Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad has emerged as the frontrunner to take over all the South African senior men’s national cricket teams following Rob Walter’s resignation on Tuesday.
Image: BackpagePix
Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad has emerged as the frontrunner to take over all the South African senior men’s national cricket teams following Rob Walter’s resignation on Tuesday.
Walter, who has overseen the ODI and T20 teams for the past two years, was expected to lead the Proteas through to the 2027 World Cup on home soil. However, he has stepped down with two years remaining on his four-year contract.
According to Cricket South Africa (CSA), Walter has resigned for “personal reasons,” although pressure had been mounting on the 49-year-old due to his bilateral series record outside major ICC tournaments. The former Titans coach also still resides in New Zealand, with the extensive travel between the two countries placing a strain on his young family.
“Coaching the Proteas has been an incredible honour, and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together,” Walter said.
“The players, support staff, and the South African cricketing community have been fantastic throughout this journey. While it’s time for me to step away, I have no doubt that the team will continue to grow and reach even greater heights.”
Walter has the distinction of leading the Proteas to their first-ever men’s World Cup final when they broke their 32-year semi-final jinx at the last T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA. He also guided the Proteas to the semi-finals of both the 2023 ODI World Cup and last month’s Champions Trophy.
“Rob played a significant role in rebuilding the Proteas brand on the international stage,” said CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki.
“During his two years in charge, we have seen a significant increase in confidence in South African cricket, largely due to the team’s performances. His professionalism and work ethic have been exemplary, and he will undoubtedly be missed.”
Outside major tournaments, Walter rarely had a full-strength squad at his disposal due to CSA’s enforced strength and conditioning blocks, as well as players requiring rest after participating in various T20 leagues around the world.
He also introduced a number of young players as part of “Project 2027.” However, balancing the need to develop talent while maintaining consistent results proved challenging, with Walter managing just three ODI series victories from seven attempts. His T20 record was even leaner, with a solitary series win over Pakistan last summer from eight series.
“Rob has done an immense job for South African cricket over the past two years,” said director of national teams and high performance, Enoch Nkwe.
“It is also important to recognise Rob’s commitment to expanding the talent pool across both formats. While in charge, he ensured that emerging players had the opportunity to develop and make their mark at the highest level, which will be critical for the future of the Proteas.”
Yet it is understood that CSA’s executive board had grown increasingly frustrated with the white-ball team’s results under Walter. Additionally, the success of the Proteas Test side under Conrad further intensified the pressure on Walter.
The red-ball team are currently on an eight-game winning streak and are set to face Australia in the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord’s later this year.
Conrad has also developed a strong relationship with Proteas Test skipper Temba Bavuma, who also captains the ODI team. Notably, Conrad briefly took charge of the Proteas ODI team for three matches against England before Walter began his tenure.
That series was crucial to the Proteas’ qualification campaign for the 2023 World Cup after they had forfeited an away ODI series against Australia.
Under Conrad’s mentorship, the Proteas defeated the then world champions 2-1, securing valuable qualification points. The Proteas’ next T20I assignment will be a tri-series featuring hosts Zimbabwe and New Zealand in July.
Related Topics: