Battered Proteas need the Guardiola touch: Coach
VISAKHAPATNAM: South Africa coach Enoch Nkwe wants to channel the philosophy of titleladen football manager Pep Guardiola to turn the suffering Proteas into a winning force.
Following India’s 203-run mauling of his team in the first Test on Sunday, captain Faf du Plessis and Nkwe pleaded for patience as the squad rebuilds after Dale Steyn’s and Hashim Amla’s retirement.
“He (Manchester City’s Guardiola) is a special human being. He has produced special performances and (I like) the belief he has in his system. Just the drive he has to improve systems, improve human beings to be better and better all the time,” Nkwe said on Sunday.
Nkwe, 36, said he wants to see South Africa follow Guardiola’s innovative style and produce a brave team — but he warned it would take time. “What I want is this team to have the courage, in certain situations, to really back themselves,” he said. “I suppose that every coach that comes in has a different philosophy.”
Nkwe said South Africa must “be able to control sessions a lot longer for period of time with both bat or ball”.
ENG PICK SILVERWOOD
LONDON: England cricket chiefs have named Chris Silverwood as their new head coach to replace Trevor Bayliss, who stepped down last month at the end of his contract. The 44-year-old, who has spent the past two years serving as fast bowling coach under Bayliss, will take charge for the New Zealand tour in November.
While former India and South Africa coach Gary Kirsten and Surrey’s director of cricket Alec Stewart emerged as contenders to succeed Australian Bayliss, managing director of England men’s cricket Ashley Giles described Silverwood as the “standout candidate”.
ROHIT JUMPS TO 17TH
DUBAI: India batsman Rohit Sharma, who became the first player to score a century in each innings of his maiden Test as opener, jumped to a career-best 17th position in the ICC Test Player Rankings. Rohit gained a whopping 36 slots after his knocks of 176 and 127 in the first Test.