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Could Williamson be on the brink of returning to Blackcaps?
Jaxin Daniels • October 6th, 2025 4:02 pm
Blackcaps coach Rob Walter before Game 1 of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series | Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport
After an unsuccessful attempt to reclaim the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, Blackcaps coach Rob Walter caught up with Sport Nation's Scotty and Izzy to discuss the series and what the team is looking like heading into the England T20 series.
“There were little moments there that were certainly positive,” Walter said.
“We sort of almost executed our plans that we discussed, and they were just better than us on the day with the bats.
“From a bowling point of view, I thought the guys were brilliant. I thought they fought amazingly well.
“You don’t often have a scorecard where one person gets 100 and no one else gets over 15.”
With the team as a whole is on the younger side, Walter knows the impact those experienced players need to bring to the squad.
“It’s always a balancing act,” Walter said.
“Giving guys the opportunity to play, and experience playing against good quality teams, is going to benefit us in the long run, as well as the players.
“Then making sure you’ve also got that experience throughout the lineup.
“We know what we get with Jimmy Neesham’s experience and we can lean on him to come in and deliver that sort of performance, which is not unusual for him to do.
“Again, there’s positives and learnings all along the way.”
When it comes to the England series, Izzy wonders whether the emergence of young players creates a selection headache, but to Walter, it’s a dream situation.
“I’ve repeatedly said that the strength of our system is the people who don’t play,” Walter said.
“The stronger they are, the stronger the guys that are playing.
“For Robbo (Tim Robinson) to come in and score 100 is only positive.
“Of course it creates pressure in positions and competition in positions, which makes guys play better, that’s a massive positive.”
Tim Robinson scores maiden T20 century vs Australia | Sport Nation Cricket
Izzy also hints at a potential ship steadier getting the call for the England series.
“We’re not 100% sure yet,” Walter said about the selection of Kane Williamson.
“He’s on his way back from the UK so I’ll be catching up with him during the week.
“We’ll be discussing the whole summer, as opposed to just the one series, and where he’s at and what the summer looks like for him.”
But Walter is definitely hoping Williamson is available for selection.
“Yeah there’s no doubt,” Walter said.
“Kane is a quality player, so having him available to play for the Blackcaps is great and important.
“He adds a name, and a very high profile name, to the number of good players that we’re looking at for the World Cup.”
Someone also hoping to be on the flight to India is Finn Allen, who’s still trying to get back from a foot injury.
“He’ll be unlikely for the England series, he is recovering well,” Walter said.
“Finn’s had quite a number of these bone stress reactions, and he’s had an operation on that foot of his. So this is something that’s going to take a bit of time, and we need to allow it to heal properly without rushing back into things.
“So this England series will be out for him.”
A late out for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series was all-rounder Rachin Ravindra, someone Walter hopes can stay out of injury trouble.
“If he doesn’t throw himself into any more picket fences,” Walter joked.
“We’re hopeful that he’ll be back and just have a scar and a story to tell.”
The Blackcaps T20 series against England starts at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 18 with live ball-by-ball commentary available on Sport Nation.
