Gibson sacked as Proteas coach as CSA take a gamble

South Africa’s World Cup coach Ottis Gibson found himself out of a job Sunday as Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced plans to interlace the roles of Proteas coach and manager, as well as appointing a director of cricket who
will oversee all cricketing decisions within the system.

These changes will take effect immediately, meaning CSA are now on the hunt for both a director of cricket and a team director.

CSA’s manager of cricket pathways and the Proteas’ 2011 World Cup coach Corrie van Zyl will take on the role of acting director of cricket and, together with chief executive Thabang Moroe, will select an interim team director, his management staff, the captain and a selection panel for the tour of India that starts on September 15.

CSA will also advertise for full-time appointments for director of cricket, team director and convener of selectors.

Van Zyl said the team director role would be that of head coach, combined with some of the responsibilities of former manager Mohammed Moosajee, who performed that role with aplomb since 2008, but has stood down.

“The team director is in charge of the team as a whole – in other words, he is the head coach, but the job does combine certain aspects of the manager’s role.

“He will appoint all his own support and admin staff and will also have the support of a chief medical officer.

“The team director will report to the director of cricket.

“We need to make those interim appointments as soon as possible because in a month’s time the Proteas will be packing for India,” Van Zyl told The Citizen.

Gibson’s two-year contract was due to expire next month.

While he still had considerable support within the team – with captain Faf du Plessis once again backing him to continue when interviewed at the CSA Awards dinner on Saturday – a terrible World Cup, in which SA won just three of nine matches, was always likely to be his downfall.

The Proteas also lost a Test series at home to Sri Lanka for the first time, in February.

Gibson led the Proteas to home Test series wins against India and Australia, as well as winning one-day series in Sri Lanka and Australia.

SA will play three Test matches in India, their opening fixtures of the new World Test Championship, and an already daunting tour will now be undertaken with interim leadership.

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