Next month, Malibongwe Maketa will lead the Proteas to Australia for the three-Test series.
Cricket SA appointed Maketa, 42, on an interim basis on Wednesday. Current coach Mark Boucher quit last month to accept a position with the Mumbai Indians of the Indian Premier League.
The ongoing T20 World Cup in Australia will be Boucher’s final assignment as head coach of the national squad.
Maketa, who is currently South Africa’s president, A coach and National Academy Lead is no stranger to the dressing room of the Proteas Men’s squad, having served as a member of the backroom staff on their recent tour of England.
ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨
Current South Africa A coach Malibongwe Maketa has been appointed the #Proteas interim head coach for the upcoming three-match Test tour of Australia 👏
Read More 🔗 https://t.co/sKIHkf9L4y#BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/rEOof81kJZ
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) November 2, 2022
He was also the assistant of former Proteas coach Ottis Gibson in the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup in the United Kingdom.
“We are thrilled to name Malibongwe as the Proteas’ interim coach in Australia. Director of Cricket for the CSA, Enoch Nkwe, commented, “He is familiar with the environment and has already worked in the same space as an assistant coach.”
“Mali knows most of the players well, and they know him as well. With such a short period between now and the tour, Cricket South Africa thought we needed someone who could step in and guide us through an important series for the Proteas.
“We wish him the best of luck in his new position. He has our complete backing, and we have no doubt that he will do South Africa proud in this series.”
Pholetsi Moseki, the chief executive officer of the CSA, added, “Malibongwe has garnered respect and praise as a coach and leader. This selection is a testament to his ability to assimilate into any system and maintain continuity. As a veteran of the Proteas organization, I am convinced that he will perform admirably and hit the ground running.
The Australian series is their penultimate World Test Championship series (WTC). As a result of two series wins, one series defeat, and one series draw in the second cycle of the WTC, South Africa sits in second place, behind Australia.
South Africa Test Tour to Australia Fixtures
17 – 21 December 2022
Australia vs South Africa – The Gabba, Brisbane
26 – 30 December 2022
Australia vs South Africa – MCG, Melbourne
04 – 08 January 2023
Australia vs South Africa – SCG, Sydney