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New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced the appointment of a new head coach for the national men’s team, marking the beginning of a fresh chapter after Gary Stead‘s departure. The decision comes ahead of a crucial international cycle that includes multiple ICC tournaments and cricket’s return to the Olympic stage in 2028.
New Zealand appoints former South Africa white-ball coach for the role
Following weeks of speculation, NZC confirmed that former South Africa white-ball coach Rob Walter will take charge of the Blackcaps across all formats. The 49-year-old has signed a three-year deal, replacing Stead, who served in the role since 2018. Initially, NZC had planned to split the coaching roles between red and white-ball formats but later opted for a unified approach.
Walter’s recent success with South Africa includes a semi-final finish in the 2023 ODI World Cup, a runners-up spot in the 2024 T20 World Cup, and another semi-final in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Despite his tenure with South Africa, Walter has deep ties to New Zealand, having coached Otago Volts and Central Stags domestically. He also led New Zealand A on a tour of India in 2022 and has worked in the IPL as an assistant coach.
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The future projects for the new coach
Under his new role, Walter will guide the Blackcaps through the next World Test Championship cycle, the 2027 ODI World Cup, the 2026 and 2028 T20 World Cups, and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. His appointment is expected to bring consistency and vision to the team as New Zealand looks to develop its next generation of stars while maintaining its competitive edge on the global stage.
Walter expressed his excitement and gratitude upon being appointed as New Zealand’s head coach, acknowledging the Blackcaps’ strong reputation in international cricket. He described the role as a privilege and looked forward to working with a talented squad and support staff during an action-packed period that includes major global tournaments and high-profile bilateral series.
“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,” said Walter in a statement.
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