New Zealand coach looks to build experience in Bangladesh series

New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said on Wednesday that the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh will serve as an important platform to expose their next generation of players, with gaining experience being the primary objective.

New Zealand will be without several frontline players for the ODI series, which begins on April 17, as many are currently involved in the Indian Premier League. Meanwhile, a number of others are touring Sri Lanka with the ‘A’ team for a one-day and unofficial Test series.

“Look, obviously it’s always a plus for us to expose our next-in-line cricketers to quality opposition," Walter told reporters in Mirpur following the team’s first practice session after arriving here on April 13. 

"I think this Bangladesh side is a quality team. They’ve shown that recently by beating Pakistan. So being able to expose our lesser experienced players to strong opposition in foreign conditions is a massive positive for us. 

“You can’t buy experience; you have to go out into the cauldron and play. This series gives us that opportunity to test our players in challenging conditions and see how their games stack up. Most importantly, our focus is on continuous learning and improvement, both individually and as a unit,” he added.

Walter also expressed satisfaction over the widespread involvement of New Zealand players across global competitions.

“If we sent the entire team to Sri Lanka and then brought them here, we’d miss the chance to develop another group of players. We try to maximise such opportunities. At the moment, around 54 New Zealand cricketers are playing across different parts of the world -- be it the IPL, PSL, here, or in Sri Lanka. That’s a huge positive as it helps strengthen our overall system rather than just a core group,” he said.

Speaking about team strategy, Walter emphasised adaptability.

“Our main focus is to respond to conditions rather than pre-determining how the game will unfold. If spin becomes effective in the middle overs, we’ll use it. At the same time, we have quality fast bowlers who can make an impact. The key is to remain flexible and adapt as the game demands,” he noted.

The second ODI will be held in Mirpur on April 20 before the teams travel to Chattogram for the third and final match on April 23.

The T20I series will follow, with the first two matches scheduled in Chattogram on April 27 and 29, while the final game will be played in Mirpur on May 2.