South Africa players to have a say in coach selection

Graeme Smith and his boys can cast their opinion over coach selection © Getty Images

As the applications for the post of South Africa's national coach start flowing in, the South African Players Association has been given a role to play in the appointment of the new coach. Ray Jennings, the team's current coach, was appointed on a temporary basis prior to the India tour last year, and his term is scheduled to expire after the Caribbean series next month.

A representative of the Players Association, as well as Mike Procter, who was the first national coach after South Africa's readmission to international cricket, will be members of the six-man committee to appoint the new coach. The other members of the panel include Ray Mali, the head of SA Cricket, Gerald Majola, the executive head, Norman Arendse, the chairperson of Western Province/Boland, and Andrew Hudson, the former opening batsman.

Tony Irish, the chairperson of the players association, said that either he or Errol Stewart will represent the players on the panel. He expects Stewart to get the nod. The deadline for applications for the post is set for March 11 after which the candidates will be shortlisted and intensive interviews will be conducted with the select few.

Jennings had said that his decision to reapply for the post would solely depend on whether the players want him to reapply or not. He has received support from Graeme Smith, the South African captain, and several other players to reapply for the position. Under Jennings's charge, South Africa lost the series against India and England, and recorded a comprehensive one-day series win against England.