Mickey Arthur tipped to replace Jennings

Ray Jennings: the end of the road as South African coach © Getty Images Enlarge

Ray Jennings, the current South African coach, is set to be replaced next week by Mickey Arthur, a low-profile coach who wasn't one of the leading contenders for the job. Jennings's six-month interim contract finishes today, after the final game of the one-day series in Trinidad, and he will not be given an extension, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

The new man in charge, Arthur, was a first-class cricketer till four years ago and he managed 6557 runs playing for Free State, Griqualand West and South Africa A. He is currently the head coach of the Eastern Cape Warriors, and was in the news last month when he refused to renew the contracts of two of the team's prominent players.

Arthur, two days short of his 37th birthday, had earlier coached the Griquas in the domestic competition. More prominent names like Tom Moody, Geoff Marsh, Rod Marsh and Steve Rixon were contenders for the post.