The man said to be New Zealand’s most successful cricket coach in history has been appointed coach of the Black Caps.
Rob Walter replaces Gary Stead in all formats.
He is he former South Africa, Otago and Central Districts boss and will take charge until the end of the T20 World Cup in November 2028.
Rob Walter talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about his new role.
LISTEN ABOVE.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Rob Walter is the guy who's just been named the
new head coach the black Caps. He takes over from
Gary Stead, who, of course only wanted to coach the
Red bull cracket, but that was not an option. And
Rob is with us right now.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
I have Rob congratulations, Thanks very much. When did you
get the news on Wednesday? Known for a couple of days.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Are you still fizzling about it?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Absolutely? Obviously today it became a little bit more ill
with all the press engagements. But yeah, looking forward to
is gonna be awesome opportunity.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Yeah. Now, how do you feel about the workload you've
just been given, because Gary Stead has said that really
doing all three formats is just too much.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
I suppose, you know, having had a taste of it,
albeit just in the white ball format for the last
couple of years, have a good sense of, you know,
the responsibility from a time point of view. So I mean, yes,
the workload potentially, you know, is significant, But looking forward
to Unfortunately, my family, as I said that, the taste
of it and understand very supportive of it. So I
(01:03):
just looking forward to getting my feet and the shoes
and getting active.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Yeah, how do you feel about the fact that so
many of our cricketers are now choosing not to sign
the central contracts.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
To be fair, it's kind of, you know, a sign
of the times really, you know, the league. The League's
obviously you know, drawing players away from national contract team
just given you know the financial implications of it already.
So I mean, not totally ununderstandable, we get it. It's
really about being flexible, trying to evolve with the times,
(01:36):
understanding where international cricket is headed. I think fortunately we've
got a group of players who are certainly very focused
on playing for the Black Apps and so trying to
be you know, to move with it and be flexible
in terms of how we contract players. News even cred
really have been trendsetter in that department, so we know
we're going to have to keep moving and you know,
(01:58):
there's no black and White, so that it's going to
have to be kind of a moving target and trying
to get the best of both both.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Do you think that you prioritize the players, Like if
you have everybody available for selection and you've got people
who've signed the central contracts and people who haven't, do
you prioritize the ones who've signed the central contracts as
if to kind of send a message to the ones
who aren't, or do you just treat them all the same?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
No, I mean, obviously there is an element of acknowledging
those you have committed through contracts, you know, to New
Zealand and to the black Caps. I mean, that's it
goes without saying. But in the same breath, there are
guys who have earned the right to have a look
at these different opportunities, you know. So at the end
of the day, Kaine Williamson is a perfect example. You said,
(02:41):
you're not going to hold it against game that he's
having a look at opportunities. You know, he's earned that right.
So as I said, you know, there's not going to
be one rule that can't work that way. And ultimately
we saw want to win games of crickets for the
black Caps and for New Zealand and play great cricket
and represent the country. Well, so we want to pick
you know, players are going to do that.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Now, how are you going to feel because that is
one hell of an accent you've got there, and it
escapes nobody where you're from. How are you going to
feel about going up against you know, your homeland?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
I mean to be fair. You know, I've spent nine
years in New Zealand. Although maybe my accent doesn't quite
tell the story, but no, I mean for me, as
I said, you know, I was very privileged to your
coach South Africa and again to get to this job.
You know, I'm coached to side that I'm fortunate enough
to have called home across you know, my life. So
first year, you're not going to.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Feel a little bit You're not going to feel a
bit bittersweet about it.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
No, not at all. I mean, at the end of
the day, I'd certainly Shukri is a now the coach
is a red Bull coach and I all fought all formats.
I'd love to get bragging right over him and we
get on really well. But it'd be nice to walk
all over that. You know, you know you're.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Going to get a hard time. Mate, We're going to
give you a hard time because because you've got that accent.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I've had it. I've had it, and I understand probably
continue to get it. That's okay, I don't that's the
way about the authorities, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
As long as you're prepared for it, Rob, go well,
and I hope you have many successes because we'll all
enjoy it very much. Rob Walter, the black Caps coach.
For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
news talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
Rob Walter is the guy who's just been named the
new head coach the black Caps. He takes over from
Gary Stead, who, of course only wanted to coach the
Red bull cracket, but that was not an option. And
Rob is with us right now.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
I have Rob congratulations, Thanks very much. When did you
get the news on Wednesday? Known for a couple of days.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Are you still fizzling about it?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Absolutely? Obviously today it became a little bit more ill
with all the press engagements. But yeah, looking forward to
is gonna be awesome opportunity.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Yeah. Now, how do you feel about the workload you've
just been given, because Gary Stead has said that really
doing all three formats is just too much.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
I suppose, you know, having had a taste of it,
albeit just in the white ball format for the last
couple of years, have a good sense of, you know,
the responsibility from a time point of view. So I mean, yes,
the workload potentially, you know, is significant, But looking forward
to Unfortunately, my family, as I said that, the taste
of it and understand very supportive of it. So I
(01:03):
just looking forward to getting my feet and the shoes
and getting active.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Yeah, how do you feel about the fact that so
many of our cricketers are now choosing not to sign
the central contracts.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
To be fair, it's kind of, you know, a sign
of the times really, you know, the league. The League's
obviously you know, drawing players away from national contract team
just given you know the financial implications of it already.
So I mean, not totally ununderstandable, we get it. It's
really about being flexible, trying to evolve with the times,
(01:36):
understanding where international cricket is headed. I think fortunately we've
got a group of players who are certainly very focused
on playing for the Black Apps and so trying to
be you know, to move with it and be flexible
in terms of how we contract players. News even cred
really have been trendsetter in that department, so we know
we're going to have to keep moving and you know,
(01:58):
there's no black and White, so that it's going to
have to be kind of a moving target and trying
to get the best of both both.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Do you think that you prioritize the players, Like if
you have everybody available for selection and you've got people
who've signed the central contracts and people who haven't, do
you prioritize the ones who've signed the central contracts as
if to kind of send a message to the ones
who aren't, or do you just treat them all the same?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
No, I mean, obviously there is an element of acknowledging
those you have committed through contracts, you know, to New
Zealand and to the black Caps. I mean, that's it
goes without saying. But in the same breath, there are
guys who have earned the right to have a look
at these different opportunities, you know. So at the end
of the day, Kaine Williamson is a perfect example. You said,
(02:41):
you're not going to hold it against game that he's
having a look at opportunities. You know, he's earned that right.
So as I said, you know, there's not going to
be one rule that can't work that way. And ultimately
we saw want to win games of crickets for the
black Caps and for New Zealand and play great cricket
and represent the country. Well, so we want to pick
you know, players are going to do that.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Now, how are you going to feel because that is
one hell of an accent you've got there, and it
escapes nobody where you're from. How are you going to
feel about going up against you know, your homeland?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
I mean to be fair. You know, I've spent nine
years in New Zealand. Although maybe my accent doesn't quite
tell the story, but no, I mean for me, as
I said, you know, I was very privileged to your
coach South Africa and again to get to this job.
You know, I'm coached to side that I'm fortunate enough
to have called home across you know, my life. So
first year, you're not going to.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Feel a little bit You're not going to feel a
bit bittersweet about it.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
No, not at all. I mean, at the end of
the day, I'd certainly Shukri is a now the coach
is a red Bull coach and I all fought all formats.
I'd love to get bragging right over him and we
get on really well. But it'd be nice to walk
all over that. You know, you know you're.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Going to get a hard time. Mate, We're going to
give you a hard time because because you've got that accent.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I've had it. I've had it, and I understand probably
continue to get it. That's okay, I don't that's the
way about the authorities, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
As long as you're prepared for it, Rob, go well,
and I hope you have many successes because we'll all
enjoy it very much. Rob Walter, the black Caps coach.
For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
news talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.