Former Proteas batsman Jacques Rudolph blames the administration of cricket in South Africa for the ongoing troubles facing the national team.

The current turmoil comes on the back of a lost series at home to Sri Lanka and a disastrous World Cup in England, after which Ottis Gibson was removed as head coach.

Rudolph, who featured in 48 Tests for South Africa, took to social media to voice his frustrations – but not with the team as many would expect.

Proteas on track for humiliating loss

‘I genuinely feel gutted for the Proteas players atm, however, in time, a fish rots from the head down. CSA should take full responsibility for where we are as a cricketing nation now, as seen at the CWC and in India currently,’ he tweeted.

The Proteas, meanwhile, collapsed to within two wickets of a 3-0 series whitewash at the hands of India on the third day of the final Test in Ranchi on Monday.

Resuming on a shaky 9-2 overnight, the tourists’ first innings slipped to a mere 162 all out in response to India’s hefty 497-9 declared, built on the back of opener Rohit Sharma’s superb double-century. The follow-on then capitulated to a precarious 132-8. South Africa, indeed, are still 203 runs shy of at least making India bat again.

Their day, too, was worsened by the absence of batsman Dean Elgar. Elgar was struck on the helmet by a sharp bouncer from fast bowler Umesh Yadav. The out-of-form Theunis de Bruyn, who was dropped for this match, promptly returned as a concussion substitute.

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