Panel to recommend next SA coach misses deadline, given extension

Cricket South Africa have given the five-man panel appointed to recommend a candidate for the position of head coach an extension until the end of the ongoing England tour. The committee, which includes former national coaches Gary Kirsten and Eric Simons, have "not completed their work" since being tasked with it on May 18 and could not meet Friday's deadline, according to a CSA release. As such, no decision on the coach has been made.

That means the South African team go into the final two Tests against England with continued uncertainty over who will take charge from September. Current coach Russell Domingo's contract expires at the end of the England series. In January, CSA announced they would advertise the post but he could reapply. Initially, Domingo indicated he was unsure if he wanted to continue but confirmed his reapplication in July, ahead of the first Test against England at Lord's.

Domingo enjoys the support of several senior players including Test and T20 captain Faf du Plessis and ODI captain AB de Villiers, who has indicated his international future depends on who the coach is. Since team results improved last summer, when South Africa won all eight series', Domingo was thought to be the favourite to continue but a wretched Champions Trophy campaign put that in doubt. Lions' coach Geoffrey Toyana is the front-runner to take over.

South Africa's domestic franchises are currently in pre-season training and if the new coach comes from one of those teams, it will leave them scrambling for a replacement when the new season gets underway.

CSA have not provided reasons for the panel's delay. After the tour to England, South Africa's next assignment is a home series against Bangladesh, at the end of September.