Herschelle Gibbs Wants an Australian as South Africa Coach
Jul 20, 2017 at 3:11 PM
Former South African opener Herschelle Gibbs is of the opinion that the South African team needs an Australian coach who won’t tolerate a “buddy buddy” attitude and keep the players on the toes. South Africa’s performance hasn’t been great in the recent past and following the England series, South Africa’s current coach Russell Domingo’s contract ends which is unlikely to get extended.
According to reports earlier, The South African domestic team Highveld Lions Coach Geoffrey Toyona was linked to taking up the role but Gibbs wants Cricket South Africa (CSA) to turn to an Australian for the next coaching stint,
“I like their approach to the game and the fact that they don’t put up with nonsense,” Gibbs told Netwerk24.
“I’d like to see a new approach. Something new and fresh won’t do any harm. I think that can only be achieved through outside input,” Gibbs further added.
Cricket South Africa have nominated the 5 people who will be on the selection panel to decide who will be the suitable candidate for South Africa’s coaching job. The 5 names are Norman Arendse, Rihan Richards, Oupa Nkagisang, Gary Kirsten and Eric Simmons.
Gibbs further added some of the senior members of the team are too much influential on all the aspects and has a lot of say due to their “buddy buddy” relationship with the coach.
“That is a bunch of nonsense. The coach needs to be in control and for that reason, I believe an Australia coach – who won’t tolerate this ‘buddy-buddy’ attitude’ – could work,” Gibbs was quoted as saying.
During his heydey, Gibbs was a destructive batsman and had the ability to decimate any bowling attack on his day. He played 90 Tests, 248 ODI’s and 23 T20I’s for South Africa before calling it quits. The highlight of his career will undoubtedly be his sensational 175 against Australia in 2006 which helped the Proteas to chase down the biggest total in ODI’s.
Australia had already scored 434/4 in their allotted 50 overs which was the then highest ODI score eclipsing Sri Lanka’s 398 but what transpired during South Africa’s innings left everyone to dumbfound. Gibbs literally toyed with the Australian bowlers and smashed his way to a scintillating 175 which helped South Africa chase down the mammoth total. They eventually finished on 438/9 which still remains the 2nd highest total in ODI cricket.