Jennings named in shortlist of 20

Ray Jennings, South Africa's interim coach, has confirmed his long-term interest in the post, according to a statement from Cricket South Africa (CSA), but he will have to fight for his place from a list of 20 applicants.

Jennings replaced Eric Simons on a temporary basis at the end of last October, after Simons was sacked following a disastrous tour of Sri Lanka. Although his commitment has rarely been questioned, his expertise came under some scrutiny during the Test series defeat against England, not least at Johannesburg, where he managed to land his captain, Graeme Smith, in hospital with concussion, following an accident during a fielding drill.

Jennings's motormouthed manner has made him a favourite among journalists hungry for a quote, but the temporary nature of his role has led to continued speculation about his successor. Last month, Duncan Fletcher, England's Zimbabwe-born coach, was widely linked with the role when his England contract expires after the Ashes series in September, while Worcestershire's Tom Moody and the outgoing Academy coach, Rod Marsh have also been mentioned in dispatches.

Jennings' current contract expires in May, at the end of South Africa's tour of the Caribbean, and the new deal will take the successful applicant through to the end of the 2007 World Cup, which is also set to take place in West Indies. The panel that has been convened to vet the applicants met at Johannesburg International Airport for the first time today, and includes Gerald Majola, the chief executive of CSA, Ray Mali, the UCBSA president, and three former internationals in Mike Procter, Andrew Hudson and Errol Stewart.

"We were very impressed with the number and the quality of the applicants," said Majola in a statement. "In order to find the best possible person for the job, we have to go through a very thorough process and the panel has a vast amount of experience in the game and a good understanding of what is required for the job." The criteria that CSA has specified include first-class playing experience, motivational and communication skills, and most of all, the respect of the players.