• Reeza backs Conrad as all-format Proteas coach

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    Reeza Hendricks says “it can only be a good thing” if Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad takes over the white-ball teams too. KHUNULOGO MPOLOKENG reports.

    Conrad is the favourite for the white-ball job which was recently vacated by Rob Walter after two years in charge. The 58-year-old has led the Proteas Test team to their first World Test Championship final, where they will play Australia at Lord’s in June.

    Speaking at CSA’s sponsorship announcement event in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Hendricks voiced his support for Conrad.

    “The past few years we’ve had two coaches, coaching white ball and red ball, which had never happened in the past,” said Hendricks. “Shukri coming in has done well with the Test team; if he does take over, it will be one coach who will oversee all the teams.

    “It can only be a good thing if he is the guy. I worked with him for a couple of years when he coached the SA A team; he knows what I’m about, I know what he’s about.

    “He’s done some good things with the Test team, so hopefully he can do the same with the white-ball teams if he is the guy for the job.”

    ALSO: Walter to coach New Zealand?

    The top-order batsman wasn’t selected for the recently-concluded Champions Trophy in Pakistan, where the Proteas were eliminated by New Zealand in the semi-finals.

    “Not going was disappointing, but the reality is that I wasn’t selected for the two series before that, which had made me think I wouldn’t go,” he said. “It’s still hurts – I would have loved to have gone – but things didn’t go according to plan. But such is life, such is cricket.

    “Hopefully I can go back to domestic cricket, score some runs again and get back into the team. As long as I play 50-over cricket, I’d obviously love to see myself back in the team and I’ll definitely push to try and get myself back into it.

    “We obviously don’t know what lies ahead and who will be taking over, but I’m sure the new coach will come with new plans and his players in mind,” he added. “We have to start afresh, and I have to do my best and control what I can to put my name in the hat and hopefully the new coach, whoever that may be, will want me in his team.”

    MORE: Proteas end major sponsorship drought

    CSA on Wednesday announced a three-year sponsorship deal with car manufacturer Suzuki, who will be the headline sponsor for the men’s and women’s ODI teams. Hendricks said it was pleasing to have positive news around the national teams.

    “The Proteas brand has had some negativity in the past, but I feel there’s been some good things happening in the past couple of years, with both the men’s and women’s teams getting into finals and playing really good cricket. So there are lots of positives to talk about.

    “Suzuki is a well-known brand across the globe and their coming on board and being associated with the Proteas brand is definitely a good thing.”

    Photo: Christiaan Kotze/Gallo Images

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    Simon Borchardt