The manner of Rushdi Magiet’s departure as convener of the South African selectors said much about the man. There was no acknowledgement of any responsibility for South Africa’s unhappy summer against Australia. Rather, he blamed coach Graham Ford.
In almost the same breath, though, Magiet revealed this week that the reason he had stopped communicating with Ford was “deliberate and strategic because there was a very strong resistance to including black players in the national team”. Given Magiet’s track record of labelling all criticism of his performance as racist, you can take this whence it comes.
Whatever, Magiet has been handed his hat and Omar Henry will convene a new selection panel. Selectors do not win world cups, but Henry’s team starts with one considerable advantage over its predecessor – it has credibility.
Henry and Pat Symcox have played in world cups; Hugh Page played the game at the highest level that isolation permitted, but, more importantly, has had first-hand involvement with South Africa’s rising young talent as an under-19 selector. Of the two remaining members of the new panel, Haroon Lorgat was probably the clearest thinker of Magiet’s old team, and while Douglas Maku is clearly the junior member at this stage, he has had experience of selection at provincial level.
The real point, though, is that the balance of personalities looks to be right. All the evidence suggests that the new selectors will have strong views, and they are unlikely to agree on all issues.
But Henry, who has suffered for his sport on both sides of South Africa’s political and racial divide, is a strong man. The appointment of this new panel suggests that decisions will be taken for cricketing reasons. It is a step forward and Henry and his team deserve every encouragement.
Peter Robinson is the editor of CricInfo South Africa