van Zyl appointed High Performance coach

Corrie van Zyl has been appointed as coach of the High Performance Centre based in Pretoria, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced today. van Zyl, 49, is currently head coach of the Eagles and has helped the franchise win six domestics titles (two each in the SuperSport Series, MTN Domestic Competition and Standard Bank Pro20).

He was earlier cricket manager of the Free State Cricket Union and also had a five-year spell as assistant coach of the South African national team from 1998 to 2003. He was involved in two World Cups as well as 50 Test matches and more than 120 ODIs during that period. van Zyl also coached the South African Emerging Squad to victory in their series in Australia in 2006.

As a player, he had tremendous success playing for Free State, taking 349 first-class wickets as a fast bowler and 127 wickets in List A matches. He was also part of the South African side which toured the West Indies in 1992-93, but achieved little success in the two ODIs he played.

His duties at the High Performance Centre will include coaching the South Africa A and Emerging Squad teams, controlling the rehabilitation of national players coming back from injury, identifying and working with emerging talent coming through the franchise system and acting as the link between the national coach and the franchise coaches.

van Zyl said he was delighted to take on the job. "I genuinely feel it is a great honour to get this job," he said. "I have always felt there was a need for this line of communication between the national team and the franchises and I am confident of making a big contribution in this regard.

"I have enjoyed my previous spells with Cricket South Africa and I am looking forward to being back on board. At the same time, I would like to extend my thanks to the central franchise for the support and opportunity they gave me as coach there. We have managed to bring through an excellent crop of youngsters and the franchise can face the future with a great deal of confidence."

"Cricket South Africa is delighted that Corrie van Zyl is the new High Performance Coach," CSA CEO Gerald Majola said. "Apart from Corrie's proven technical record as a coach, he has wonderful attributes as a motivator and somebody who brings out the best in players. A major element of CSA vision is to pursue excellence and Corrie is going to play a meaningful role in the realization of this vision."