Profile: New Proteas white ball coach Rob Walter dared to dream

New Proteas ODI and T20 coach Rob Walter dared to dream and is now living it on the international stage.

Johannesburg-born Walter, who was first brought into the Proteas set-up as a strength and conditioning coach in 2009, has truly gone full circle 14 years later, as he takes up the reins of the senior South African white ball sides.

Since arriving from New Zealand earlier this month and linking up with the team for the first time during the West Indies Test series, Walter has been settling in and preparing for the ODI and T20 series against the same opponents.

‘It’s all very exciting’

“I have been settling in well. It’s been really good connecting with the players. We linked up during the Test series but it has been good to get to know them more deeply over the last few days in particular.

“It is good to get to know some of the guys that I didn’t already know. There is a great feel in the group. These guys are high quality cricketers, so it’s all very exciting.”

After being part of the Proteas set-up for a number of years, Walter finally got his big break when he was named as head coach of the Titans in 2013, with him leading them to four domestic titles during his three years with them.

He then moved on to New Zealand where he coached the Otago Volts from 2016 to 2021, followed by Central Districts who he left to take the Proteas position.

He also enjoyed two stints as an assistant coach in the IPL, while his biggest coaching achievement was arguably being appointed the New Zealand A coach last year.

“It’s tough leaving the family behind but it’s exciting to come into something new. Getting back into the Proteas environment is always special,” admitted Walter.

“Every coaching experience shapes the coach you are. I have been fortunate enough to have quite a few varied experiences. Moving to New Zealand and coaching two domestic sides, in the IPL, and then coaching the New Zealand A side.

“It has all very much been part of the growth and development of me personally as a coach. My stint (coaching) in New Zealand was integral in me ending up here (at the Proteas). The Titans job in reflection was quite easy. We were successful early and that often works in your favour.

“But New Zealand was probably the opposite. So while the results weren’t on the sheet, personally I was growing quickly which was great.”

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Early Proteas days

Having been part of the Proteas set-up before has certainly helped Walter ease back in, but things are completely different to what they were back then when he was still on the strength and conditioning side.

“I suppose it connects you to the Proteas in some way and you never lose that connection. The fortunate part of my earlier days with the Proteas on the strength and conditioning side were the coaches I interacted with along the way,” explained Walter.

“In Mickey (Arthur), Corrie (van Zyl) and Gary (Kirsten), they always allowed me to step into the cricket space, whether it was with the fielding or assisting in the nets and connecting with players.

“That gave me a real grounding in the Proteas family. So coming back there are a few faces that are the same, but not too many. But the foundations have remained the same.”

It was his first appointment as a head coach at the Titans that made Walter realise that he could one day work his way up to taking over the national team.

“I have always been passionate about coaching and cricket. So I guess getting the opportunity to coach the Titans as a head coach, since I had done some assistant coaching before that, made me start to believe,” said Walter.

“I suppose you dare to dream that you can one day be leading your country as the head coach. So that’s probably where the first thoughts started. You always harbour them and they sort of sit in the background and fortunately my journey did bring me back.”

With the Proteas taking on the West Indies in ODI and T20 series, Walter has a perfect platform to kick off what is hopefully a long and fruitful relationship with the Proteas.

“With the West Indies series being a bilateral one it has presented an opportunity for us to explore some new and younger faces and options,” said Walter.

“The goal really is to develop a core group of 20 players who have got international experience. Not just for the upcoming World Cup but also looking ahead to 2027.

“The process and journey for that has to start somewhere and these series’ have presented a perfect place for us to begin.”