New SA coach likely to be named on June 6

Cricket South Africa (CSA) is likely to announce the new national coach on June 6. A specially appointed CSA panel met the candidates in Johannesburg on Monday and will discuss the appointment on Tuesday.

The interview committee includes CSA chief executive Gerald Majola, outgoing coach Corrie van Zyl, cricket committee chairperson Andy O'Connor, players' association representative Boeta Dippenaar, convenor of selectors Andrew Hudson and Professor Johann Coetzee, a human development expert. "The panel will meet today [Tuesday] to have a discussion around the interviews that were conducted," a source told ESPNCricinfo.

CSA has not revealed the names on the shortlist, which it had initially said consisted of six names. The only clues as to who might be in the running came from the interview venue, a hotel in the upmarket suburb of Sandton. Gary Kirsten, widely considered to be the frontrunner for the job, and former Pakistan coach Richard Pybus were seen there. According to the source, all interviews were conducted in person.

Kirsten has just returned from a two-year stint in India, during which India climbed to the top of the Test rankings, and culminated in the winning of the World Cup. He has indicated that he would like to spend more time with his family in South Africa and with a third child due in November, it remains to be seen how much travel Kirsten would be willing to do.

Pybus is currently in charge of the Cape Town based Cobras franchise and was previously involved with the Titans. He has been involved with South African cricket since 2003 and is widely acclaimed for his innovative and creative coaching methods.

Duncan Fletcher and John Buchanan, who were believed to be on the shortlist, accepted positions in India and New Zealand respectively, before the interview process began. Others reportedly in contention for the job are Tom Moody, Stephen Fleming and Vincent Barnes.