Jennings challenges board to sack him

Ray Jennings is desperate to retain his position © Getty Images

The prospect of being sacked after remaining unbeaten throughout the tour of West Indies might be a bitter pill to swallow for Ray Jennings, who is likely to be replaced tomorrow by Mickey Arthur. Jennings has urged the selectors to support him and not sack him.

"If I've been unsuccessful then they must throw me out, but if I've done well then they must back me." Jennings was quoted as saying by Reuters. "I was called a big mouth when I said we were aiming for a whitewash in the West Indies and I was not backed 100 percent. But I've showed it was not out of the question." South Africa returned home after winning the Tests 2-0 and inflicting one-day series whitewash, 5-0, for the first time on West Indies.

"I could write a chapter on how each player has sharpened up and I believe I've added value," said Jennings, who took over in October last year, when South Africa cricket was in doldrums. "The passion and the energy levels that were so lacking when I took over are back, and arriving back in South Africa I can see the enthusiasm for cricket is alive and well again."

Jennings, whose aggressive coaching techniques have been questioned, did not believe it mattered. "I don't want to be likeable but losing. I have ruffled a few feathers, but that's good because I would hate to believe the players think I'm a great guy. Sometimes good guys come second and everyone has said South African cricket's vision should be to be number one in the world."

Ray Mali, the president of United Cricket Board of South Africa, praised Jennings for his valuable contribution. "One year ago, things were not so good, but Ray, you have done well, you have done us proud," said Mali. "This is the birth of a new era and South African cricket is on the up again."