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South African cricket set for revamp

South Africa's cricket structure is set for a major overhaul on Friday at a meeting of the national board, called after the shock resignation of coach Mickey Arthur

Cricinfo staff
19-Feb-2010
Corrie van Zyl is likely to remain head coach  •  Getty Images

Corrie van Zyl is likely to remain head coach  •  Getty Images

South Africa's cricket structure is set for a major overhaul on Friday at a meeting of the national board, called after the shock resignation of coach Mickey Arthur and subsequent dissolution of the national selection panel. A source close to Cricket South Africa (CSA) said that three major issues will be discussed: the selection process, the issue of the national coach and the lack of black players coming through.
Gerald Majola, CSA's chief executive officer, had dismissed the Selection committee headed by Mike Procter days before the team set out for the Indian tour, reportedly telling them their process had become "flawed." Since then, Majola has been the interim convenor of selectors, with interim coach Corrie van Zyl and batting consultant Kepler Wessels comprising the rest of the selection committee.
The previous selection committee comprised Procter and three others, with the final playing eleven decided upon by Arthur and captain Graeme Smith depending on match conditions on the day. It is not clear whether coach and captain will continue to have those powers but it is likely a new convenor will be chosen at the meeting and that Majola will not stay on. It is also unlikely that the selection powers will be vested in one person.
As far as the coach is concerned, there are indications van Zyl will be retained in the position until all the structural changes decided upon at the meeting have been put it into action. The administration, it is believed, is unlikely to appoint another head coach just yet, especially as van Zyl has completed a two-Test away series against the top-ranked side and come off with a draw.
The biggest structural change is said to be the creation of a specialist committee to deal with development and particularly what is being described as "Africanisation." This committee will reportedly seek to further the development of black, African players in the national side.
There is no indication yet that the quota system will be reinstated, either at national or franchise level. Quotas were scrapped in July 2002 at both levels but remain in place at the amateur level, where at least half of every team has to be non-white. Since Makhaya Ntini's exclusion from the national side, the lack of an African player has become a contentious issue.
Lonwabo Tsotsobe was included in both the South African Test and one-day squad on their current tour to India. He did not feature in the Test series.
Rumour is rife that one of the reasons Arthur resigned was because of a dispute with the board over selection issues. In particular, the lack of an African player after Ntini was dropped, reportedly forced Arthur's hand.
The former coach gave the sole reason for his resignation as being that his "vision differed from CSA's," at a press conference in East London on January 27.
Majola stated, at that same conference, that he felt the structures of the country's cricket governing body were in need of revamping. This comes after a tough summer in which South Africa lost a one-day series against England and drew a Test series, which they felt they should have won. The team won just one out of five Tests last year and crashed out of both the ICC World Twenty20 and the Champions Trophy.