A return to Scotland possible for Henry
Omar Henry, currently South Africa's convenor of selectors, is considering returning to Scotland to help the build on their victory in the ICC Intercontinental Cup
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Henry, 52, was the first non-white player to represent South Africa, and is in Kolkata this week, for the second Test between them and India. But since he took over as convenor of selectors in May 2002, South Africa's results have not been strong. They had their worst finish in a World Cup, failing to progress beyond the group stages in 2003, and since then have squandered good opportunites in Test series away to England, Pakistan and New Zealand. For Henry, a change of scene to Scotland, whom he captained, would not, therefore, be all that unlikely.
The decision last week by Tony Judd, the part-time coach who nurtured Scotland to victory in the inaugural ICC Intercontinental Cup, not to apply for the full-time position, has opened up the opportunity for someone else. Someone like Henry.
"I am interested in this post," he told The Sunday Times. "I have spent enough time in Scotland to realise cricket has huge potential there. I'm happier out in the nets than in the committee room, and while I will have to sit down and look at what Scotland are aspiring to, every business needs new blood and fresh ideas.
"My attitude throughout my career has tended to be `let's see what's out there', and I think I made enough friends in Scotland for them to realise that if I was asked to guide them to the next level, I would give it 100%.
"It is undeniable that the Scots have made steady progress since the 1980s. The next step [now] for Scotland is to compete against the likes of Kenya, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe on a regular basis, and get their domestic structure ready for professionalism. Compared to some other sports, Scottish cricket is a real success story, and you need to shout that message from the rooftops, and be more aggressive in pursuing sponsors."
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