Graeme Smith decided to withdraw his application. The Proteas could have used a no-nonsense “iron man” to shake things up.
IT IS NOW 34 days before the first cover drive or in-swinger in the much-anticipated Test cricket series between South Africa and England.
And yet, as we write these words, the Proteas still don’t know if Enoch Nkwe will continue as their coach – neither do they have a director of cricket! What a shambles. Thank goodness they still have a captain in Faf du Plessis.
Even if the appointments are suddenly made today or over the weekend, the whole situation is a very troubling reflection on the current state of South African cricket.
It seems like just yesterday that Imran Tahir, brought on as a surprise weapon by Du Plessis, stunned England with his dismissal of Jonny Bairstow in the first over of the World Cup and set off on that trademark victory run of his with his broad smile and his fist clenched over the Proteas badge in glorious pride.
Here we go, we all thought, this is going to be a wonderful World Cup for South Africa.
Somehow, things have all gone downhill from there. First it was the disaster of a World Cup campaign, followed by a hiding in India, followed by the suspension of top officials, followed by squabbling between the administrators and the players’ union, followed by the slow-motion dragging of feet over the appointment of a new coach and a new director of cricket.
Then, to top it all, Graeme Smith decided to withdraw his application. The Proteas could have used a no-nonsense “iron man” to shake things up.
The point is, these appointments should have been settled a long time ago. The English bulldogs are licking their chops and South African cricket needs to get its house in order.
