South Africa losing assets?
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
AFP
With former South African players taking up coaching roles overseas, Proteas fan Ryan Bubear finds it a bit tough to swallow. He writes on iafrica.com:
In the build-up to his first official series at the helm, ironically against the country of his birth, Kirsten revealed on his blog that he felt 'completely Indian'. After the Test series, which ended in a 1-1 draw, the man who still holds the record for the highest individual score for South Africa in one-day cricket, declared that he felt like his 'bloodline extended back for 100 years in India'. Ouch. For a South African fan, that's akin to swift kick in the groin.
A similar situation played itself out with Allan Donald during his spell as part-time bowling coach to England. To see the legendary Proteas fast bowler, a hero of my youth, grinning in an England tracksuit while trying to coax Steve Harmison back to something resembling form, was gut-wrenching.
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And while I understand Kirsten's decision and wish him well, the fan in me anxiously hopes that his success doesn't pierce the skin of South African cricket, leading to a violent haemorrhage of valuable coaching talent.
Mathew Varghese is sub-editor (stats) at Cricinfo