SA Cricket matters

[PaarlBok]

Look like things are happening fast in our game lately.

SA is on the verge to tour India and then we hit the jackpot. Smith's beloved Mickey Mouse got the sack
Sport24

Cricket

Arthur quits the Proteas
Cape Town - Proteas coach, Mickey Arthur has resigned, according to a report from Eye Witness News.

It is understood his relationship with skipper Graeme Smith has deteriorated irreparably.

The shock resignation comes just over a year after the Protea’s historic Test series victory in Australia, and just a few days before the team’s departure for India.

Arthur and Cricket South Africa management reportedly held an emergency meeting in Johannesburg last week, to discuss the team’s struggles in the Test series against England.

It is believed Arthur met with Cricket South Africa Chief Executive Gerald Majola on Monday, about his severance package.

The tension between Arthur and Smith started apparently on the evening of the game, when Smith publicly questioned his coach’s decision to gamble with team selection.

The country’s cricket bosses are not commenting but it is believed former fast bowler Corrie van Zyl has been appointed as caretaker coach.

Myself would not hesitate a minute to appoint Kepler Wessels. Smith did the same thing to Jennings, the man that should have stayed on as the coach.

 

[PaarlBok]

Hell and now it cut even deeper
Sport24

Cricket

Proteas selection panel sacked

Johannesburg - The day after Mickey Arthur's resignation as national coach, South Africa's selection panel has also been sacked by the board.

Mike Procter, the now former convenor of selectors, confirmed the development to a Talk Radio 702 in Johannesburg.

Procter told the station that Cricket South Africa had fired the entire selection panel, which included Craig Matthews, Winky Ximiya and Mustapha Khan, and an interim one would be appointed to serve until February 19.

"It came as a huge shock to us all," Procter said. He added that only CSA would be able to confirm if the developments were linked to the transformation issue.

"I had a phone call early on Tuesday morning, Gerald Majola informing me that this selection panel would not be required in future," Procter told eNews.

"Everyone was told that this was going to be a talk after the series. We were just going to make some presentations. They weren't going to come after anyone. It wasn't going to be a witch hunt.

"I think we had too short a time in the business, as selectors we always gave our own thoughts, we never ended up voting on issues, we talked around issues, we enjoyed each others company and I think we were doing pretty well. The time we had was too short but we did introduce some new players."

Matthews, a member of the selection panel, said he understood that Majola would head the interim panel until a new one was put in place. "The way I understand it, there will be an interim selection panel and Gerald will be the convenor of selectors until a new panel has been picked," he told the Cricinfo website. "We weren't given any reason for the decision (sacking). All that was said was that the board felt the selection process was flawed and that they want to restructure it.

"It might be a transformation issue, but they didn't give us any reasons, all they said was that the process needs to be reworked. I have been part of South African cricket for many years, nothing really surprises me anymore."

The sacked panel took over as selectors in December 2008, just before the historic series victory in Australia which put South Africa on top of both the Test and the ODI rankings. Results went downhill after that, losing the return Test series against Australia and only managing to draw the home series against England which ended earlier this month. Between those two assignments were the loss in the World Twenty20 semi-finals and the embarrassingly early exit in the ICC Champions Trophy they hosted. The panel's tenure was supposed to be till the 2011 World Cup, the same as Arthur's.

Arthur will speak to the media along with CSA CEO Gerald Majola at 11:00 this morning in East London, live on the SuperSport Blitz channel.

something tells me here is a political connection , wont be surprise if Ntini dropping has something to do with this.

 

[Pfitzy]

Jeez Oom - this doesn't sound good.

 

[PaarlBok]

Thats not a understatement. Understand Athur is at this very moment busy talking to the press with the CEO and Smith.

Got the link while posting

Cricket

Smith, Arthur 'no rift'
East London - Mickey Arthur said on Wednesday that differences with the board of Cricket South Africa led to his resignation as coach of the South African team.

Arthur said he and the board disagreed on plans for the future. "I don't believe I can take the team forward under the present circumstances," he said.

Both Arthur and national captain Graeme Smith, who sat next to each other at a press conference to announce the coach's resignation, denied that a breakdown in their relationship was a factor.


Smith said it was an emotional day for both he and Arthur. He said: "The two of us have had a great partnership for five years."

Smith said it was hurtful to see newspaper reports that Arthur had resigned because of an irreparable breakdown in their relationship. "We spoke several times on the phone yesterday," he said.

Cricket SA chief executive Gerald Majola announced at the press conference that the national selectors, headed by former South African all-rounder Mike Procter, had been fired as part of what he described as a "restructuring" of the national team set-up.
Asked to elaborate on the differences between Arthur and the board, Majola said that the board wanted to change a situation whereby the coach appointed his own support staff.

Majola said Arthur had done "very well" in taking South Africa to the number one ranking in both Test and one-day international cricket but that the board believed the structure needed to be changed for the team to advance to the next level after disappointing recent results.

National high performance coach Corrie van Zyl has been appointed caretaker coach and will take the team to India on Saturday for a tour which includes two Test matches and three one-day internationals.
Van Zyl has also been appointed to a three-man interim selection panel, along with former Test captain Kepler Wessels and Majola :yay :yay :yay, who will be the convenor.

Majola said there would be a board meeting on February 19 at which it was hoped to finalise a new structure for the team.

In a statement, Majola, said Arthur's resignation, "came through the normal stock-taking process which followed the England home series and against the backdrop of the disappointing results of 2009.

"As this process unfolded and remedies were sought, Mickey expressed the very honest and humble view that he did not believe that at this stage he could continue as coach of the Proteas.

"In the circumstances, he tendered his resignation and it is with much regret that the CSA Board accepted it. The Board wishes to thank Mickey for his great contribution to the advancement of the Proteas to the point where in 2008/09 they had their best season ever and finished on top of the world Test and ODI rankings.

"They have slipped down both logs since then and CSA is determined to get them back to the top. We have accepted Mickey's view that a change at the coaching helm is needed, and we have made this as seamless as possible by bringing in on a caretaker basis the considerable expertise of Corrie van Zyl."

Myself never been a Smith fan as a captain, was upset when they fire Jet (Jennings) fafter a 100% success rate. That did not make sense at all and hoping Kepler Wessels will be taken on board in some jobbie.


This was Keplers reply yesterday

Sport 24

Cricket

Players call the tune - Kepler
2010-01-26 22:49Email | Print

Kepler Wessels (Gallo Images)
Henk Steenkamp

Port Elizabeth – The players call the tune in modern sport.

That was the view of former South African captain Kepler Wessels when he was asked for his view on radio station Algoa FM about the resignation of Proteas coach Mickey Arthur.

“The game is about the players and that is probably right. The players get what they want. If you have a strong core of players, it places the coach in a difficult position. They have the power to have the coach replaced,” said Wessels.

Wessels added that it is a pity for a coach’s tenure to end in such a manner.

“A coach has a shelf-life with a team and he knows that when he accepts the position. The team had a good year in 2008. Things did not go as well last year and it was expected that someone’s head would roll.”

Wessels has been mentioned as a possible successor for Arthur.

 

[PaarlBok]

OK so Kepler & Corrie took control and it look like they immediately have success with the Proteas. After Kallis and specially Amla get hooked in India in the first innings, Steyn get among the wickets Inda now 228/9 after SA put up a healthy 558 runs. Still early days but all the pressure now on India.

 

[PaarlBok]

India all out for 233 and surprised Smith has forced the follow on. :nta: Maybe that two last wickets sufferings against the poms back in his head. Must be Steyns best figures 7/51

 

[PaarlBok]

Now the big one Sehwag gone India 24/2 :yay

 

[PaarlBok]

Proteas now 4 wickets away from a win. India still 100 short and still a session to go for today and the new ball is due.

 

[PaarlBok]

SA have just beat India with a innings and 6 runs. Steyn getting 10 wickets in this test. The perfect start for Corrie & Kepler. I have always thought Kepler will lift this Protea side to new heights with his high standards.

Cricinfo

In the last 25 years India have suffered innings defeat only thrice at home (ie in India). All of them have come in the last ten years. And interestingly, all three of them have come against South Africa.

Look like we are playing better cricket away from home. Only two tests in this series and we need to win the series to peck back the nr1 spot.

 

[spooony]

Sri Lanka...... I mean seriously. Yesterdays match was a bit better from the 43 all out one but the target they set was always too low for a 1 day game in East London. One day cricket is a coin toss though and a good knock from one of those 10 digit surnames can put their team in a strong position no matter how crap the rest play. But they look if they wanna go home rather than play cricket. What happened to the Sri Lankan spin attack. No need for Hare to no ball them anymore they are not much of anything. Sri Lanka rely on their pace attack heavily for wickets. Now thats a strange development considering the wickets they play on at home.

 

[spooony]

Who said we suck at playing spin?

Among overseas teams in Asia, South Africa are the only ones with a positive difference between batting and bowling averages. Their batting numbers clearly reveal that they, more than any other side, have best figured out how to play on slow pitches and in turning conditions. England's batsmen, on the other hand, have struggled, even though their bowlers have done pretty well.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/552712.html