T Chesterfield: Woolmer remains SA Coach until World Cup (10 Feb 1998)

10 February 1998

Woolmer remains SA Coach until World Cup

Trevor Chesterfield

Centurion (South Africa) - Months of speculation were swept aside at the Wanderers yesterday when Bob Woolmer was reappointed as South Africa's coach until the end of the World Cup in England next year.

Comments that Woolmer "is on his way out" or is "not popular with some of the players" seemed to also bother Dr Ali Bacher, managing director of the United Cricket Board, yesterday when he made the announcement.

But the appointment also means that toward the end of this year Woolmer's replacement will be named and later travel to New Zealand and the World Cup in an "understudy capacity".

Dr Bacher said the view of the UCB was that "Bob is the best man for the job, but there comes a time when he needs to step down" and that time would be after the World Cup.

"We were all very surprised over the media debate about his (Woolmer's) future, but we were always of the view that he still had much to give. "When his position was up for discussion not one member of the board felt he needed to be replaced.

"He has their full confidence and if you read the statistics his record speaks for itself," Dr Bacher added.

His record in 26 tests is won 11, lost six and drawn nine, or a 42.31 percent success rate; the ODIs record is 56 wins and 22 defeats, which is a success rate of almost 72 percent.

Dr Bacher admitted he held talks in Sydney with Woolmer about the long-term future and both agreed, it seems that a five year tenure is a long one as a national coach.

"New and fresh ideas seem to emerge after a period of time and we must plan ahead and look for a new coach to take over after the World Cup in England next year," Dr Bacher confirmed.

Woolmer could eventually become national director of a planned specialists coaching pannel to be shortly established by the UCB. The pannel will combine the country's top coaches in batting, bowling, wicketkeeping and fielding techniques. It would also mean that the time will come when fast bowlers would not, in time, need to go to the Dennis Lillee's fast bowling schools in India or Australia.

At this stage it appears as though the South Africa A team's tour of Sri Lanka, scheduled for June, may now only take place in August. Ducan Fletcher has been appointed coach of the side, while the side could be announced at the end of the triangular ODI series in April.

Thanks :: Trevor Chesterfield, Cricket writer, Pretoria News (tche@ptn.independent.co.za)