Acting Proteas director of cricket Graeme Smith took a veiled swipe at suspended Cricket SA CEO Thabang Moroe yesterday. The former Test captain said he did not have any confidence in the previous executive.
Moroe was suspended by the organisation last week. The reason given was misconduct. Titans CEO Jacques Faul has taken over in an acting capacity.
Smith had initially said he was part of the process before withdrawing, citing a lack of confidence in the leadership.
Smith was engaged in a long process with Moroe that drew a blank as the 38-year-old withdrew from the race.
"To be honest, I didn't have a lot of confidence in CSA's management.
"With such an extensive job description, and I made the communication clear that you can't achieve in this role with the leadership that was there at the time," Smith said.
"You need a really robust CSA to challenge each other.
"You need trust and have an environment that is ready for that.
"I didn't feel the environment was ready before I took this current job because if I want to come in, I need to be able to do the best and I feel that's slightly better now. The opportunity is there and I have a lot of confidence in Jacques as the CEO. The other thing is commercial because he can turn things around. That's a big thing."
Smith said the permanent appointments of Mark Boucher as the team director and Enoch Nkwe as his assistant until the end of the 2023 Cricket World Cup were in the best interests of the national team.
Linda Zondi rejoined the team as the national convener of selectors on a temporary basis. Justin Ontong will stay as the fielding coach while the rest of the administrative, media and logistical staff were retained.
While Boucher's qualifications (a CSA level 2 certificate) have always been a subject of scrutiny, he's won five trophies across all formats with the Titans since he joined the team in August 2016.
Nkwe, whose playing career with the Highveld Lions was cut short by injury, has done the coaching rounds.
With the Highveld Lions last season, he won the first-class championship and the T20 title. With the Jozi Stars, he won the inaugural Mzansi Super League T20 title to complete a treble in his first season as the team's coach.
Ashwell Prince will be coach of the South African A team to play England in a three-day match at Willowmoore Park in Benoni from Friday to next Sunday.
The Test team will again be captained by Faf du Plessis. The South African A team will be named tomorrow.
Du Plessis, Zondi, Boucher and Nkwe will be the selectors. Previously there had been no known selectors.
"I felt the Proteas need a hardened and experienced international guy. I feel from a cricket perspective that Mark is very knowledgeable from a tactical perspective," said Smith.
"We know the qualities he has as a man. I felt those were the best decisions needed for the current Proteas set-up and where the current team is at the moment.
"We've had a number of chats with Enoch in terms of his path going forward and developing him into a high standard international coach. We feel he's got a lot of qualities that will be very useful to Mark and progressing his own future in SA cricket."
Smith said he was aware of the transformation component that came with his position, but said a number of discussions had to take place.
I led my country and I had to be part of managing transformation
— Graeme Smith, acting Proteas director of cricket
Transformation has been a sticking point and came to a head during the 2015 Cricket World Cup semifinal against New Zealand when Vernon Philander was selected ahead of Kyle Abbott. It led to a transformation debate that rumbled even after the event.
"I'm very aware of transformation. I led my country for 11 years and I had to be a part of managing those processes. A number of discussions need to happen behind the scenes and I need to get to grips with what's in place. Mark's appointment as a battle-hardened and experienced cricketer is exactly what's needed," Smith said.
"I think my job is also to create cricket excellence. I 100% feel I've made the right decision for the Proteas in terms of cricket excellence. I feel the team around Boucher is solid and for Enoch's future, it's the right appointment. Sometimes we have to think about managing people and not just numbers.
"That is important and those discussions have to happen."
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