Just a month back South Africa were the hottest team in the world, Graeme Smith was the best captain. Suddenly things are not as rosy.
Just a month back South Africa were the hottest team in the world, Graeme Smith was the best captain. Suddenly things are not as rosy. The series defeat against Australia has brought change for the worse.
Now there are no takers for the captaincy. Ashwell Prince, who was elevated to captaincy because of injury to Smith, declined the job. Jacques Kallis was asked to stand in till Smith returned. Prince’s rejection of captaincy was unexpected. The left-handed batsman was asked do the Smith’s job — not only was he asked to lead the team but also open the innings. The 32-year-old has never opened in his career spanning 47-Test, 52 ODIs or 150-odd first class matches. He was believed to be unhappy with the selectors’ instruction to open the innings. Prince has lost his place in the middle-order to JP Duminy.
Prince missed South Africa’s 2-1 series win over Australia in Australia in December and January because of a thumb injury and Duminy thrived in his debut series, scoring a match-winning maiden century of 166 in the Melbourne Test in December.
“Cricket South Africa announced on Wednesday that it had decided to stand Prince down as captain to allow him to concentrate on his new position of opening batsman,” CSA said in a statement adding: “Kallis will now captain the team on a one-off basis in next week’s third Test against Australia.”
When reached for comment, South Africa’s chairman of selectors told DNA, “I’m in a golf course. Call me later.” He could not be reached later. However, CSA said the decision to elevate Kallis as captain is to ensure that Prince concentrated on his new position of opening batsman.
Kallis, South Africa’s all-time leading run scorer, also captained the side in the third Test against Australia three years ago in Johannesburg when Smith was injured. Kallis had also captained the Proteas in the final Test of the previous Australian tour to South Africa when Smith was injured.
(With inputs from agencies)
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