Gibson is the choice, says Faf
England bowling coach Ottis Gibson is SA’s preferred choice as new head coach, the Proteas’ Test captain Faf du Plessis says.
England bowling coach Ottis Gibson is SA’s preferred choice as new head coach, the Proteas’ Test captain Faf du Plessis says.
Du Plessis’s comments on the team’s return from England, where Gibson helped mastermind the hosts’ 3-1 Test series win, follows media speculation.
Incumbent Russell Domingo’s contract will expire in September and although he has reapplied for the job, according to Du Plessis he is not the favourite to get it.
Cricket SA convened a selection panel including former national team coaches Gary Kirsten and Eric Simons to identify an individual to take the team forward.
“It’s been told to us that the decision has been made by the coaching panel,” Du Plessis said. “They’ve chosen Ottis Gibson as their recommendation … now the board decides whether they want to use that recommendation or not.”
Du Plessis said he had already done homework on his potential new coach. “For me it was important, because I don’t know Ottis, to find out something out about him. I spoke to a few of the West Indian players because he was their coach and then I spoke to the English guys about their thoughts on him. There were one or two differences in opinion, but the comments were positive.”
Barbadian Gibson was coach of West Indies from 2010 to 2014 before rejoining England and taking up his previous role as bowling specialist.