Rob Walter Linked to New Zealand Coaching Role After Stepping Down as South Africa Coach

Rob Walter has resigned as South Africa’s white-ball coach, opening the door for a potential return to New Zealand. Reports suggest he is in contention for a coaching role with the New Zealand men’s team.

Possible Role with New Zealand

New Zealand’s head coach, Gary Stead, has a contract until June 2025. It is unclear whether he will continue. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has considered a split coaching system. The board may appoint different coaches for red-ball and white-ball cricket.

Walter has experience with this system. He was South Africa’s ODI and T20I coach, while Shukri Conrad handled the Test team. If Stead steps down, Walter could take over one of the roles.

Walter’s Decision to Quit South Africa

Walter left his role two years into a four-year contract. He cited family reasons and travel difficulties. His family lives in New Zealand, and he found frequent travel challenging.

CSA (Cricket South Africa) had expected him to move to South Africa when he took the job in 2023. However, he later decided against relocating. His resignation surprised CSA, but they accepted his decision.

Walter’s Success and Struggles with South Africa

Walter had mixed results as South Africa’s white-ball coach. He led them to their first-ever World Cup final in the 2024 T20 World Cup. He also guided them to the semi-finals in the ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy.

However, his bilateral record was poor. Critics also questioned his team selection. South Africa’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad had only one black African player, which raised concerns over transformation policies.

New Zealand’s Changing Cricket Landscape

New Zealand Cricket is undergoing changes. Key players like Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, and Lockie Ferguson have declined central contracts. The captaincy is now split, with Tom Latham leading in Tests and Mitchell Santner in white-ball formats.

These changes may prompt NZC to split the coaching duties as well. Walter, who has coached Otago and Central Stags in New Zealand, could be a strong candidate.

South Africa’s Next Coach

CSA must now find a replacement for Walter. Test coach Shukri Conrad is the favorite to take over the white-ball teams. CSA could return to an all-format coaching model. The board will meet next week to discuss the selection process.

Walter was under contract until the 2027 ODI World Cup. South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will co-host the tournament. CSA wants stability before that event.

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