NEW COACH, BIG RESPONSIBILITIES
Ryan Rickelton (above) and Marco Jansen have been retained by their MLC franchises. That tournament will coincide with South Africa’s national team commitments © Sportzpics
Shukri Conrad now oversees all three of South Africa’s men’s national cricket teams, yet his autonomy will diminish compared to when he served solely as the Test coach.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced Conrad’s appointment as coach for all formats, replacing Rob Walter, who stepped down from his position effective at the end of April.
Conrad and Walter previously guided South Africa to their inaugural men’s World Cup final—the 2024 T20I version—along with the World Test Championship final against Australia next month. They enjoyed the liberty of selecting their own squads without selectors, a notable shift from prior practices.
However, CSA’s board has reintroduced the role of a selection convenor, a change critics say could hamper progress. Conrad expressed hope that the convenor will share a vision aligned with that of South Africa cricket.
On player availability, which is a significant hurdle due to lucrative franchise leagues, Conrad affirmed his commitment to fielding the best Proteas side possible. He emphasized that players contracted to the national team should prioritize representing South Africa.
How effectively Conrad executes his vision will soon be tested, especially with the upcoming WTC final and a packed international schedule. The overlapping leagues such as the MLC, CPL, and the Hundred present challenges regarding player commitments, particularly for stakeholders like Ryan Rickelton and Marco Jansen.
