There are growing concerns in women’s cricket at the time it’s taking Cricket South Africa (CSA) to address management and coaching changes needed in the Proteas.
The organisation is set for a series of meetings in the coming weeks, including the cricket committee on what changes are required, with the most pressing the appointment of head of women’s cricket, and plans for the next national coach.
CSA’s director of cricket, Enoch Nkwe, wants to unveil these changes soon given that players are heading into the preseason, ahead of a busy summer that will include a high-profile tour to Australia.
Hilton Moreeng has been Proteas head coach for 10 years, but his contract ends this month. He oversaw the team’s run to the final of this year’s T20 World Cup, which many anticipated would be his swansong.
There is a sense that the team, which is in transition after the retirements of some top players, needs a new voice in the dressing room.
Though Moreeng is viewed as affable, whispers about his stagnating coaching style have persisted.
Since Moreeng’s appointment in 2013, Australia — the most successful team in women’s cricket — has had three coaches, while England, another powerhouse, has had four.
Even the men’s Proteas have had three full-time coaches in the last decade.
While not specifically addressing Moreeng’s future, Nkwe said in modern sport the ideal length of time for a coach to oversee a team was about four years. “There are exceptional circumstances, like you have with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, but that is dependent on the growth and evolution of the team’s philosophy and how that coach evolves with it.
“If they are able to evolve and the team can remain successful, then you will end up with a situation like with Guardiola.”
Moreeng’s tenure has included the first steps towards professionalism in South Africa that started with contracting in 2014. Before this year’s World Cup runners-up finish, the Proteas had qualified twice for the semifinals in each of the T20 and 50-over World Cup tournaments.
The women’s game has undergone radical change, especially in the past four years, with the advent of T20 Leagues in Australia, England and more lately India, which have provided avenues for women players to earn good salaries beyond their national team contracts.
Shabnim Ismail, in announcing her retirement from the international game, said she would be focusing on playing in those leagues.
For now, Moreeng is still overseeing preseason preparations of those players based in South Africa.
