Faf du Plessis warns CSA against wholesale support staff changes

If Ottis Gibson leaves as England's bowling coach, either of Middlesex’s Richard Johnson or Essex’s Chris Silverwood is likely to take over the role.

Russell Domingo’s tenure as head coach is more or less over. Ottis Gibson’s name has been making headlines for a while, and is likely to become the next South Africa head coach. Skipper Faf du Plessis had confirmed Gibson as the preferred choice. However, du Plessis does not want wholesale changes in support staff, and has warned Cricket South Africa of the same. Domingo had re-applied for the post. However, it looks like the coaching panel have already made the decision. Du Plessis asked the England players their opinion on Gibson. Many of them gave positive response in return. If Gibson leaves as England’s bowling coach, either of Middlesex’s Richard Johnson or Essex’s Chris Silverwood is likely to take over the role. Faf du Plessis confirms Ottis Gibson preferred choice for South Africa’s head coach job

After reaching Cape Town from a gruelling series against England, du Plessis addressed the media and threw light on Gibson’s appointment. “As far as we know, it’s been told to us that the decision has been made by the coaching panel. They’ve chosen Ottis Gibson as their recommendation and now that goes to the board and the board decides whether they want to use that recommendation or not,” said du Plessis as reported by ESPNcricinfo. There were even speculations in changes of the support staff. However, du Plessis backed the current lot, “In an ideal situation, you’d like to make as little change as possible so it’s not wholesale changes. A whole new coaching staff would come in and it would take a while to get to know everyone. If there was a suggestion I could make is for whoever, if it was Ottis, to come in and see for himself what the team requires.”

“If he decides that there needs to be changes, then he decides that over a period of time. Our technical coaches, I think, have been doing a very good job,” he added.

South Africa were beaten by England in the four-Test series by 3-1, which has left a scar on Domingo’s coaching role. In the sidelines, du Plessis has collected enough information on the new coach, “For me it was important, because I don’t know Ottis, to try and find something out about him. I spoke to a few of the West Indian players because he was their coach and then I spoke to the English guys about their thoughts on him. There were one or two differences in opinion … the comments were positive.”

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