Former Test batsman Jacques Rudolph has suggested the inexperienced Robin Peterson be appointed as team director of the Proteas.

The position was created after the World Cup in the United Kingdom this year. It has effectively replaced the head coach and team manager roles.

The Lions’ Enoch Nkwe held the team director post in an interim capacity for the recent tour of India. A full-time appointment hasn’t yet been made ahead of the Test series against England later this year.

Peterson was recently named head coach of the Warriors – and is an assistant coach to Nelson Mandela Bay Giants head coach Eric Simons in the ongoing Mzansi Super League.

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The Titans’ Mark Boucher and Cape Cobras’ Ashwell Prince, too, are among Rudolph’s suggestions to effectively succeed former head coach Ottis Gibson.

‘I know there is always politics involved in sport because I have been on that side of the fence before, but you have people like Ashwell, Mark and Robin in your system,’ Rudolph told Sport24.

‘I feel sorry for Enoch because, to be fair to him, he is an inexperienced coach. I know him very well. He is a lovely guy and was a good cricketer at franchise level. He has had one good season with the Lions as head coach, gets thrown into the deep end and then taken to India and the Proteas get obliterated.

‘The problem is that we have now taken a potential coach, who could have been great for South Africa for the next to three years, and made it far more difficult for him. Whereas if we had someone like Boucher, who has had plenty of success with the Titans, it just gives a different flavour.’

Cricket South Africa hasn’t yet filled the vacant director of cricket position on a permanent basis, either. Former captain Graeme Smith was interviewed for the position, but later formally withdrew interest.

‘If Smith was appointed director of cricket and one of Boucher, Peterson or Prince were appointed [team director], for me, everyone would become aligned,’ added Rudolph.

‘Had Graeme been appointed as director of cricket, it would have been a huge step in the right direction. I am fortunate to have known Graeme for a very long time since primary school. I have played with and under him and he is probably the strongest leader we have had within South African cricket, if not the strongest.

‘He is a respected leader, who understands the nuances of South African cricket and politics. With the correct motives and by employing the right people in the right positions, Graeme could potentially have been the guy to turn our cricket around.’

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