Downturn in form of Proteas necessitated change in coaching staff: Wessels

Former skipper Kepler Wessels has heaped praise on Cricket South Africa (CSA) for appointing Ottis Gibson as the new head coach of South Africa, saying a lack of success at ICC events and a downturn in form over recent months necessitated a change.

Gibson was on Wednesday confirmed as the new Proteas head coach, replacing Russell Domingo across all three formats.

His contract will run from mid-September, when he will start preparing the squad for the home series against Bangladesh, and continue until the conclusion of the ICC World Cup in mid-2019.

"A lack of success at ICC events and a downturn in form over recent months necessitated a change. CSA has to be applauded that they were prepared to look outside the country in an effort to find a candidate who is likely to demand more from the players and has no baggage," Sport24 quoted Wessels as saying.

The former South Africa skipper further said that the 48-year-old West Indian was by far the most suitable candidate for the job out of the applicants for the role.

"He understands the South African system, having played in South Africa for several years. He brings international coaching experience to the team, having been head coach of the West Indies and bowling coach for England," said Wessels.

"The experience he picked up as head coach for the West Indies team will stand him in good stead. He found himself under pressure there on a number of occasions in difficult circumstances in a coaching situation that wasn't easy. He had to deal with a player transition there much the same as he will have to in South Africa going forward," he added.

Gibson is currently serving as the bowling coach of the England Test team and has previously served as head coach of the West Indies.

The 48-year-old had a distinguished playing career for the West Indies, representing them in two Test matches - the second of which was the New Year Test at Newlands in 1999 - and 15 ODIs as an all-rounder between 1995 and 1999.

In addition, he played more than 400 matches, principally for his native Barbados, across the three formats that included spells with Border, Gauteng and Northern Cape (Griqualand West) as well as several England counties.