Senior cricket administrators are to meet on Thursday to review the Proteas’ performance over the past year. Among other things, the administrators will be discussing the team’s somewhat erratic performance at the Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean, where they lost four of the 10 matches they played — twice to Australia and once each to Bangladesh and New Zealand.
Coach Mickey Arthur’s contract is up for review, but he is unlikely to be axed. In the past season, South Africa won 19 one-day internationals (ODIs) and lost seven.
They won back-to-back Test and ODI series against India and Pakistan, and for a brief period South Africa were the top-ranked ODI team, overtaking Australia. The Proteas also reached the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy and the World Cup.
Next year will be very important for South Africa, with tours to England and Australia, and Arthur is expected to remain in charge of the team for those tours. He has said that he would like to stay on as coach for the next two years.
Captain Graeme Smith is also unlikely to lose his position. Smith, who took over from Shaun Pollock after South Africa failed to reach the second round in the 2003 World Cup, is generally viewed as a good captain who leads from the front. However, his detractors believe he wields too much power, and his wings may be clipped after Thursday’s meeting.
One person whose position may be in jeopardy is the convener of selectors, Haroon Lorgat, whose position is also up for review. If the administrators believe someone’s head should roll, they might decide to relieve Lorgat of his responsibilities.
Other topics expected to be discussed are the need to develop a world-class spinner. Cricket SA has already arranged to send some spin-bowlers to India to hone their skills. Arthur has also suggested South Africa need a left-arm seamer to provide more variety in the attack. — Sapa