New Zealand Appoints Rob Walter as Head Coach

New Zealand Cricket has announced the appointment of Rob Walter as the head coach of the New Zealand Men's team, effective mid-June and extending till the end of the 2028 ICC T20 World Cup. Walter, 49, takes over from Gary Stead, who recently resigned after a seven-year stint.

Walter's coaching experience includes stints with the South African men's team, Otago Volts, Central Stags, and New Zealand A squad. He has guided his teams to several notable achievements, including the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup, 2025 Champions Trophy, and the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup.

In his upcoming tenure, Walter will oversee New Zealand's campaigns in the ICC World Test Championship, 2028 LA Olympics, and three major ICC events: the 2026 T20 World Cup, 2027 Cricket World Cup, and 2028 T20 World Cup.

Walter expressed his excitement about the appointment, saying, "It's a real privilege to be given the chance to add to the Black Caps' success." He added, "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."

NZC chief executive Scott Weenink praised Walter's appointment, saying, "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 Black Caps."