South Africa’s long lasting search for the head coach has finally ended. Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced that the former West Indian cricketer Ottis Gibson will be the next coach of the side. He is currently serving as the bowling coach of England and after the completion of the ongoing Test series between England and West Indies, he will replace Russell Domingo in the Proteas’ team.
The panel to select the coach consisted of the likes of former coach Gary Kirsten and Eric Simons. Gibson was the coach of the West Indies team from 2010 to 2014 and during his tenure, they won the ICC World T20 in the year 2012. He then joined the English team in 2015 and was contracted till 2018.
England’s coach Trevor Bayliss reckoned that Gibson played a vital role in team’s progress and that he would take the South African team to new heights with his new role.
“Ottis has played a vital role in our progress over the past few years,” Bayliss said. “His knowledge of the international game and the way he has supported all our bowlers in their development has been immeasurable,” he added.
“He will no doubt relish the challenge of becoming a head coach once again and coupled with his strong affinity with South African cricket, he will look to take them forward,” he stated.
Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket was also thankful for all the contribution of Ottis Gibson to the English team and said his experience benefited the bowling unit.
“I would like to place on record my thanks to Ottis Gibson for his services to English cricket. Ottis has been an integral part of the England team in his two stints as bowling coach. His experience, tactical awareness and understanding of bowling in all conditions has benefited our approach and has helped our bowling unit develop greatly across all formats of the game,” Strauss said.
“He is an ambitious man and when this opportunity presented itself it was difficult for him to turn down. On behalf of the ECB, I would like to wish him every success in the next chapter of his career,” he added.
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