Cape Town: Set to be appointed as South African cricket team’s next coach on Monday, Gary Kirsten said it would be a masssive honour after representing the national team with distinction for a decade.
“I would love to coach the South African team — it’s my people. It will be a natural progression,” Kirsten said.
“I’d consider it a massive honour,” the former left-handed, who guided India to a World Cup triumph in the sub-continent two months ago, said.
According to the Beeld, Kirsten would be appointed as Coorie Van Zyl’s replacement, with AB de Villiers likely to be named captain in all three forms of the game in a meeting on Monday, when Cricket South Africa is expected to make a slew of announcements.
As far as CSA is concerned, its only consideration is whether Kirsten will be able to juggle his family life with the demands of being a full-time national coach.
Come November, Kirsten will be awaiting the birth of his third child and that was reason he was initially reluctant to coach South Africa.
Under Kirsten’s guidance India rose to become the number one Test team in the world, besides winning the World Cup.
Meanwhile former South Africa pacer Allan Donald, who is likely to be named as the side’s bowling coach, has withdrawn from his verbal commitment to be New Zealand’s fast bowling coach. (Agencies)
