups in 2026 and 2028, as well as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He is set to take over in mid-June ahead of New Zealand’s tour of Zimbabwe in July.
News | New Zealand Cricket is thrilled to announce the appointment of Rob Walter as the new Head Coach of the BLACKCAPS. #CricketNationhttps://t.co/i41g8SEWP8
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 5, 2025
🗣️ “It’s an epic three-and-a-half year period that awaits the team.”
Introducing our new Head Coach – Rob Walter 🤝 pic.twitter.com/luLn7zcmI2
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 6, 2025
Here’s what Walter said on his appointment
“The Blackcaps have been a successful and highly-regarded team on the world scene for some time now, and it’s a real privilege to be given the chance to add to that. It’s an amazing opportunity to work with such a talented group of players and support staff through a period of time in which so many global events, as well as massive bilateral series, will be contested. I just can’t wait to get started. It’s exciting, it’s challenging, and the opportunity is enormous for everyone,” Walter said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Meanwhile, NZC chief executive Scott Weenink said that it was the correct time and place for Walter to take over the role. “Rob is a world-class coach with an outstanding pedigree. His success in New Zealand’s domestic game, combined with his recent achievements on the global stage with South Africa, makes him the ideal candidate to lead the Blackcaps. We’re excited to welcome Rob back home to guide our team through an exciting and challenging period, including three major ICC events,” Weenink said.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced the appointment of Rob Walter as the new head coach of the men’s cricket team in all three formats as a replacement for Gary Stead. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
