Kallis named captain after selectors change mind
Ashwell Prince's appointment as South Africa's Test captain has lasted less than 24 hours, with the selectors changing their minds and naming Jacques Kallis for the Cape Town Test
Brydon Coverdale in Cape Town
11-Mar-2009

Lead role: Jacques Kallis • AFP
Ashwell Prince's
appointment as South Africa's Test captain has lasted
less than 24 hours. The day after Prince was named as the stand-in
leader for the Cape Town Test in the absence of Graeme Smith, Cricket
South Africa (CSA) reversed its decision and instead handed the captaincy to Jacques Kallis.
Kallis will lead the side in a one-off capacity in the third Test at
Newlands, which begins on March 19. A CSA statement
said the decision was made to allow Prince to concentrate solely on
his new position as opening batsman.
Normally a middle-order player, Prince has been thrust into the
opening role because the selectors were reluctant to tamper with their
successful middle order of Hashim Amla, Kallis, AB de Villiers and JP
Duminy. Prince was overlooked for the first two Tests after Duminy
cemented his role during the tour of Australia, when Prince had a
broken thumb.
Prince, usually the vice-captain of the side under Smith, has led
South Africa in two Tests. Kallis also captained South Africa during
the final Test of Australia's previous tour, again when Smith was
injured.
Brydon Coverdale is a staff writer at Cricinfo