Grant Morgan replaces Klusener as Dolphins coach
Grant Morgan, a former South African Schools and Eastern Province wicketkeeper-batsman, has been named Dolphins head coach. Morgan succeeds Lance Klusener, and was preferred over former franchise coach Yashin Ebrahim and fellow caretaker coach Roger Telemachus as well as CSA's national academy coach Shukri Conrad who are all understood to have applied for the job.
"I have waited many years to coach at franchise level and I have managed to gain success at every stop along the way," Morgan said at his unveiling in Durban. "I've done my time and now I am ready for this incredibly exciting challenge."
Morgan is a product of Grey High School in Port Elizabeth - the alma mater of Graeme and Peter Pollock - and played 52 first-class matches between 1993 and 2000, before taking up coaching. He has been in charge of the University of Pretoria, the Gauteng provincial side and was an assistant to Ray Jennings twice: with the South African Under-19 team at the 2008 age-group World Cup and at IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2009.
Since 2012, he has been in charge of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Inland provincial side. During his tenure, the team has won four trophies including the one-day cup and T20 cup in the 2013-14 season, and the three-day and 20-over tournaments in the 2015-16 season. Morgan is also closely acquainted with players in the Dolphins' catchment area as a result of his time with the Inland side.
However, his task at the franchise will not be easy. Dolphins have just come through a difficult summer in which they finished fifth out of six teams in the first-class and one-day cups, results only softened by them reaching the final of the 20-over tournament. They have also lost their two national players, Kyle Abbott and David Miller to Warriors and Knights respectively, as well as batsmen Jonathan Vandiar and Daniel Sincuba to Titans, and have yet to announce any new signings. The franchise is also facing action from Klusener, who is unhappy with the lack of explanation for his dismissal.
Despite the problems, CEO Pete de Wet insisted there is no crisis at Kingsmead. "There's no denying there has been change and it has all been done with the grander goal of improving Dolphins cricket," de Wet said shortly after news of Klusener's unhappiness emerged. "While most people will be up in arms over this latest development, let us look at this as a journey the franchise needs to undertake. The bigger picture is exciting times ahead, rather than doom and gloom."