Another ''big name'' in fray for SA coach''s job

Johannesburg, Jan 14 (PTI) Cricket South Africa chiefGerald Majola has revealed that another "big name" has evincedinterest in becoming the national team coach a few days aftercurrent India coach Gary Kirsten''s name did the rounds.

Present coach Corrie van Zyl will step down in less thanthree months after the World Cup.

Kirsten, a former South African opener, was theoverhelming favourite till now for the post. Kirsten''scontract with the BCCI will expire sometime after the WorldCup.

Majola said CSA yesterday decided to extend the deadlinefor applications for the post by a month.

"We weren''t completely satisfied with the number ofapplications that we had received by the weekend, and that iswhy we wanted to extend the search," Majola said.

"Another big name has in addition asked that his lateapplication be considered, as he wasn''t aware of the initialdeadline."

Applications will now close on February 18, a day beforecricket''s biggest showpiece on the sub-continent (in India,Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) begins.

A panel consisting of, amongst others, Majola, Van Zyland national selection chief, Andrew Hudson, will begin withinterviews shortly afterwards.

"There is no rush and at least another fivehighly-regarded coaches have applied (on Thursday)," saidMajola.

Majola didn''t reveal who they were or whether Kirsten hadadded his name to the mix.

"It is a confidential process, and it wouldn''t be fair toany of the applicants to reveal who had been in contact."

"What I can say, is that the decision to extend theapplication date has nothing to do with Gary." PTI AH