In a major strategic shift, New Zealand Cricket has appointed Rob Walter as the new head coach of the national men’s team, replacing Gary Stead. The announcement came on Friday, June 6, just a day after Stead officially stepped down from his duties, having already relinquished control of the white-ball formats earlier. The decision to move forward with a single coach across all three formats marks a pivotal change in New Zealand's cricketing vision. Walter, who formerly coached South Africa's white-ball sides, will take charge of the Blackcaps starting mid-June. His first official assignment will be the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe in July. Notably, Walter’s contract stretches through to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028, which will be jointly hosted by New Zealand and Australia. His résumé boasts significant success, including leading the Proteas to the T20 World Cup 2024 final and the ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final. New Zealand Cricket issued an official statement saying, "New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Rob Walter as the new Head Coach of the BLACKCAPS, effective from mid-June through to the conclusion of the ICC T20 World Cup in New Zealand and Australia in October-November 2028." Read also: India vs England Test Series Renamed for 2025 Walter Embraces Challenge as Blackcaps Enter New Era Taking over a side widely respected for its discipline and consistency, the 49-year-old Walter expressed excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to guide New Zealand’s future on the international stage. Walter said, “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." He added, “I just can’t wait to get started. It’s exciting, it’s challenging, and the opportunity is enormous for everyone.” Walter’s upcoming tenure promises to be demanding, with key events like the T20 World Cup 2026, ODI World Cup 2027, LA Olympics 2028, and the new World Test Championship cycle on the horizon.