JOHANNESBURG - Gary Kirsten and Eric Simons have been seconded to a five-man selection panel that will recommend who will be the Proteas’ coach after the tour to England.
Cricket SA’s Board of directors named the pair to the panel which also includes Norman Arendse, Rihan Richards and Oupa Nkagiseng. Although no details were made public about the process potential candidates must follow, it is known that the incumbent Russell Domingo will have to ‘re-apply’ to stay in the job.
Domingo has received public support from several senior players, including Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers for him to stay as head coach until the 2019 World Cup.
Simons was the national team’s coach between 2002 and 2004 – a period highlighted by the disastrous 2003 World Cup campaign.
Kirsten oversaw a more successful period as coach between 2011 and 2013 with the side claiming Test series wins in Australia and England to cement their status as the five-day format’s no.1 team.
AB de Villiers and Russell Domingo during the team departure press conference in Johannesburg. Picture: BackpagePix
Domingo, who was appointed in 2013 and has had his contract extended three times, has deflected questions about his willingness to re-apply for the job saying on Tuesday before the team left for England that it was for the Board to determine what happens next.
Now that that step has been taken CSA’s panel need to tread carefully so as not to distract the players too much while they tackle a challenging tour that comprises the Champions Trophy and then four Tests.
If the panel recommends that Domingo is no longer the right man for the job, the new coach will be installed in September ahead of a two Test series against Bangladesh.