Klusener part of SA support staff for T20I series against India

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Klusener will be with the team only for the T20I leg of the tour. © Getty

Cricket South Africa named Lance Klusener as South Africa’s assistant coach (batting) for the upcoming tour of India. Klusener, the former all-rounder, however will be with the team only for the T20I leg of the tour. Vincent Barnes, meanwhile, will handle the duties of assistant coach (bowling) while Justin Ontong will be the assistant fielding coach during the series against India which starts from September 15 and includes three T20Is and three Tests.

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Klusener, who played 49 Tests and 171 ODIs for South Africa, had earlier served as the head coach of the Dolphins team while he also had a stint with Zimbabwe as batting coach. He was also appointed as head coach of Glasgow Giants for the inaugural edition of the Euro T20 Slam – the tournament that was cancelled two weeks before it was scheduled to start.

Barnes had worked as bowling coach of South Africa earlier, from 2003 to 2011 before taking over the role as CSA’s high performance coach. Ontong, the former South Africa all-rounder who played two Tests, 28 ODIs and 14 T20Is, had served as the fielding coach of South Africa during Ottis Gibson’s tenure.

“Former Proteas all-rounder Lance Klusener will fill the role of assistant coach (batting) for the T20 Series only as he is currently not available for all formats. His record as one of the best all-rounders in the world, particularly in white ball cricket, during his playing career speaks for itself and he also has extensive coaching experience both at franchise and international level,” said CSA’s Acting Director of Cricket Corrie van Zyl.

“Vincent Barnes will be the assistant coach (bowling). He also has extensive coaching experience at international level and his knowledge of playing conditions in India will make his contribution invaluable. Vincent currently also fills the role of the HP Bowling Lead for CSA. Justin Ontong will fill the role of assistant coach (fielding). He has built up a strong relationship with the players over the last two years and is an acknowledged expert in this department.”

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All three will report to the newly-appointed interim team director Enoch Nkwe, who was given the role following Gibson’s removal under Cricket South Africa’s new structure. “Enoch is targeting a batting coach who has extensive knowledge of Indian conditions for the Test series and we will be in a position to announce this successful candidate shortly,” added van Zyl, who also mentioned that the technical staff of the South African team remains the same.

“As previously announced, all the technical staff – Performance Analyst Prasanna Agoram, Strength and Conditioning Coach Greg King and physiotherapist Craig Govender – have been retained. Unfortunately, Craig has recently undergone knee surgency so a temporary replacement will travel with the team to India,” concluded Van Zyl.

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