Pressure just too much for Walter, now Proteas ODI scene set for Conrad

ROB Walter's sudden resignation as Proteas white-ball coach sent shockwaves through South African cricket on Tuesday afternoon.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

But should it really have, though? Despite leading the Proteas team to their first-ever World Cup final the T20 version in Barbados last year, and two consecutive semi-finals at both the ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy as recently as last month, Walter has been taking strain for a number of months now.

Coaching at international level is a high-pressure affair, and coaching South Africa even more so, due to the unique challenges it presents.

But Walter would have known that before he signed on the dotted line two years ago, having been involved with the Proteas before as a strength and conditioning coach in a previous lifetime.

Nonetheless, it was still a rude awakening when he swapped handing out gym schedules to ultimately becoming the man responsible for all the decision-making - even more so with the Proteas Men's teams operating without a selection panel.

This was the fundamental reason that led to Walter walking away from the job with a home World Cup looming in two years' time... the pressure just became too much.

The 49-year-old enjoys his quaint life in Hawke's Bay down in the deep south of New Zealand. He was not averse to saying that "a lot of my work is done over the internet", and never ever considered moving back home.

"We came to New Zealand eight years ago now, and my motivations are for my family, really," Walter has said previously.

"My boys are eight and six, and one's in his third year in school and the other one's second year in school.