Van Zyl Will Still Be Coach
Corrie van Zyl will remain as coach until 2011.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Friday that Corrie van Zyl will remain interim coach of the Proteas until April 2011.
Van Zyl was appointed interim coach after the abrupt resignation of the former coach, Mickey Arthur, last month.
CSA also announced after its Board meeting that Graeme Smith would continue to captain the Proteas until the end of the World Cup in the West Indies next year and veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis would serve as his vice captain in all forms of the game, also until the end of the World Cup.
The Board endorsed a new structure to provide the Proteas with a strong management team that supports excellence, innovation and international best practice, as proposed by CSA chief executive Gerald Majola.
The Board tasked the CEO with compiling a process of appointing the new structure, which will commence after the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
The Board also accepted a recommendation from the Cricket Committee to appoint a four-member national selection panel comprising the National Convenor of Selectors, a High Performance Representative, the National Coach and the National Captain.
The process to establish this new selection committee will begin immediately.
In the meantime, the interim selection panel comprising Majola, Van Zyl and Proteas batting consultant, Kepler Wessels, will continue to operate.
“These decisions were made with the goal of streamlining the selection and management processes around the Proteas as one of the main objectives of getting the squad back on top of the world logs and staying there,” said CSA President Dr Mtutuzeli Nyoka.
“The Proteas deserve the very best support and CSA wants to take time to formalize a management structure that supports excellence and innovation. At this time, we are of the opinion that Corrie van Zyl be kept on as interim coach, until the end of the 2010/2011 season, to take us through an incredibly busy period for the Proteas.”
The Board also announced that it had added six new players to the list of contracted players for the 2010/2011 season. The new players are Loots Bosman, Alviro Petersen, Charl Langeveldt, Ryan McLaren, Roelof van der Merwe and Rusty Theron.
Courtesy of iafrica.com
HAVE YOUR SAY: Is this a good decision?
Arthur Headhunted For New Zealand?
Mickey Arthur: Headhunted for New Zealand? Mickey Arthur will be headhunted by New Zealand after his sudden resignation as South Africa coach according to The Guardian Online.
While we wait for the press conference, rumour has it that New Zealand, who have been without a coach since the former Warwickshire batsman Andy Moles resigned and their chief executive, are interested in Arthur.
Justin Vaughan has been a firm admirer of Arthur ever since he piloted South Africa to a historic victory in Australia a year ago and took them to No1 in both the Test and one-day rankings.
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- Arthur resigns as South Africa coach (news.bbc.co.uk)
Arthur resigns – who now for Proteas?
Arthur and Smith - BFFs no more ...
As if India isn’t a tough enough place to tour in the first place, they will now have to do so with major disruption in the ranks after Mickey Arthur resigned on Monday evening – four days before the squad heads off to the sub-continent.
Arthur’s shock move comes after his relationship with captain Graeme Smith had “deteriorated irreparably” over the last year, with the recent 1-1 series draw against England being the final nail in the coffin.
Corrie van Zyl has been appointed caretaker coach for the tour to India, having previously been assistant coach of the team. He these days acts as coach of Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) High-Performance Centre in Pretoria.
But who will take the role on a permanent basis? One thing for sure – it won’t be someone with a strong personality like Smith.
That would rule out former Proteas coach Ray Jennings, as well as for SA captain Kepler Wessels, who has achieved success as coach for Northampshire in England and in the IPL.
Duncan Fletcher was brought on board as a batting consultant during the series against the English and has long been thought of as a potential Proteas coach. He achieved amazing results while holding the reins for England, leading them to a famous Ashes series victory in 2005.
He also has the advantage of knowing the players fairly well, and is the one credited with transforming Jacques Kallis into the player he is these days.
On the local scene, former Titans coach Richard Pybus is probably the favourite. He knows the majority of the players like AB de Villiers, Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn very well, and has international experience following a stint as Pakistan coach.
And what about a completely left-field suggestion and getting someone like Allan Donald on board? He has served as a bowling coach for the England team and knows the players better than anyone.
Too early? Maybe, but then at least get him in as a bowling coach and off the TV as a commentator!
HAVE YOUR SAY: Who would you like to see replace Mickey Arthur?
Big Money for our Cricketers
Makhaya Ntini has been in top form
It’s high stakes at this weekend’s two MTN40 semifinals, with the biggest-ever prize pot up for grabs in local domestic cricket.
Most of the Proteas will be back for this weekend’s MTN40 semis, as our top four teams battle it out to be crowned domestic champions.
The Cape Cobras take on the Warriors from the Eastern Cape at Paarl tonight in a clash that will see Graeme Smith and JP Duminy (for the Cobras) go up against their SA teammates in the shape of seasoned pros Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, as well as impressive youngster Wayne Parnell. With 18 full internationals on the park, it’s bound to be a humdinger.
Up north on Sunday, the table-topping Titans should boast a host of Proteas, with AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Paul Harris and Morné Morkel all available. Add to that the fact that their current squad also includes Albie Morkel, Roelof van der Merwe and Jacques Rudolf, and it’s no surprise that they are favourites to win their semi (and the tournament). The inexperienced Dolphins team – the Titans’ opposition at Centurion on Sunday – only have Hashim Aala to bolster their squad.
There’s a lot at stake, as tournament sponsors MTN have put up a whopping R750 000 for the winning team, easily the richest purse in domestic cricket. It’s a winner-takes-all approach, as both the losing semifinalists, as well as the losing finalist will only walk away with R50 000 for the team. Event organisers are hoping this strategy will result in the best players being available, and producing exciting, intense cricket.
Teams for tonight’s clash at Paarl:
WARRIORS: Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, Colin Ingram, Justin Kreusch, Mark Boucher, Davy Jacobs (capt), Johan Botha, Nicky Boje, Wayne Parnell, Rusty Theron, Jon-Jon Smuts, Makhaya Ntini, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Andrew Birch
COBRAS: Graeme Smith, Andrew Puttick, Herschelle Gibbs, JP Duminy, Justin Kemp (capt), Justin Ontong, Stiaan van Zyl, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Rory Kleinveldt, Charl Langeveldt, François Plaatjies, Sybrand Engelbrech
Turning it Around
Morne Morkel
England have pricked the confidence bubble many South African cricket fans had before the Three Lions arrived on these shores.
While many will point to dominant performances by the home side at Centurion and Newlands, but to do so would not give credit where credit is due.
The only reason SA came so close in winning both those matches was due to, metaphorically, the English managing to find the only banana peel on the field as both of those respective Day 5s were drawing to close, and taking one hell of a run up.
The sad fact of the matter is that South Africa is yet to take 20 wickets in a match this series, and while the Wanderers is rumoured to be a spicy pitch, whether SA or England benefit the most from it will tell us all we need to know.
Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have bowled well, Makhaya Ntini disappointed, Friedel de Wet got injured, and Paul Harris was, and this is tough for me to say since I’m a fan of the tall spinner, kak (Afrikaans says some things best) when it mattered most.
While many wouldn’t admit it, those of more sober mind would’ve seen this coming, a SA attack that England are performing a Mike Atherton-redux; except this time the English are winning.
The English have shown that while SA has perhaps the better individual talent (and it’s a close call), their solidarity as a team has been triumphant when it counts the most.
Smith Not the Problem
What exactly has happened to Graeme Smith’s charges is difficult to say. Only a year ago Smith was the Proteas’ fabled knight of light and brimstone, willing to bat with a broken hand just so he could repress the Aussies.
There were murmurs that Smith’s time with team should be called into question. Personally, that doesn’t seem to be a very good idea at all. In fact, it is absolutely ridiculous (Clive Rice, you should have known better. Johan Botha? I don’t think SA cricket followers have anything against the guy but Clive, seriously…whaaaat!?).
The obvious question would be who would succeed him? No one is ready for the job, and Smith is, in this team, the best man for it and he has been so since 2003. Mental exhaustion doesn’t count because the man is still scoring runs in that barn-style, punch in the face sort of way. Smith isn’t the problem.
Telford Vice has written about JP Duminy, saying “JP Duminy? A couple of fine innings don’t make a career son.”
Successions and Selectors
One innings is all he needs to set things right, which does leave Ashwell Prince in a pickle. He got dealt the worst hand, but he clearly isn’t an opener and deserves a chance to bat where he belongs.
But would you drop Duminy just yet? I don’t think so, hence Prince might very well be on the receiving end of a very difficult decision. I do not envy the selectors. They need to find a specialist.
Speaking of the selectors, how on earth have they seen fit to promote De Wet, who did bowl well when called upon, in front on Lonwabo Tsetsobe and Wayne Parnell?
The succession planning boggles, or in this instance, the lack of it. Consistency in selection is a cornerstone of a fine cricket unit, so let us hope they don’t pull another rabbit out the hat (Imran Tahir? They should’ve done their home work).
The Wanderers Test will be close and the English will not want to lose, at all, in anything. They deserve their lead, so let us back Smith and his men to turn it around.
Courtesy of Thoughtleader’s Adam Wakefield
HAVE YOUR SAY: How can SA turn it all around and win this Test?
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